A report from the Manitoba Human Rights Commission finds children — especially those with disabilities — still face barriers to learning to read in Manitoba.
Shifting the focus to literacy in Manitoba
The Manitoba Human Rights Commission (MHRC) released a comprehensive 137-page report on Thursday highlighting that while the province has begun reforms in literacy instruction, significant gaps remain in ensuring every child can learn to read. The report identifies children with learning disabilities as facing particular hurdles in accessing what the commission frames as a “basic and essential human right.”
Current reforms and remaining deficits
In recent years, the province of Manitoba made strides—such as revising the English Language Arts curriculum and issuing a directive for universal early reading screening. However, the MHRC report notes the current approach to teaching reading lacks consistency and clarity regarding the most effective methods. The commission recommends a shift toward a “direct, explicit, systematic and cumulative approach” to reading instruction, similar to frameworks used in Ontario.
Specific issues for students with disabilities
Survey work commissioned by the MHRC in 2023 involving students, parents and school-staff revealed that benchmark assessments used in many schools are unreliable or not well suited to the task of identifying reading difficulties. The report further states that even when screening happens universally, there is often no documented path to follow-up supports for children who require additional help. Among the recommendations: bolster training for educators, address shortages of school psychologists and speech-language pathologists, and expand access to assistive reading technologies.
Voices from parents and advocacy groups
At the report’s launch event, parents and disability advocates pressed the urgency of action. One parent, Natalie Riediger, whose two children have dyslexia, said she had no choice but to withdraw them from the public education system due to insufficient supports. Meanwhile, Alicia Smith, Executive Director of Dyslexia Canada, said she hopes this report propels Manitoba’s reforms to match advances seen in other provinces. A fifth-grader, Jacob Dyck, described personal struggles of falling behind in reading and losing time to play and rest in the process.
Monitoring progress and next steps
The MHRC says it will continue to monitor implementation of the reforms and plans to issue a follow-up review in 2026-27. In the meantime, the commission calls on Manitoba’s education authorities to adopt its detailed recommendations — which span curriculum design, screening tools, educator training and support services — to give every child an equal opportunity to learn to read.
Why this matters for Manitoba’s future
The ability to read fluently is foundational for academic success and lifelong participation in civic and economic life. According to the MHRC, failing to address systemic barriers in literacy disproportionately affects children with disabilities, posing risks of exclusion and inequality. Ensuring all children in Manitoba acquire reading skills aligns with human rights commitments and strengthens the province’s long-term productivity and social cohesion.
How stakeholders will respond
The province of Manitoba has acknowledged the report and indicated a willingness to work on the recommendations. Going forward, key actions will include clarifying how reading instruction is delivered, selecting validated screening tools, ensuring targeted interventions are available, and measuring outcomes. Education stakeholders — including school boards, teacher associations and parent groups — will play crucial roles in shaping how the reforms are implemented at the classroom level.
