Accessibility for Ontarians with a Disability Service Policy Statement
Purpose and Scope
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is a Provincial Legislation with the purpose of developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards in order to achieve accessibility for persons with disabilities with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises on or before January 1, 2025.
Ontario Regulation 429/07 entitled “Accessibility Standards for Customer Service: came into force on January 1, 2008 and applies to all employees as of January 1, 2012. This regulation establishes accessibility standards specific to customer service for public sector organizations and other persons or organizations that provide goods and services to members of the public or other third parties.
This policy is in accordance with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Ontario Regulation 429/07 and addresses the following:
- The provisions of goods and services to persons with disabilities
- The use of assistive devices by persons with disabilities
- The use of service animals by persons with disabilities
- The use of support persons by persons with disabilities
- Notice of temporary disruptions in services and facilities
- Staff training
- Feedback regarding the provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities
- Notice of availability and format of documents and meetings
This Policy applies to all members of Six S Partners. The Six S Partners members include employees, contractors, volunteers, service providers and visitors.
Our Mission
The mission of Six S Partners is to provide accessible customer service to persons who have disabilities. Six S Partners will make reasonable efforts to ensure this Policy and related practices and procedures are consistent with the following principles.
- We will provide goods or services in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.
- We will provide integrated services to persons with disabilities wherever possible and will provide alternate measures where necessary, whether temporarily or on a permanent basis, to enable a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from the goods or services.
- We will provide equal opportunity to persons with disabilities to obtain, use and benefit from the goods or services.
Our Commitment
In fulfilling our mission, Six S Partners strives at all times to provide its good and services (collectively “Services”) in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are also committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our Services and allowing them to benefit from the same Services, in the same place and in a similar way as other individuals.
Providing Goods and Services to People with Disabilities
Six S Partners is committed to excellence in serving all individuals including people with disabilities and we will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following area:
- Communication
We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.
All employees/contractors of Six S Partners will be trained and quizzed on AODA policies and how to interact/communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
- Telephone Services
We are committed to providing fully accessible telephone service to all individuals we deal with. All employees/contractors will communicate over the telephone in clear and plain language, speak clearly and slowly, as required.
We will offer to communicate with individuals by email, text, or onsite meeting if telephone communications is not suitable to their communication needs or is not available.
- Assistive Devices
We are committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from our Services.
Use of Service Animals and Support Persons
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and other third parties.
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter Six S Partners premises with his/her support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person to be prevented from having access to his/her support person while on our premises.
Notice of Temporary Disruption
Six S Partners will provide individuals with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities/services, if available.
The notice will be place at the public entrance of Six S Partners.
Training for Staff
Six S Partners will provide training to all employees/contractors. The training will be provided and completed within 30 days of hiring. Training will include the following:
- The purpose of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, and the requirements of the customer service standard
- How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
- How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Six S Partners services
- Six S Partners policies, practices, procedures relating to the customer service standard
Feedback Process
The ultimate goal of Six S Partners is to meet and surpass expectations while serving individuals with disabilities. Comments on our services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.
Feedback regarding the way Six S Partners provides services to people with disabilities can be made by emailing Human Resources at [email protected], or by phone 866-579-7497 x712 or by writing to John Preiditsch, 554 Parkside Drive, Waterloo, ON N2L 5Z4. Individuals can expect to hear back within 7 business days.
Modifications to This or Other Policies
We are committed to developing disability service policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to this policy before considering the impact of people with disabilities. Any policy of Six S Partners that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
Questions About this Policy
This policy exists to achieve service excellence to individuals with disabilities. If anyone has questions about the policy or if the purpose of a policy is not understood, an explanation should be provided by, or referred to, Human Resources at [email protected] or 866-579-7497 x712.