The Society for Manitobans with Disabilities (SMD) has renamed itself Manitoba Possible.
“At this point we’ve outgrown our old name and know that the name SMD itself was a barrier for those who don’t identify as having a disability or don’t identify as their children having a disability,” says Rayleen Rudnicki, supervisor of the Manitoba Possible Northern Regional Office in Thompson. “With the new name Manitoba Possible we’re renewing our promise to all of our current and future clients to be better for them. We’re here to change perspectives and we’re here to show that Manitoba’s adults, youth and children are exactly what is possible. We wanted to renew our commitment to working together with all of our stakeholders to eliminate barriers to full and equal participation for everyone in our society.”
The name change is the second since the organization was founded in 1950 as the Society for Crippled Children, which was changed to SMD in 1985.
The new name was chosen after consultation with persons with disabilities, other organizations and staff and board members who identify as persons with disabilities.
The old name may have prompted some people to think narrowly about who Manitoba Possible serves, says Rudnicki. To many people, persons with disabilities brings to mind physical disabilities.
“They think of the person in the wheelchair, the person in the walker,” Rudnicki says. “They don’t think about the person who is hearing impaired or has depression or has anxiety. The new name kind of opens up a door.”
Just as the new name is intended to enlarge the number of people who see Manitoba Possible as an organization that represents them, the programs and services it offers continue to grow and evolve.
“At this point we’re now providing speech language therapy for indigenous children and their families in their communities so no longer are they having to leave their communities to come to Thompson or to Winnipeg to get that service,” says Rudnicki. “We’re actually bringing that to them and as well we provide about 15 different programs ranging from employment supports, which is our Thompson Supported Employment Program, to rec and leisure to wheelchair services.”
The organization’s new website is manitobapossible.ca and it can found by the same name on social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
To contact the Northern Regional Office, which Rudnicki has been in charge of since last November, having previously been SMD’s employment development specialist in Thompson, call 204-778-4277.
Manitoba Possible has a head office and two locations in Winnipeg as well as six regional offices.
