Accessibility Policy

Country Signs is committed to providing an environment that allows our employees, job applicants, suppliers, visitors, and others who access our services or premises to maintain their dignity and independence by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility. Our organization is committed to ensuring compliance with accessibility legislation and to providing equal opportunities and integration.

Country Signs respects and upholds its requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), (referred to as “AODA” or the “Act”) and its various regulations and standards.

Country Signs will train its staff on Ontario’s accessibility laws and accessibility aspects of the Human Rights Code that apply to persons with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of the employees. A record of training will also be kept on file.

All new hires will be trained in the accessibility policies of Country Signs as part of their orientation when they start with the company.  Should a new hire require accommodation, Country Signs will provide appropriate accommodation up until the point of undue hardship.

Country Signs is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. When asked, our organization will provide information and communication materials in accessible formats or with communication support(s). This includes publicly available information about our goods, services, and facilities. 

Country Signs will provide, as needed, customized workplace emergency plans for its employees who have disabilities.

Country Signs will amend this statement of commitment from time to time as regulations come into force that apply to its organization.

Country Signs makes reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by the Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Code. It is the individual’s responsibility to ask for reasonable accommodation(s) if needed. Employees who would like to request reasonable accommodation should contact Human Resources.

Country Signs will work with the individual employee to identify the barriers that make it difficult for him/her to have an equal opportunity to perform the job. The organization will then work with the individual to identify reasonable accommodations to help eliminate these barriers and create an Individual Accommodation Plan. The employee may ask a representative from the workplace to participate in the development of the accommodation plan.

Where required, reasonable accommodation(s) will be provided up to the point of undue hardship. However, Management will determine the most appropriate means of reasonable accommodation in the circumstances. Medical certification of both the disability and the need for accommodation may be required. A medical or other expert may be engaged to help determine if/how the employee’s needs can be accommodated. Any costs associated with using an expert will be incurred by the company. Country Signs shall take every reasonable precaution to protect the employee’s private personal information. Only authorized individuals shall have access to such confidential medical information.

 Any employee who has an individual accommodation plan, that plan will be reviewed annually or sooner should the need arise.

 Country Signs will take the following steps with an employee that has been off due to a disability and requires accommodation upon their return:

1.  Management and Human Resources will meet with the employee prior to their return to discuss modifications required to facilitate a smooth transition upon their return.

2.  Ensure that the employee’s privacy is protected with regards to any personal information that is shared between the employee and Country Signs. Only authorized individuals shall have access to such confidential information,

3.  Request medical documentation from the returning employee’s medical doctor to ensure a smooth transition back to work.

4.  Complete an IAP form with the employee and his/her manager and Human Resources based on the employee’s FAF.

5.   The individual accommodation plan for the returning employee will be reviewed and modified annually or sooner if required.

Accessibility for Ontarians – Customer Service Standards

Country Signs is committed to the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (Customer Service Standard).

 1. Purpose and Commitment

Our organization is committed to maintaining an accessible environment for people with disabilities in the delivery of its goods and services. The Company will use reasonable efforts to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures governing the provision of its services to persons with disabilities are consistent with the following principles:

·         goods and services are provided in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.

·         People with disabilities can benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way to other clients.

·         People with disabilities have opportunities equal to others to obtain, use and benefit from the Company’s goods or services.

2.  Definitions

For the purposes of this policy:

 “Disability” means,

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 physical co-ordination, 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 a developmental disability,

c)   a learning disability, or a 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” means a dog trained as a guide for a person who is blind or visually impaired.

 “Service animal” An animal is a service animal for a person with a disability if,

a.       the animal can be readily identified as one that is being used by the person for reasons relating to the person’s disability, as a result of visual indicators such as the vest or harness worn by the animal; or

b.       where the person provides documentation from one of the following regulated health professionals confirming that he or she requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability:

(i)    A member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario.

(ii)  A member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario.

(iii)  A member of the College of Nurses of Ontario.

(iv)   A member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.

(v)    A member of the College of Optometrists of Ontario.

(vi)   A member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

(vii)  A member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

(viii) A member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

(ix)   A member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental health Therapists of Ontario.

 “Support person” means, in relation to a person with disabilities, another person who accompanies him or her in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods and services.

 "Assistive device" is a technical aid, communication device or other instrument that is used to maintain or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. Personal assistive devices are typically devices that customers bring with them such as a wheelchair, walker or a personal oxygen tank that might assist in hearing, seeing, communicating, moving, breathing, remembering and/or reading.

3.  Application of Policy

This policy applies to the Company’s services that are provided externally to the public or third parties.

 The policy applies to all staff at Country Signs, suppliers, and visitors to Company properties. All Company properties (including job sites) are accountable for providing accessibility to persons with disabilities.

 4.   Providing goods and services to persons with disabilities

Country Signs is committed to excellence in serving its customers, including persons with disabilities, and will carry out its functions and responsibilities by:

·         Communicating with persons with disabilities in ways that considers their disability.

