Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities Policy

Purpose

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA, or, the Act), this policy has been developed to ensure that all employees, Members, prospective Members, visitors or the general public, and applicants for employment have fair and equitable access to Village GIC Ltd.’s (Village GIC) programs and services and to improve opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Scope

This policy applies to all employees, Directors, independent consultants, contractors, Members, prospective Members, visitors or the general public, and applicants for employment.

Definitions

Accessibility: means giving people of all abilities opportunities to participate fully in everyday life. It is used to describe how widely a service, product, device, or environment is available to as many people as possible.  Accessibility can be seen as the ability to access and benefit from a system, service, product, or environment.

Accessible Formats: may include, but are not limited to, large print, recorded audio, and electronic formats, braille and other formats usable by persons with disabilities. 

Assistive Device: a technical aid, communication device, or medical aid modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional abilities of persons with disabilities.

Barrier: anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of their disability, including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a practice.

Communication Supports: may include, but are not limited to, captioning, alternative and augmentative communication supports, plain language, sign language and other supports that facilitate effective communications.

Disability: Under the AODA, disability is defined in the same manner as in the Ontario Human Rights code:

  1. Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation, or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect, or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal, or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;

  2. A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;

  3. A learning disability or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;

  4. A mental disorder; or

  5. An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Service Animal: an animal is a service animal if it can be readily identified as one that is being used by the person for reasons relating to the person’s disability as a result of visual indicators such as the vest or harness worn by the animal or if the person provides documentation from a regulated health professional as outlined in the Act that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.

Support Person: a person who accompanies a person with a disability to help with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs, or with access to goods, services, or facilities.

Statement of Commitment

Village GIC is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. Village GIC is committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. This will be accomplished by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting all accessibility requirements under the AODA and Ontario’s accessibility laws.

Policy

Training: Village GIC is committed to training all employees, Directors, and independent contractors in Ontario’s accessibility laws and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities. 

Training is provided to all new employees upon hire and on an ongoing basis for existing employees to ensure all employees remain current with any policy or procedural changes as it relates to the AODA Customer Service or other Standards. 

Training is specific to employees’ roles and will include:

  • How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disability

  • How to interact with persons with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a guide dog or other service animal or the assistance of a support person

  • How to use equipment or devices available on our premises or otherwise provided by Village GIC that may help with the provision of goods, services, or facilities to a person with a disability

  • What to do if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty accessing our goods, services, or facilities

Information and Communications: Village GIC communicates with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. When asked, we will provide information about our organization and its services, including public safety information, in accessible or alternative formats or with communication supports. 

Village GIC will also sincerely attempt to meet and maintain internationally-recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA website requirements in accordance with Ontario’s accessibility laws.

Service Animals: Village GIC welcomes persons with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of the premises that are open to the general public. While visiting any Village GIC, it is the responsibility of the person with the service animal to keep the animal under control at all times. 

In the event an employee or Member has allergies to a service animal or expresses discomfort, Village GIC will offer alternate reasonable arrangements.

Support Persons: Village GIC is committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. Consent will be obtained from the person with a disability prior to communicating confidential information related to their business with Village GIC in the presence of the support person.

Assistive Devices: Village GIC is committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from goods, services, or facilities, or with the availability of other measures, if any, which enable them to do so. Employees are familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by persons with disabilities while accessing goods or services. Village GIC is committed to purchasing technology as required to ensure accessibility in accordance with the AODA and all associated regulations.

Employment: Employees, applicants for employment, and the general public, are notified that accommodations can be made during recruitment including any assessment and selection processes.

Employees are notified that supports are available for those with disabilities in all aspects of employment including performance management, career development, and redeployment. Village GIC has a documented process in place to develop individual accommodation plans and return to work programs for employees who have a disability or have been absent from work due to a disability.

Where needed, Village GIC will also provide customized emergency information to help an employee with a disability during an emergency.

Design of Public Spaces: We will meet accessibility laws when building or making major changes to public spaces. Currently, Village GIC’s public spaces include:

  • Exterior paths of travel e.g. sidewalks, ramps, stairs, curb ramps, rest areas, and accessible pedestrian signals

  • Accessible off-street parking

  • Service-related elements e.g. waiting areas, agent offices, etc.

Procedures are in place to prevent service disruptions to the accessible parts of our public spaces.

Notice of Temporary Disruption: Village GIC will make every reasonable effort to provide Members with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the services or facilities usually used by persons with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, the anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

Village GIC will not be able to give advance notice in case of an emergency or unanticipated disruption.

Notices will be posted in accessible locations (including the website, if possible). Printed notices will be clearly laid out, of sufficient size and easily readable, and they will be displayed prominently at entrances, on notice boards, at service workstations, or self-service kiosks.

Feedback: Village GIC is committed to providing fair and equal access to facilities, products, services, employment and programs for everyone, including persons with disabilities.

Feedback may be provided in person, by telephone, in writing, by email, or in an accessible format or with communication supports upon request.  Village GIC’s public website contains contact information.

Changes to Existing Policies: We will review and modify or remove an existing policy that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

This document is publicly available. Accessible formats are available upon request.