Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

This multi-year accessibility plan builds on our previous work in creating an accessible environment, identifies our accomplishments to date, and outlines the next steps in our efforts to identify and remove barriers for persons with disabilities. The current plan covers the period from 2019-2023. It is a living document which will be reviewed and updated as least once every five years.

Regulatory Requirements and Proposed and Completed Actions

Customer Service Standards

1. Develop accessible customer service policies

Required compliance date: January 1, 2012
Status: Compliant
Action: Review and revise policies as required.

2. Provide accessible customer service training
 

Required compliance date: January 1, 2012
Status: Compliant
Action: Training provided for all existing employees and new employees and volunteers. Attendance records are kept.

Integrated Accessibility Standards: General Requirements

1. Develop accessibility policies, including a statement of organizational commitment and make the policies publicly available

Required compliance date: January 1, 2014
Status: Compliant
Action: Reviewed existing policies and revised as required. Accessibility policies are available through the website or in an accessible format upon request.

2. Develop multi-year accessibility plans

Required compliance date: January 1, 2014
Status: Compliant
Action: Developed and update multi-year accessibility plan. Provide plan in accessible format, upon request.

3. Incorporate accessibility in procuring goods, services or facilities, except where it is not practicable to do so

Required compliance date: January 1, 2014
Status: Compliant
Action: Incorporated into existing Request for Proposal process and purchasing policy.

4. Training as required under the Integrated Standard

Required compliance date: January 1, 2015
Status: Compliant
Action: Training provided to all existing employees and new employees and volunteers. Attendance records are kept.

Integrated Accessibility Standards: Information and Communication Requirements

1. Accessible feedback processes  

Required compliance date: January 1, 2015
Status: Compliant
Action: Information on feedback options is available on the website and upon request. Individuals may provide feedback through online form, email, mail or telephone.

2. Accessible formats and communication supports
 

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: Information on different communication medium options is available on the website and upon request.  Every effort will be made to meet the needs and to provide the requested accessible formats and communication supports in a timely manner.

3. Emergency procedure, plans or public safety information
 

Required compliance date: January 1, 2012
Status: Compliant
Action: Information on response to external emergencies and emergency procedures, plans and public safety is available on the website and upon request. Every effort will be made to meet the needs and to provide the requested information in a timely manner.

4. Accessible websites and web content

Required compliance dates: Level AA – January 1, 2021
Status: Compliant Level AA (due to COVID-19 - new pages may contain pdfs to make risk communication readily available for the community)
Action: Information on the website will continue to meet WCAG 2.0 level AA technical requirements.

Integrated Accessibility Standards: Employment Requirements

1. Recruitment, general

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: Information on general recruitment process, including accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities through position postings on the website. 

2. Recruitment, assessment or selection process

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: Information on assessment and selection recruitment process, including accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities through position postings on the website and upon notification when an individual is selected to participate in an assessment or selection process. 

3. Notice to successful applicants

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: Successful applicants are notified of the agency’s policy on accommodation.

4. Informing employees of accommodation supports

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: Inform employees of accessibility supports through internal communication methods (e.g., memos, newsletters, electronic updates, team meetings, orientation, and staff website). 

5. Accessible formats and communication supports for employees

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: Provide accessible formats and communication supports when it is requested by an employee with a disability and the information is needed to perform the employee’s job and is generally available to employees in the workplace.

6. Workplace emergency response information

Required compliance date: January 1, 2012

Status: Compliant

Action: Provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability in accordance with the process outlined in the accommodation policy.

7. Documented individual accommodation plans

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: Develop individualized accommodation plans for employees with disabilities in accordance with the process outlined in the accommodation policy.

8. Return to work process

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: Develop return to work process for employees absent due to a disability who require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work.

9. Performance management, career development and advancement, and redeployment

Required compliance date: January 1, 2016
Status: Compliant
Action: The accessibility needs of employees with disabilities and, as applicable, their individualized accommodation plans, are considered when assessing performance, managing career development and advancement, and when redeployment is required.  Internal position postings include notification of the ability to provide accommodation.

Compliance reporting

An accessibility compliance report is submitted every three years. The compliance report confirms that our agency has met the current accessibility requirements under the AODA. The last compliance report was completed in June 2021.