ACCESSIBILITY WORKS Webinar – March 25, 2014 LOUIE DI PALMA

Purpose of this Session Part 1: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) explained Part 2: Overview of Accessibility Requirements Part 3: Filing a Report (20+ employees) Part 4: What’s Next Part 5: Resources

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) GOAL: An accessible Ontario by 2025 Ontario passed the Act in 2005 Accessibility standards: Rules businesses and organizations must follow to identify, prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities

Question True/False 1 in 15 Ontarians have a disability

Disabilities Defined AODA definition is the same as Ontario Human Rights Code (www.ohrc.on.ca) Includes visible and invisible disabilities: Broad range of physical disabilities Developmental disabilities Learning disabilities Mental health disabilities Injury or disability (where benefits are claimed or received under Workplace Safety and Insurance Act) Covers short-term, long-term and permanent disabilities

What are the Barriers? Attitudinal Information and communication Policy and procedure Architectural/Structural

Accessibility Standards Ontario has developed 5 accessibility standards: Customer service Employment Information and communications Transportation Design of Public Spaces

Who is Required to Comply? ALL Ontario organizations that: have 1+ employees in Ontario provide goods or services directly to the public to other businesses or organizations Counting Employees: Full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract employees

2012 Accessibility Requirements By January 1, 2012 businesses and non-profits were required to: Create a plan to provide Accessible Customer Service Train your staff on Accessible Customer Service Keep your employees and customers safe December 31, 2012 Organizations with 20 or more employees were required to file a report

Creating a Customer Service Plan Your Plan should include policies, practices or procedures on: Assistive Devices Service Animals and Support Persons Communication Feedback process Notice of temporary disruption of service Training Consistent with principles of: Independence, Dignity, Integration, Equal Opportunity

Assistive Devices Create a policy outlining: How your business or organization deals with the use of personal assistive devices The availability of assistive measures on your premises

Question True or False If a customer enters your place of work, and you notice they are wearing a hearing aid, you should take out a piece of paper and communicate through writing.

Support Person Allow support person to accompany the person with a disability If not permitted (e.g. change rooms), provide alternative ways to access your goods or services Clearly state in policies if admission fees apply 14

Service Animals Allow Service animals in areas open to the public, unless excluded by law If animal is excluded: Bring goods or services to the person Offer a safe location where the service animal can wait Offer assistance to person with a disability while they are separated from the service animal 15

Question Yes or No? Alex enters a local restaurant accompanied by his service dog. Should the waiter restrict him from eating at the restaurant?

Communication Take into account the person’s disability and be prepared to communicate in different ways: In writing Use of pictures By telephone Online Choose the right word Train all staff about different disabilities

Question Which statement is proper? A) My client this afternoon was a disabled person. B) My client this afternoon was a person with a disability.

Feedback Determine a feedback process Develop action steps to respond to a complaint Let people know you have a feedback process in place. You could post a notice near the cash register or on your website.

Disruption of Services Provide notice if facilities or services are temporarily unavailable Clearly state: The reason for disruption; anticipated duration; and alternative facilities or service, if available

Training Train staff on providing accessible customer service Decide on a format that meets your needs Who needs to be trained? Provide training on an ongoing basis when: policies change a new person is hired an employee is assigned duties where training is required under the standard   20+ employees maintain training records

20 + Employees Document policies, practices procedures and make them accessible File an accessibility report online File online at ontario.ca/AccessON - Click ‘Here’s how to file your report’ What you need: Computer, email and 20 minutes You will need your business number Binding authority to file report Supports: Step-by-step guide to walk you through process AODA contact centre: 1-866-515-2025

Emergency Requirements Keeping Employees and Customers Safe Provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees with disabilities, when necessary Make publicly available emergency or safety information accessible, on request

Accessibility Reporting Who needs to report? Businesses and organizations covered by an accessibility standard Exemptions: Customer Service: organizations with fewer than 20 employees IASR: organizations with fewer than 50 employees File report on-line (simple checklist format) Make your accessibility report available to the public

Accessibility Reporting When do you need to report? Private sector and non-profit organizations required to submit AODA compliance report in 2012 and 2014, then every three years thereafter. Passed and upcoming deadline to submit online compliance report Private and non-profit organizations with 20-49 employees Private and non-profit organizations with 50+ employees By December 31, 2012 Customer Service Standard By December 31, 2014 + IASR Requirements for 2012, 2013 and 2014 Next compliance report to be submitted by December 31, 2017.

What’s Next Accessibility Requirements Based on organization type (public, private, non-profit) and size, and what they provide Phased-in approach Planning ahead: Accessible information Websites Public Spaces

AODA Compliance Wizard Answer a few questions about your organization, and the Wizard will give you a personalized summary of what you have to do and by when Free and user-friendly The Wizard can be found at www.ontario.ca/AccessON

For more information, contact: Service Ontario (AODA Contact Centre) Toll-free: 1-866-515-2025 TTY: 416-325-3408 / Toll-free: 1-800-268-7095 Fax: 416-325-3407 Email: accessibility@ontario.ca Website: ontario.ca/AccessON Ontario Chamber of Commerce Louie DiPalma Tel: 416-482-5222 ext.227 Email: louiedipalma@occ.on.ca Website: www.accessibilityworks.ca

An initiative of: