Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre

In 2005, the Ontario Government set the goal of a “barrier-free Ontario” for people with disabilities by creating the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“the Act” or “AODA”). The Integrated Accessibility Standards, Ontario Regulation 191/11 (the “IASR”), was also created to set out the steps that organizations in Canada, must take to meet this laudable goal.

The IASR covers accessibility standards in customer service, information and communications, employment, transportation, and the built environment. De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre is required to meet obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). The purpose of the Act is to develop, implement and enforce accessibility standards to achieve accessibility for persons with disabilities with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures, and premises. The AODA Regulation 429/07 entitled “Accessibility Standards for Customer Service”, establishes accessibility standards specific to customer service and the provision of goods and services to the public. Public sector organizations, like De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre, were required to be compliant by January 1, 2010.

This Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlines the policies, procedures, and actions that De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will put and has put in place to comply with the remaining requirements of the Act and the IASR.

Statement of Commitment

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre is committed to improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities and treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will continue to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Act and the IASR.

Barrier Assessment

In accordance with AODA and De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre’s goal of providing an inclusive workplace, this Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan seeks to eliminate and prevent barriers to accessibility. Typical barriers experienced by individuals with disabilities include physical, communication and technology, attitudinal and systemic barriers.

Accessible Emergency Information

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre is committed to providing its customers, clients and the public with safety information that is prepared by De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre and subsequently made available to the public, in an accessible way, upon request.

Workplace Emergency Response Information

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will make reasonable efforts to provide notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services where they have control over such facilities or services. This notice will include information about the reasons for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. the Aboriginal Health Centre will provide notice by posting information in visible places on our premises or on our website, or by any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances

Training

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will provide training to all employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public on their behalf, and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service policies, practices, and procedures. Training will be provided as soon as practicable after an individual assumes responsibilities related to the public and will include the following:

  • the purposes of the AODA and the requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service;
  • information regarding De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standards;
  • how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;
  • what to do if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty accessing your goods or services;
  • how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device, service animal or support person; and
  • how to use the equipment or assistive devices that may be available at De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre.

The amount and format of training will be tailored to suit each person’s interactions with the public or their involvement in the development of policies, procedures and practices pertaining to the provision of materials and services. Staff will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, procedures, and practices.

Information and Communications

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre is committed to meeting the information and communication needs of people with disabilities. We will consult with customers with disabilities to determine their specific information and communication needs.

Documents required by the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service are available upon request. When providing a document to a person with a disability, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will work with the individual to determine options to provide the document, or the information contained in the document in a format that takes the person’s disability into account.

Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre has taken or will take the following steps to make sure all publicly available information is made accessible upon request by January 1, 2016:

  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will respond to requests in a timely manner that considers the person making the request’s accessibility needs due to disability.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will have a process in place for persons with disabilities to be provided with information and communication in an accessible format and provide such information or explain, in writing, when an accessible format is not feasible and why.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will train staff who may receive request for accessible information on how to manage requests and obtain accessible formats.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will provide publicly available information at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communications supports.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre welcomes people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises open to the public. If a service animal is excluded by law from the Aboriginal Health Centre premises, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will ensure that alternative means are available to enable the person with a disability to access our materials and services.

Websites

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre has taken steps to ensure all new websites and new web content conform with WCAG 2.0, Level A.

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will take the following steps to make any public websites and web content conform to WCAG 2.0, Level AA by January 1, 2021:

  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will incorporate into the Company’s website project management a requirement that all new websites and web content conform with the WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will assess and evaluate all public websites and public web content in Ontario for conformance with accessibility standards.
  • If not in conformance with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will consult with its internal IT department and external consultants, as needed, regarding necessary changes to bring to the websites and web content into compliance.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will engage the services of an external website consultant will be engaged to make the above improvements to the websites and web content to the extent the internal IT department is unable to make the necessary changes.
  • De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will ensure that necessary improvements to the website and/or web content are made by the internal IT department or third-party provider.

Feedback

Feedback is welcomed as it encourages continuous service improvements. Feedback from a member of the public about the delivery of materials and services to persons with disabilities may be given by telephone, in writing, in electronic format or through other methods. Information about the feedback process is available to the public through De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre’s website at www.aboriginalhealthcentre.com.

Employment

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will notify employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for job applicants who have disabilities. Applicants will be informed that these accommodations are available, upon request, for the interview process and for other candidate selection methods. Where an accommodation is requested, the company will consult with the applicant and provide or arrange for suitable accommodations in a manner that considers the applicant’s accessibility needs due to disability.

Successful applicants will be made aware of the company’s policies and supports for accommodating people with disabilities.

Service Disruptions

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre will make reasonable efforts to provide notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services where they have control over such facilities or services. This notice will include information about the reasons for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. the Aboriginal Health Centre will provide notice by posting information in visible places on our premises or on our website, or by any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances

For more information

For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact Human Resources at: Telephone: (905) 554-4320 or by Email: humanresources@dahac.ca