Integrated Accessibility Policy

Purpose

To fulfill the requirements set out in Ontario Regulation 191/11 and to establish a policy for the Township of Algonquin Highlands on how the municipality will achieve accessibility through meeting the requirements of Ontario Regulation 191/11.

Application

This Policy and its related procedures apply to the following, unless otherwise stated:

• all Township employees, volunteers, and to any individual or organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or other third parties on behalf of the Township, in accordance with the legislation.

Commitment

The Township of Algonquin Highlands will use every reasonable effort to develop, implement and maintain policies governing how the Township will achieve accessibility and meet the requirements set out in the Integrated Accessibility Standards.  The Township will ensure that its policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the specific requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and its regulations.

Definitions

Accommodation means the special arrangement made or assistance provided so that persons with disabilities can participate in the experiences available to persons without disabilities.  Accommodation will vary depending on the person’s needs.

Disability, as defined in the Human Rights Code, means:

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 development 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.

Information includes data, facts and knowledge that exists in any format, including text, audio, digital or images, and that conveys meaning

Municipal Goods, Services or Facilities means goods, services or facilities provided by the Township of Algonquin Highlands or an agent on behalf of the Township of Algonquin Highlands.

Persons with Disabilities means those individuals that are afflicted with a disability as defined under the Ontario Human Rights Code as defined above.

Third Party means a representative of a business or organization who is receiving Township of Algonquin Highlands goods or services or acting in an official capacity.

Township means the Corporation of the Township of Algonquin Highlands.

Standards

1.0     Employment Standards

1. The Employment Standard builds upon the existing requirements under the Ontario Human Rights Code in relation to how to accommodate individuals with disabilities throughout the job application process and the employment relationship.  It applies in respect to employees and does not apply to volunteers and other non-paid individuals.
2. The Township shall notify employees and the public about the availability of accommodations for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes; will consult with selected applicants to provide and arrange for provision of a suitable accommodation, if required; and when making offers of employment, shall notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
3. The Township shall inform employees of the policies used to support employees with disabilities, including policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability, and shall provide this information to new employees as soon as practicable after they being their employment.
4. The Township will provide updated information to all employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodation that takes into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
5. A written process for the development and maintenance of documented individual accommodation plans shall be developed for employees with disabilities.  If requested, these plans shall include information regarding accessible formats and communication supports.  If requested, the plans shall include individualized workplace emergency response information.
6. The Township shall take into account the accessibility needs of its employees with disabilities as well as any individual accommodation plans when providing career development, performance management and when considering redeployment.
7. The Township shall develop a Return to Work Policy for its employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work.  This return to work process shall outline the steps that the Township shall take to facilitate the return to work.
8. The Township shall provide in individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability, if necessary and if the municipality is aware of the need.
9. The Township will consult with employees when arranging for the provision of suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the accessibility needs due to disability.  The Township will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication supports specifically for:
   1. Information that is needed in order to perform the employees job; and
   2. Information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.

2.0     Information and Communication Standards

1. The Township has established a process for receiving and responding to feedback on the manner in which the Township provides good and services to persons with disabilities and will ensure that these processes are provided in accessible formats and with communication supports upon request.  Members of the public may provide feedback through the Township’s website, through the [email protected] email address, by telephone at 705-489-2379 and in person.
2. The Township shall ensure that the municipal website and web content confirms to the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 as set out in the Integrated Accessibility Standards timelines and requirements.
3. The Township will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for any established process for receiving and responding to feedback, upon request and shall ensure that the processes are accessible to persons with disabilities.
4. The Township, upon request, will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to the disability and at a cost that is no more that the regular cost charged to other persons.
5. The Township shall provide information on municipal emergency procedures, plans or public safety information that is available to the public in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.

3.0     Transportation Standards

1. The Township currently does not provide public transportation.
2. The Township does not licence taxi cabs.

Procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities

The Township of Algonquin Highlands shall consider accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services, or facilities, except where it is not practicable to do so.  In which case, an explanation will be provided upon request.

The Township of Algonquin Highlands Purchasing Policy has provided an inclusion within the policy to have regard to the accessibility for persons with disabilities to the goods, services and construction purchased by Township of Algonquin Highlands.

Training

The Township is committed to training all staff and volunteers in accessible customer service, other Ontario’s accessibility standards and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities. We train every person as soon as practicable after being hired and provide training in respect of any changes to the policies.

Guiding principals

To implement this policy, Senior Management shall:

1. Establish practices and procedures;
2. Evaluate and review practices and procedures annually; and
3. Revise practices and procedures as required.

Other

The Township shall, upon request, provide a copy of the policies, practices and procedures required under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation 191/11 to any person, and shall make every reasonable effort to provide said documents in an accessible format.