•         Serving persons with disabilities who use personal assistive devices. Country Signs will provide its staff with training on how to use the assistive devices available on Company premises.

•         Ensuring that persons with disabilities who are accompanied by their guide dog or other service animals are permitted to enter the premises of the Company with the animal and to keep the animal with them, unless the animal is excluded by law from the premises.

•         Ensuring that persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person are permitted to enter the Company’s premises with their support person. At no time will persons with disabilities who are accompanied by their support person be prevented from having access to their support person while on `Company’s premises.

 5.   Support Person

Persons with disabilities may enter the Company premises with a support person and have access to the support person while on the premises.

 Country Signs may require persons with disabilities to be accompanied by a support person when on the premises, but only if a support person is necessary to protect the health and safety of the person with disabilities or the health or safety of others on the premises.

 6.     Service Animals

A person with disabilities may be accompanied by a guide dog or other service animal when on Company premises. If service animals are excluded by law from certain areas of the premises, the Company will provide other resources or support(s) to enable the person with disabilities to access the services and goods offered by our organization.

 7.       Notice of temporary disruption

Country Signs will notify the public in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by persons with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

The notices will be posted at all public entrances and service counters or communicated by such method as is reasonable in the circumstances.

8.  Training for staff

Country Signs will train its staff and other individuals who provide services to the public on the Company’s behalf on the provision of its goods or services to persons with disabilities.

 The training will be provided as soon as practicable after a staff commences his or her duties and will include the following topics:

•    the purposes 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 persons with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a guide dog, service animal or a support person.

•    how to use or access the equipment or devices available on our premises or otherwise that may help with the provision of goods or services to persons with disabilities.

•    what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing the Company’s goods and services; and

•     the Company’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the client service standard.

 Country Signs will provide training on an ongoing basis when changes are made to Company policies, practices and procedures governing the provision of goods or services to persons with disabilities.

 9.   Feedback process

Country Signs welcomes any feedback regarding the methods it uses to provide goods and services to persons with disabilities. Individuals may provide their feedback in person, by telephone, in writing, or by delivering an electronic text or by email to feedback@countrysigns.ca or by calling Human Resources at 905-936-5888.

Complaints may be made in writing to Human Resources, which will be reviewed and assessed when received. Where possible Human Resources will address the issues. If a complaint cannot be addressed, Human Resources will advise the complainant.

 10.   Modifications to this or other policies

Changes will not be made to this policy unless the impact of the changes on persons with disabilities has been considered.

 Any Company policy that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities will be modified or removed.

 11.     Questions about this policy

If anyone has a question about the policy, or if the purpose of the policy is not understood, please contact feedback@countrysigns.ca.

 12.      Maintenance of documents

Country Signs will maintain documents describing its policies, practices, and procedures and, upon request, shall give a copy of a document to any person. The documents will include policies, practices, and procedures with respect to the following:

•         use of support person.

•         use of guide dogs or service animals.

the steps to be taken in connection with a temporary disruption.

•    the training policy, including a summary of the contents of the training and details of when the training is to be provided.

•    records of the training provided under this policy, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided.

•    the feedback processes.

 Country Signs will notify people to whom it provides goods and services of its policies, by posting the information at a conspicuous place on Company premises, on the Company’s website or by such method as is reasonable in the circumstances.

 When required under this policy to give a copy of a document to a person with disabilities, the Company will consult with the individual and provide the document or information in a format that considers the person’s disabilities.

Glossary of Terms

Accessibility - Accessibility is the degree to which persons with disabilities can access a device, service, or environment without barriers. Accessibility is also a process - it is the proactive identification, removal, and prevention of barriers to persons with disabilities.

Accessibility Standards – Regulations or rules created under the AODA that provide minimum levels for improving accessibility to meet the goals of the AODA across the province.

Goods and Services - Goods are tangibles things (e.g., laptop), while services are things that someone does for you but are not tangible (e.g., legal advice).

Multi-year Accessibility Plan (AODA) – Ontario

Intent:

This accessibility plan outlines the strategy of Country Signs to prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities and comply with the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Statement of Commitment: 

Country Signs is committed to providing an accessible environment for all clients, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services.

As an organization, we respect and comply with the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and its associated regulations.

We strive to provide an accessible and welcoming environment for everyone by identifying and removing barriers in our workplace and ensuring that new barriers are not created.

The company ensures that persons with disabilities are provided with equal opportunities. We are committed to meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and integrative manner that respects their dignity and independence.

Multi-year Accessibility Plan: 

This plan is in effect from January 1, 2023-December 31, 2027.

If you have any questions or concerns about this plan or its initiatives, or if you want to receive a copy of the plan in a different accessible format, please contact Human Resources or COO/CFO by email to andrea@countrysigns.ca or pford@countrysigns.ca.

Completed/Ongoing Initiatives: 

Country Signs has completed and/or is continuing the following initiatives to prevent and remove barriers and comply with the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation: