Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
Background
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) was created with the goal of developing standards that would improve accessibility for people with disabilities across the province. AODA allows the Provincial government to develop specific standards of accessibility to enforce them. The standards are made into regulations pursuant to the AODA.
Related Policies
Our Commitment Centre for Skills strives to meet the needs of its employees and customers with disabilities and is working hard to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility.
Our organization is committed to fulfilling our requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This accessibility plan outlines the steps Centre for Skills is taking to meet those requirements and to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.
Our plan shows how Centre for Skills will play its role in making Ontario an accessible province for all Ontarians. This document includes a summary of the accessibility initiatives the Centre for Skills has completed.
Customer Service
Centre for Skills is committed to providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities. This means that we will provide services to people with disabilities with the same high quality and timeliness as others.
Centre for Skills is in compliance with the Customer Service Standard. Staff, students and volunteers of Centre for Skills are trained on accessible customer service.
When communicating with a person with a disability, they will do so in a manner that takes into account the disability. Persons with disabilities may use assistive devices and/or support persons when accessing our service. Service animals are accommodated.
Information and Communications
Centre for Skills is committed to making our information and communications accessible to people with disabilities. Centre for Skills is committed to providing information to persons with disabilities in a format that takes into account their disability. Upon request, information will be made available in alternate format.
Feedback is invited and may be submitted directly to our CEO.Centre for Skills trains staff and volunteers on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
Centre for Skills will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. Our website and web content meets the WCAG standards, Level AA, and is user friendly for people with disabilities. We will consult with those who require an alternative format.
Centre for Skills will provide clients and students with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
Employment
Centre for Skills is committed to fair and accessible employment practices to prevent barriers for applicants throughout the recruitment process. All postings include contact information for those requiring an accommodation. Human Resources will consult with applicants who require accommodation in the recruitment process, including interviews and assessments. All new hires are required to review our AODA policy and complete the associated training. We consult with employees requiring any accommodation to their job and make the necessary adjustments to ensure they are able to perform their duties successfully.
Training
Centre for Skills is committed to providing training in the requirements of Ontario’s accessibility laws and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it applies to people with disabilities. All employees, students, volunteers and third parties who deal with the public on our behalf complete AODA when they join the organization, which includes a review of the related policies made available on our intranet. We will consult with those who require training in an accessible format.
Training will include:
- An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the accessible 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 a support person.
- How to use the devices available at each site that may help with services for individuals with disabilities.
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing Centre for Skills’ services.
- Centre for Skills’ policies, practices and procedures relating to the accessible customer service standard. Centre for Skills will keep records of the training provided and completed by staff.
- All staff and volunteers will be trained on policies, practices and procedures that affect the way goods and services are provided to people with disabilities. Staff and volunteers will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.
Design of Public Spaces
Centre for Skills will meet accessibility laws when building or making major changes to public spaces. Centre for Skills will put procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to the accessible parts of our public spaces.
For More Information
For more information on this accessibility plan, and for accessible formats of this document, please contact:
Centre for Skills Development
Tel: 905-333-3499 / 1-888-315-5521
Email: lisa.rizzato@centreforskills.ca
www.centreforskills.ca