Information & Communications Standard Policy

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY

PLASP Child Care Services is committed to meeting the accessibility needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner and providing a barrier-free environment for our employees, volunteers, students on placement, job applicants, customers, and visitors, who enter our premises, access to our information and/or services. As an organization we respect and uphold the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation for Customer Service, Information and Communications, Employment, and Transportation set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005).

We are committed to ensuring our organization’s compliance with accessibility legislation by incorporating policies, procedures, equipment requirements, training for employees and volunteers and students on placement, and best practices. We will review these policies and practices as required. Our commitment to making our organization accessible to everyone includes integration of accessibility within our policies, procedures, programs and training.

According to AODA legislation, disability is defined as:

• 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 co- ordination, blindness or visual impairment , deafness or hearing impairment, muteness or speech impairment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
• a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
• a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
• a mental disorder, or
• an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Barrier is defined as:

• anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of his or her disability, including a physical barrier,
  an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a practice.

Intent

This policy is intended to meet the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards, Ontario Regulation 191/11 for the Information and Communications Standard set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. This policy applies to the provision of information and communication services and materials for people with disabilities.

PLASP is committed to meeting the information and communication needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. All information and communications materials and services provided by PLASP Child Care Services shall follow the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity.

Scope

This Policy applies to all PLASP employees, volunteers, students on placement and customers.

General Principles

In accordance with the Integrated Accessibility Standards, Ontario Regulation 191/11, this policy addresses the following:
A. General Requirements
B. Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
C. Accessible Websites and Web Content
D. Exceptions
E. Feedback Process

Guidelines

A. General Requirements

General requirements that apply to PLASP under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation are as follows.

Establishment of Accessibility Policies and Plans

PLASP Child Care Services will develop, implement and maintain policies governing how it will achieve accessibility through these requirements. PLASP Child Care Services is responsible for including a statement of its commitment to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner in its policies. This will be achieved through documentation in PLASP Child Care Services’ policies and making these documents publicly available, in an accessible format upon request.

PLASP Child Care Services will establish, implement, maintain and document a multiyear accessibility plan outlining its strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet its Information and Communications Standards Policy requirements under the IASR regulation. PLASP Child Care Services will post its accessibility policies and plan on their website, and provide them in an accessible format upon request. PLASP Child Care Services will review and update its accessibility plan once every five years. Annual status reports will be prepared to report on the progress of steps taken to implement PLASP Child Care Services’ accessibility plan and post this status on its website. If requested, the report shall be created in an accessible format.

Training Requirements PLASP Child Care Services will provide training for its employees, volunteers and any other staff members regarding Ontario’s accessibility laws and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Training will be provided for individuals who are responsible for developing PLASP Child Care Services’ policies, and all other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of PLASP Child Care Services in a manner that best suits their duties.

B. Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

PLASP Child Care Services will provide or arrange for the provision of all publicly available information in accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner and at no additional cost to the individual, upon request. PLASP Child Care Services will consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs, and take into account the person’s accessibility needs when customizing individual requests. PLASP Child Care Services will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.

C. Accessible Websites and Web Content

PLASP Child Care Services will ensure that our website, and where applicable web content, conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as outlined in the IASR, and will refer to the legislation for specific compliance deadlines and requirements. Web content includes any information which resides on an internet or intranet web site.

D. Exceptions

The Information and Communications Standard does not apply to products and product labels; unconvertible information or communications; or information that the organization does not control directly or indirectly through a contractual relationship. If the organization determines that information or communications are unconvertible, the organization will provide the person requesting information or communication with the following:

a. An explanation as to why the information or communications are unconvertible;
b. A summary of the unconvertible information or communications;
c. Information is regarded as unconvertible if it is not technically feasible to convert the information or communications; or if the technology to convert the information is not readily available.

E. Feedback Process

Information and Communications Standards Policy

PLASP Child Care Services will ensure that the processes in place for receiving and responding to feedback, if any, are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communications supports, upon request. PLASP Child Care Services will notify the public about the availability of these accessible formats.

Administration

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or its related procedures please contact:

PLASP Child Care Services
Vice President, Human Resources
60 Courtneypark Drive, Unit 5B, Mississauga, ON
905-890-1711

This policy and its related procedures will be reviewed as required in the event of legislative changes.