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Accessibility policy

POLICY

Broder Electric Ltd. is committed to preventing, identifying, and removing barriers that impede the ability of people with disabilities to access the workplace and services.

Broder Electric will use all reasonable efforts to ensure accessibility policies are consistent to meet and fulfill the persons dignity, independence, equality and respect. As well, Broder Electric meets its current and ongoing obligation under the Ontario Human Right Code respecting non-discrimination.

POLICY Overview

All workers, contractors, and sub-contractors shall abide by the Occupational Safety Act, Broder Electric policy, and the accessibility standards regulation 429/07. As well, Broder Electric is committed to meeting its current and ongoing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code respecting non-discrimination. Broder Electric understands that obligations under the Accessibility for Ontario with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its accessibility standards do not substitute or limit its obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code or obligations to people with disabilities under any other law. Broder Electric is committee to excellence in serving and providing goods, services or facilities to all customers including people with disabilities. Our accessible customer service policies are consistent with the principles of independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity for people with disabilities.

The purpose of this policy is to outline practices and procedures to fully identify and remove barriers that impede a person’s ability to access information or services.

Disability:

According to the Ontario Human Rights code, a “Disability” is defined as:

  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 coordination, 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.
  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.

ROLES + RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Encourage people with disabilities to use their own personal assistive devices.
  • Enable people with disabilities to access our facility. This is done by ringing a buzzer at the front door. In the event the buzzer is not working there will be a number provided to call for assistance.
  • Assistance shall always be offered and never assumed that the person requires or wants assistance.
  • Allow people with guide dogs access to our facility.
  • If a service animal is excluded by law from the premises, then we will ensure that other measures are available to enable a person with disability is able to obtain services.
  • Allow those who use a support person to accompany them while on our premises.
  • Broder Electric will not require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person on the premises.

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY DISRUPTION

  • Broder Electric will provide notice when the facility is temporarily disrupted and arrange for alternative arrangement.
  • Broder Electric provides 24-hour emergency service. In the unlikely event that our service becomes interrupted, Broder Electric shall call back the customer in a reasonable amount of time to notify them of the disruption to the service if we can’t make an appointment.
  • Should any disruptions of accessibility occur at the office, Broder Electric shall immediately put up signage at the front door to explain the issue and have an alternative procedure available.
  • Broder Electric, when posting its temporary signage, will indicate the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities or services.

FORMAT OF DOCUMENTATION

  • If a person with disabilities has difficulties reading our policy or invoice, we will endeavor to adjust the documentation, so it is accessible. We can do this by increasing the front size if mailed out. We can email invoices and appointments or call them over the phone.

TRAINING

  • Broder Electric is committed to training all staff and volunteers in accessible customer service, other Ontario’s accessibility standards and aspects of Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities.
  • Broder Electric will train all people who participate in developing the organization’s policies and all other people who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of the organization.
  • We train every person we hire and keep track of their training.
  • On-going training is provided as policies change.

PUBLIC OR CLIENTS

  • Clients may have disabilities which are not visible. Care must be taken to be aware of any potential disability.
  • Assistance to clients with a mobility or balance disability shall always be offered before actually helping.
  • For speech impediment, one should never complete sentences or words for the client. Allow them the time to complete it on their own.
  • Encourage clients to use their assistive devices as much as possible.
  • Communicate to all clients that Broder Electric does have a policy for client feedback and where to find it.

COMMUNICATION

We communicate with people with disabilities in ways that consider their disability. This may include the following way:

  • Asking if the format of our invoices is acceptable or do they need that in a bigger font.
  • Always talk to the person with the disability first and not to the support person
  • If you don’t understand ask them to repeat
  • Allow a person with a disability to be accompanied by their support animal.
  • Allow people with disabilities to use their own personal assistive devices.
  • Always ask “how can I help you?” before you offer your assistance
  • Be patient and respectful
  • Don’t make assumptions about the customer
  • Allow customers to complete their sentence without interruptions.
  • Speak as you normally would using your normal tone, volume and rate.
  • If a customer has a hearing impairment don’t assume they can read lips.

FEEDBACK AND FOLLOW-UP

  • Feedback can be provided on our website under contact us/send us a message. All feedback will be responded to within 48 hours.
  • All feedback shall be discussed by the members at the next Joint Health and Safety meeting to see if any corrective actions need to be put in place or addressed to avoid future incidents. All corrective actions will be posted on the Joint Health and Safety board
  • For further clarity or information, staff may write to refer to the Ontario Guide for Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07.
  • All documents concerning accessibility shall be posted on the Joint Health and Safety board.