Statement of Commitment to Accessibility
Altispace Inc. Products is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders including our clients/customers, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services.
We are committed to work in partnership with staff, volunteers and the community to identify, prevent and remove barriers to participation. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), and its associated standards and regulations.
Altispace Inc. Products understands that we have a responsibility for ensuring a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for everyone. We are committed to ensuring our organization’s compliance by incorporating accessibility legislation into our policies, procedures, equipment requirements, training, and best practices. We will review these policies and practices annually, as organizational changes occur, or in anticipation of compliance deadlines. In addition, we will strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.
Providing an accessible and barrier-free environment is a shared effort, and as an organization, Altispace Inc. Products is committed to working with the necessary parties to make accessibility for all a reality.
Assistive devices
People with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing our goods, services or facilities.
In cases where the assistive device presents a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern or may not be permitted for other reasons, other measures will be used to ensure the person with a disability can access our goods, services or facilities.
We will ensure that our employees are trained and familiar with various assistive devices we have on site or that we will provide that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods, services or facilities.
Communication
Altispace Inc. Products will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that consider their disability. We will work with the person with a disability to determine what method of communication works for them.
Service animals
We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public. If service animals are prohibited by another law, we will make alternative arrangements to ensure people with disabilities can access our goods, services or facilities.
Support persons
Persons with disabilities may enter Altispace Inc. Products premises accompanied by a support person and may have access to that support person at all times.
In certain cases, Altispace Inc. Products may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person where it is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health and safety of others on the premises.
Consent from the person with a disability is required when communicating private issues related to the person with a disability, in the presence of a support person.
Notice of temporary disruption
In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities Altispace Inc. Products will notify customers promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. We may not be able to give advance notice in case of an emergency disruption.
In order to make information accessible, the signs and printed notices will be clearly laid out. They will be displayed prominently at the entrance to Altispace Inc. Products main office.
Altispace Inc. Products Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2021 – 2026
Overview
Altispace Inc. Products Multi-Year Accessibility Plan is intended to outline and identify the policies, processes and plans the company currently has in place, is in the process of developing and/or implementing or intends to develop and/or implement in response to the requirements established by the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR).
Altispace Inc. Products will review and update this plan at least once every five (5) years or more frequently if required.
| Accessibility Requirement | Action | Deadline/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Accessible Customer Service PolicyDevelop and implement an Accessible Customer Service Policy addressing all requirements under the regulation.Develop and deliver training to all staff, volunteers, and individuals completing work on behalf of Altispace Inc. Products that may aid the public. Provide training to all new staff.Develop and make public a process for receiving and responding to feedback from customers with disabilities. |
Altispace Inc. Products has developed and implemented an Accessible Customer Service Policy specific to the organization. This policy is updated and maintained by the HR department. All new staff are required to participate in and complete AODA Customer Service Training* within their first week of employment with the company. Certification/record of completed training is retained by the company
Altispace Inc. Products has developed and made public a process for receiving and responding to feedback from customers with disabilities. The feedback process is inclusive of multiple means by which feedback can be received, including by phone, TTY, in-person, by email and by written correspondence. Client-facing employees have been informed of and trained on the company’s feedback process. |
January 1, 2012 Completed and ongoing for new staff, volunteers, and individuals completing work on behalf of Altispace Inc. Products |
| General Requirements Accessibility PoliciesCreate and make public a statement of commitment.Develop and implement company-specific accessibility policies. |
Altispace Inc. Products has created and made public a statement of commitment. The statement of commitment is located on the company’s website and in the reception area of our office. Altispace Inc. Products policies and procedures have been reviewed to identify current and future barriers to accessibility. Identified barriers have been addressed and policies amended. | January 1, 2014 Completed and ongoing. Policies reviewed annually to ensure legislative compliance. |
| Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Create and make public a multi-year accessibility plan. Provide the plan in accessible formats upon request.Review the plan every five (5) years. |
The Accessibility Plan has been created to include training, procedures, and policy development to ensure the identification and removal of barriers. The plan has been approved and is available to the public.Requests for accessible formats of this document will be forwarded to the HR Manager who will work with the individual to determine the most suitable format.This plan will be amended as required and will be reviewed fully by January 1, 2021 and every five (5) years thereafter. | January 1, 2014 Completed and ongoing |
| Training Train all employees, including contract and unpaid mentees/interns on applicable IASR requirements and the organization’s responsibilities under the Human Rights Code (as it pertains to persons with disabilities). |
