Accessibility

Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness is committed to ensuring that our staff, students, and clients have access to technology and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Vanier is also committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can access our services and benefit from them similarly to other clients.

Definition
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), was developed to create mandatory accessibility standards that identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. These standards apply to all private and public sector organizations across Ontario.

Responsibilities

Vanier’s commitment is to:

• develop policies and procedures to ensure all staff provide services to people with disabilities;
• make our buildings, workspaces, and meeting places accessible to visitors and employees with disabilities and;
• report on its progress in developing and implementing policies and practices to improve access, participation, and outcomes for people with disabilities.

Providing Services to People with Disabilities
Vanier is committed to excellence in serving all clients, including people with disabilities, and we will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following areas:

Communication
Vanier will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that consider their disability. We will train staff to interact and communicate with people with various disabilities.

Telephone Services
We will train staff to communicate with clients over the phone in clear and plain language. If telephone communication is not suitable for their communication needs, we will offer to communicate with clients by email or via their support person.

Assistive Devices
Vanier will ensure that staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices that clients with disabilities may use while accessing our services.

Documents and Information Sharing
Upon request, Vanier will provide reports via email, with consent, or in large print format.

Use of a Service Animal
Vanier welcomes clients and external professionals with disabilities accompanied by service animals to our premises. Vanier will ensure staff is properly trained to interact with people accompanied by service animals.

Use of a Support Person
Vanier welcomes clients and external professionals with disabilities who a support person accompanies. A person with a disability attending a training session or seminar at our agency with a support person will not be charged for the support person. Participants will be informed of this at the time of registration.

Notice of Temporary Disruption
Vanier will notify clients and external professionals in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the devices used by people with disabilities. The notice will include the reason for the disruption, the anticipated duration, and a description of alternate measures, if available. It will be placed at all public entrances.

Training for Staff

Vanier will provide training to all staff and will include the following points:

• the purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the requirements of the customer service standard;
• how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;
• how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or support person;
• what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing Vanier’s services;
• Vanier’s policies, practices, and procedures relate to the customer service standard.

New staff will receive training upon hire and receive an update when policies, practices, and procedures are changed.

Emergency Planning
The AODA requires employers to provide information about emergency response plans and public safety information. Vanier does have an evacuation safety plan posted at the entrance that includes information on fire pull stations, smoke alarms, CO alarms, fire extinguishers, and exit locations. If information is required in a more accessible format, this will be provided.

Any individual (staff, visitor, client) who requires assistance in an emergency should make it known to their supervisor (for staff) or a staff member (for visitors or clients). Emergency response plans will be developed to meet these individual needs.

Feedback Process
Feedback regarding the way Vanier provides services to people with disabilities can be made verbally, in person, or over the phone, or in writing via email or letter sent to our agency address. All feedback will be directed to the appropriate Director, who will respond within a reasonable time limit.

Monitoring and Review
This policy will be monitored and reviewed every three years according to Vanier Administrative Policy 1-40. All Vanier policies are reviewed to ensure they respect the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

Confidentiality
Any information given or collected about a person with a disability will be kept strictly confidential unless otherwise agreed to by the person(s) involved.

Feedback
If you would like to give feedback or make a complaint about accessibility difficulties you may have encountered, contact the ssimms [at] vanier.com (Executive Assistant).