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Accessibility Standards Policy

Category	Administration Policy
Policy Number	CORP-01-003
Effective Date	July 1, 2016
Revision Date
Supersedes	CORP-01-001 and CORP-01-002
Coverage	All Town Departments

Policy Statement

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is committed to providing people with disabilities consistent opportunity and access to Town goods, services, and facilities. The Town will ensure that policies, procedures, and practices are provided in a manner that is timely and addresses integration, independence, dignity, and equal opportunity. The Town will endeavor to follow the compliance schedule of the legislation when implementing each of the requirements addressed in this policy.

Scope

This policy applies to all members of the Town, including members of Council, employees, members of Advisory Committees, co-op students and volunteers. It also applies to all agents operating or conducting work for the Town.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to facilitate the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury’s regulatory compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (Ontario Regulation 191/11) of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). The AODA and its Regulation indicate that failure to comply with the requirements set out in the Act and Regulation may result in administrative penalties for the obligated organization.

This policy outlines the overall strategic direction that the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will follow in the identification, removal, and prevention of barriers to people with disabilities to ensure access to The Town’s goods, services, and facilities.

As of July 1, 2016 The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act: Ontario Regulation 249/07 has been consolidated into the AODA Ontario Regulation 191/11 Integrated Accessibility Standards.

Policy Communication

Staff will be advised of this consolidated policy via email distribution as well as posting of the new policy in public work spaces.

Policy

Use of Service Animals, Support Persons, and Assistive Devices

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, in its provision of goods, services and facilities to customers, will ensure that a person with a disability who is accompanied by a guide dog or other service animal is permitted to enter Town owned and operated premises with the animal and to keep the animal with them unless the animal is otherwise excluded by law from the premises. If a service animal is excluded by law, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will ensure that other measures are available to enable a person with a disability to obtain, use, or benefit from The Town’s goods or services.

If a person with a disability is accompanied by a support person, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will ensure that both people are permitted to enter the premises together and that the person with a disability is not prevented from having access to the support person while on the premises.

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, in providing goods, services or facilities, may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person when on the premises, but only if, after consulting with the person with a disability and considering the available evidence the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury determines that a support person is necessary to protect the health and safety of the person with a disability or the health and safety of others on the premises and there is no other reasonable way to protect the health and safety of the person with a disability or others on the premises.

If a fee is payable for a person’s admission to the premises or in connection with a person’s presence at the premises, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury shall ensure that notice is given in advance about the fee, if any, payable in respect of the support person. If the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury requires a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person when on the premises, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury shall waive payment of the amount, if any, payable in respect of the support person’s admission or presence on the premises.

If a person with a disability requires the use of personal assistive devices to access goods, services and facilities offered by the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, The Town will ensure that the person is not prevented from having access to the devices while on The Town’s premises. The Town may also have additional assistive devices available at its premises for use by people with disabilities while accessing Town goods and services.

Notice of Temporary Disruptions

If there are temporary disruptions to facilities or services often used by people with disabilities to access The Town’s goods or services, The Town will give notice of the disruption to the public.

The notice of disruption shallcontain information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities or services, if any, that are available. Notice may be given by posting the information at a conspicuous place on the

premises, by posting it on the public website, or by such other method as is reasonable in the circumstances.

Accessibility Plans

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will establish, implement, maintain, and document a multi-year accessibility plan that will outline The Town’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers to people with disabilities and meet the requirements under accessibility legislation. The plan will be established in consultation with the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. Members of the public, including those with disabilities, will be encouraged to provide input into the plan. Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Council will review and endorse the multi-year accessibility plan.

The Town will review and update the accessibility plan at least once every five years. As with the initial development of the plan, the Accessibility Advisory Committee and members of the public will be consulted during the updating of the plan. Council will be presented with the updated plan for review and approval.

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will prepare an annual status report, which will outline the progress of measures taken to implement the plan and The Town’s strategy to identify, prevent, and remove barriers to those with disabilities. The annual status reports will be presented to the Accessibility Advisory Committee and Council.

The Town will make all accessibility plans and annual status reports available to the public. All plans and reports will be posted on The Town’s website and made available at Town facilities. The Town will provide the documents in an accessible format, upon request,

Procuring or Acquiring Goods, Services or Facilities

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities. Providers are required to be aware of legislative requirements and ensure that any good or service is completed to meet the standards.

Training

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will ensure that training is provided on the requirements of accessibility standards and on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to people with disabilities. Such training will be provided to all paid employees, Council members, Advisory Committee members, co-op students and volunteers. Anyone who participates in the development of Town policies will also be trained.

All other people who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of The Town are responsible for ensuring all their employees have been trained are in compliance with the AODA, 2005.

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will provide training that is appropriate to the duties of the employees, volunteers, and other parties. Training will be provided as soon as practicable. Training on any policy changes will be provided on an ongoing basis.

In 2013 the Human Resources and Clerk’s Division held group training on the IASO and Human Rights Code for all existing employees. New employees are trained on both during their orientation on an ongoing basis. New council members and volunteers are trained on these two topics when they join the organization.

The Town will keep records of the training provided, including the dates of the training and the number of individuals to whom training is provided.

Feedback

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will ensure that the processes for receiving and responding to feedback are accessible to people with disabilities. Upon request, accessible formats or communication supports will be provided or arranged.

Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

Upon request, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will provide, or arrange for the provision of, accessible formats or communication supports for people with disabilities.

These accessible formats and communication supports will be provided in a timely manner and in a way that takes into account the individual’s accessibility needs. The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of an accessible format or communication support. Such accessible documents and communication supports will be provided at a cost no greater than the regular cost charged to others.

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports, upon request, by including a notice on its website and on many of the documents produced by The Town. If a document, or portions of a document, cannot be converted into an accessible format, The Town will provide an explanation or summary of such information in an accessible format.

Emergency Procedure, Plan or Public Safety Information

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will, upon request, provide emergency procedure, plan and public safety information in an accessible format or with communication support, as soon as practicable.

Accessible Websites and Web Content

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will ensure that its external Internet websites and web content published on or after January 1, 2012, conform to the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, initially at Level A and increasingly to Level AA, except where it is not practicable. This applies to websites, web content and web-based applications that The Town controls directly or through a contractual relationship that allows for modification.

Recruitment, Assessment and Selection

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is committed to equal consideration of candidates during the recruitment, assessment, and selection process. Job applicants, including the public and current Town employees, will be notified of the availability of accommodations for people with disabilities in its application process.

Individuals selected to participate in assessment or selection processes, such as an interview or testing, will be notified of the availability of accommodations, upon request, during such an assessment or selection process. In cases where accommodations due to disability are requested, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will consult with the individual and provide or arrange for suitable accommodations in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s disability needs. Accommodations will be provided with respect to the materials or processes used in recruitment.

When making offers of employment, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.

Informing Employees of Supports

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will inform employees of its policies, and any updates to such policies, used to support employees with disabilities. The Town will provide this information to new employees as soon as practicable after commencing employment. This includes policies on providing job accommodations that take into account the employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.

Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will, when requested by an employee with a disability, consult with the employee to provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for information that is required in order to perform the job, as well as information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will consult with the employee making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

Workplace Emergency Response Information

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is committed to ensuring the safety of its employees. Individualized workplace emergency response information will be provided to employees who have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary and the employer is aware of the employee’s need. This information will be provided as soon as practicable after The Town becomes aware of the need for accommodation.

When an employee requires assistance in an emergency, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will, with the employee’s consent, provide such information to the person designated by The Town to provide assistance.

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will review the individualized workplace emergency response information when the employee moves to a different location in the organization, when the employee’s overall accommodation needs and plans are reviewed, and when The Town reviews its general emergency policies.

Documented Individual Accommodation Plans

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will develop a written process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities. The individual accommodation plan will include:

If requested, any information regarding accessible formats and communication supports provided to the employee;
If required, individualized workplace emergency response information; and
Any other accommodations that are to be provided.

Return to Work Process

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will maintain its documented return to work process for employees with a disability and who require disability-related accommodation in order to return to work.

The Town’s return to work process will outline the steps The Town will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the process.

This return to work process will not replace or override any other return to work process created by or under any other statute (i.e., the Workplace Safety Insurance Act, 1997).

Performance Management, Career Development and Advancement, and Redeployment

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities and any individual accommodation plans when providing any performance management, career development, and advancement. When redeploying employees (reassigning employees to other departments or jobs within the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury as an alternative to layoff when a particular job or department has been eliminated), The Town will also take into account the employee’s accessibility needs due to disability and any individual accommodation plan.

Transportation Standards

Conventional and Specialized Transit Services

The Town is committed to providing accessible transportation in accordance with the IASR under the AODA and in particular, Part IV, Transportation Standards, of such Regulation. BWG Transit has the Accessible Transit Services Handbook which outlines how the Town has made transit accessible in further detail. The Town will ensure that the following, including but not limited to, are considered in the implementation and operation of transit:

transit stops are accessible;

courtesy seating is reserved for persons with disabilities through signage;

there will be no fare disparity between persons with disabilities and other riders, and no fee charged for the storage of mobility aids;

those who require a support person to accompany them may have that support person travel free of charge by applying for a Support Person Pass through the Town.

Municipally Licensed Taxicabs

Owners and operators of taxicabs licensed by the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will operatein accordance with the AODA and the IASR. The Town will ensure that taxicabs:

do not charge a higher fare or additional fees to persons with disabilities;

do not charge for the storage of assistive devices or the time to load assistive devices; and

have information, such as identification badge and license number, displayed and available in an accessible format to passengers;

place vehicle registration and identification information on the rear bumper of the taxicab.

Design of Public Spaces (Built Environment)

Buildings

Ontario's Building Code has been amended to include enhancements to accessibility in buildings.  As of January 1, 2015, new construction and renovations will be subject to updated accessibility requirements which the Town’s Chief Building Official and Building Inspectors will implement. Future Town buildings will comply with the Building Code and take additional accessibility features into mind.

Public Spaces

The standard for the design of public spaces only applies to new construction and major changes to existing features. The Town will comply with requirements related to the IASR in the Design of Public Spaces (Ontario Regulation 191/11) when creating, renovating and modifying municipal trails, paths, parks, play spaces, and parking.

Policy Development and Review

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury developed this policy in accordance with provincial legislation. The Town reviews the accessibility policies every year, unless there is new or changed legislation at which point the policies are reviewed immediately. When changes occur to the policies that require staff training, it will be held in accordance with the training section of this policy.