Training for new employees will be delivered by the Health and safety Representative within the first week of employment and includes:
|
January 1, 2015 Completed and ongoing |
| Information and Communication Standard Accessible Websites and Web Content Ensure website and web content published after January 1, 2012 conforms to the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, level A. |
Reviewed standards with third party site developer and tested for WCAG standard. Current accessibility score is 92% tested using Lighthouse | January 1, 2014 Completed and ongoing |
| Feedback
Upon request, be able to receive and respond to feedback from individuals inquiring about our accessibility plan. |
A process for receiving and responding to accessible feedback requests has been developed and communicated to all relevant employees. | January 1, 2015 Completed |
| Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
Upon request, provide accessible formats and communication supports to individuals with disabilities. Notify the public of the availability of accessible formats and communication supports. Where a communication support or accessible format cannot be provided immediately, consult with the client to arrange for a suitable format as soon as possible. |
Altispace Inc. Products welcomes feedback, including feedback about the delivery of our services to persons with disabilities. Altispace Inc. Products will investigate and respond to all complaints in a timely, thorough and objective manner. All customers can submit feedback or questions to:
|
January 1, 2016 Completed |
| Employment Standards Workplace Emergency Response Information Create and implement individualized plans to assist employees with disabilities during an emergency.Obtain consent from employees with individualized plans to disclose emergency response or evacuations plans to the person responsible for assisting the employee in situations where the plan requires the assistance of a colleague.Create and provide emergency information formatted in such a way that the employee with the disability can understand its contents/direction as soon as practicable following the receipt of the request and/or becoming aware of the need for an individualized plan. Review the individualized plan/information:
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Altispace Inc. Products provides for an emergency plan for all individuals that may require assistance. Any employee that has identified as requiring assistance expressly acknowledges that they give consent to any authorized individual responding to the emergency. Authorized individual as the contact acknowledges that they understand the importance of confidentially in protecting the privacy of the individual. The plan is reviewed should the authorized individual appointed to assist or the individual that requires assistance moves location or leave the company. | January 1, 2012 Completed and ongoing based on employee needs |
| Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
Develop and implement a written process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with |
As per IASR requirements, the plan includes the following elements:
|
January 1, 2016 Ongoing |
| Recruitment, Assessment, and Selection
Notify employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in the company’s recruitment processes. During the recruitment process, notify applicants selected to participate in our selection and assessment processes that accommodations are available upon request and in relation to the materials and/or processes used by Altispace Inc. Products. Should a job applicant request accommodation, consult with the Notify successful applicants of the company’s policies for accommodating employees with disabilities. |
Altispace Inc. Products employment practices include notification of the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment and selection process. We will provide supports for internal employees with disabilities and inform employees of such supports. Supports will be provided for emergency response, their health & safety as well as any on the job support required. | January 1, 2016 Completed and ongoing |
| Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees
Where an employee with a disability requests it, work with that individual to provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for:
|
The availability of accessible formats and communication supports has been communicated to all employees upon hire.Employees requiring accessible formats or communication supports will be requested to notify HR so that alternate arrangements may be made. | January 1, 2015 Ongoing |
| Information for Employees
Communicate the company’s policy on accommodating employees with Ensure that all new hires are informed of the company’s policy on |
Policy is included in our employee handbook and distributed to all new employees upon hire and to existing employees on an annual basis. | January 1, 2016 Ongoing |
| Processes to Accommodate Employees/Return to Work Process
Create a process to develop accommodation plans and return to work plans for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability |
Accommodation policy including provisions for return to work is included as part of our onboarding of new employees and found in our employee handbook as reference for existing employees. Individual return to work plans are created as deemed necessary. |
January 1, 2016 Ongoing |
| Accessible Performance Management, Career Development and Job ChangesEnsure the organization’s performance management and career development opportunities account for the accessibility needs and plans of employees and that these processes are inclusive and barrier-free. |
Continuously evaluate Altispace Inc. Products’ performance management and career development processes to identify barriers. Develop processes to ensure that such functions are completely accessible. | January 1, 2016 Ongoing |
| Redeployment
Consider the accessibility needs and accommodation plans of employees |
The Health and Safety representative in collaboration with HR will ensure any disability an employee has will be accommodated should he/ she move to another department | January 1, 2016 Ongoing |
Feedback process
Altispace Inc. Products welcomes feedback, including feedback about the delivery of our services to persons with disabilities. Altispace Inc. Products will investigate and respond to all complaints in a timely, thorough and objective manner. All customers can submit feedback or questions to:
- Human Resources department at ext 223. TTY users can use the Bell Relay System by calling 711 (TTY to Voice) or 1-800-855-0511 (Voice to TTY) • by mail to Altispace Inc. Products, HR Department, Tillsonburg Ontario N4G 2R5
- by emailing hr@cedarcrestwood.com
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