Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Policy
United Staffing is committed to accessibility for all Ontarians, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, (AODA).
Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to communicate United Staffing’s policies, practices, and procedures that support the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”), with specific regard to the Accessibility Standard for all our staff, employees, volunteers, all those who participate in developing the organization’s policies, and all others who provide services on behalf of our organization, enacted under AODA. United Staffing seeks to ensure consistency with AODA’s core principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equality of opportunity through the removal of barriers to individuals with disabilities in the context of the services it offers.
Policy
This Policy seeks to remove barriers to individuals with disabilities by requiring, among other things, updates to applicable policies and procedures within United Staffing , including those concerning the use of personal assistive devices, service animals and support persons; alternate modes of communication and service disruption notices.
Practices, Policies and Procedures
United Staffing will establish policies, procedures, and practices flexible enough to adapt to the needs of individuals with disabilities, ensuring that the services of United Staffing are provided in a manner that gives such individuals equal opportunities of access, physical and otherwise.
Assistive Devices
Persons with disabilities are permitted to use their own assistive devices when on Company premises for the purposes of obtaining, using or benefiting from the Company’s goods and services.
Any device used to assist a person in performing a particular task(s) or to aid that person in activities of daily living. This can include a wheelchair, screen reader, listening device or cane.
Disability: the term disability as defined by the AODA and Ontario Human Rights Code refers to:
a. 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 coordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal, or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
b. a condition of mental impairment or developmental disability;
c. a learning disability, or dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
d. a mental disorder; or
e. an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
Guide Dog
Guide Dog is a highly-trained working dog that has been trained at one of the facilities listed in Ontario Regulation 58 under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, 1990 to provide mobility, safety and increased independence for people who are blind.
Service Animal
An animal is a “service animal” for a person with a disability if: • It is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability; or • the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.
Support Person
An individual hired or chosen by a person with a disability to provide services or assistance with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs or with access to goods or services. Medical needs may include, but are not limited to, monitoring an individual’s health or providing medical support by being available in the event of a seizure.
Employee Training
United Staffing will train its employees who deal directly with the public on behalf of United Staffing , as well as employees who influence the development of the organization’s policies, practices and procedures, on how to properly provide services to individuals with disabilities.
Training will be included as part of United Staffing New Employee Application Process, and on an ongoing basis, including when changes are made to relevant policies, practices and procedures.
Specifically, training will cover the following areas:
a) The purpose of AODA and the requirements;
b) The policies and procedures relating to the provision of services to disabled people;
c) How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of both visible and non-visible disabilities;
d) How to interact with persons with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a guide dog, service animal or support person.
Documenting Training
Records of the training provided, including the training protocol, the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals who attended the training will be maintained in accordance the requirements of the AODA.