Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Organizations across Ontario are required to comply with accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (OADA).
The purpose of the AODA is to ensure that all businesses and organizations in Ontario, including child care, develop and implement policies and procedures in accordance with the accessibility standards outlined in the legislation. The five standards being: Customer Service standard, Transportation standard, Information and Communications standard, Built Environment standard and Employment standard.
Umbrella Central Day Care Services Inc. provides services to all children and their families including those with disabilities. Our organization will make every effort to provide service in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. Provisions of services to children and their families with disabilities will be integrated unless an alternative measure is necessary, to enable the individual to participate in services offered by Umbrella. In order to provide accessible customer service and to comply with Legislative requirements Umbrella has developed the following:
- Policies and Procedures
- Training for all staff, volunteers and students
- A system for feedback from clients/families
- A notification system for Disruption in Service
- Accommodations for those requiring assistive devices.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Customer Service Standard Policy
Standards of accessibility have been developed to help make Ontario more accessible for all. The standards are:
- Customer Service standard
- Information & Communication standard
- Employment standard
- Transportation standard
- Design of Public Spaces standard\
Customer Service Standard
The intent of this standard is to:
- 1. Provide care/services in a manner that respects dignity and independence of a person with a disability
- 2. Provide services that meet the individual needs of those with a disability
- 3. Realize that some methods may not work for another person. Work with people with a disability to find the best solution for them
- 4. Allow parents/clients to provide feedback, i.e. how to improve accessibility for those with a disability
- 5. Post disruption of service notices that may prevent clients/children from accessing our service, i.e. elevator out of service, physical barriers, etc.
- 6. Ensure Umbrella employees are trained annually on how to service those with a disability. The intent of the employee training is to learn how to interact, communicate, and use equipment/devices that will assist individuals with barriers/hurdles, etc.• All employees will be trained on Ontario’s accessibility laws as it pertains to clients/children with disability
- All employees will be trained on Ontario’s accessibility laws as it pertains to clients/children with disability
- Training will be ongoing as revisions are made to Umbrella’s policies and procedures
- Umbrella will keep a record of training provided including the names and date of each employee
Training
Under the Customer Service standard, Umbrella will provide training for all employees, volunteers and students prior to first day of employment.
Training will include
- An overview of The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005.
- Requirements and Policies for the Customer Service standard.
- How to interact and communicate with those who have various types of disabilities.
- How to interact with persons with disabilities when they require assistive devices.
- How to use particular equipment/devices for individuals with a disability.
- What to do if a person with a particular type of disability is experiencing difficulty accessing Umbrella’s services.
- As policies are revised, employees, students and volunteers will be made aware.
- Umbrella will keep a record of the training which will include the name of the person and the date they were trained.