CENTRAL WEST LHIN MULTI-YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

Transcription

1 CENTRAL WEST LHIN MULTI-YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLAN INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT In 2005, the gvernment f Ontari passed the Accessibility fr Ontarians with Disabilities Act (the AODA ). It is the gal f the Ontari gvernment t make Ontari accessible by The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulatins ( IASR ) under the AODA require that effective January 1, 2013, the Central West LHIN establishes, implements, maintains and dcuments a multi-year accessibility plan which utlines the rganizatin s strategy t prevent and remve barriers fr persns with disabilities and t meet its requirements under the IASR. Under the AODA, the fllwing accessibility standards set certain requirements that are applicable t the LHIN: Custmer Service; Infrmatin and Cmmunicatins; Emplyment; and Prpsed Accessibility Standards fr the Built Envirnment This multi-year plan utlines the Central West LHIN s strategy t prevent and remve barriers t address the current and future requirements f the AODA, and in rder t fulfill the Central West LHIN s cmmitment as utlined in the Central West LHIN - Accessibility Plicy. In accrdance with the requirements set ut in the IASR, the Central West LHIN will: Establish, review and update this plan in cnsultatin with persns with disabilities; Pst this plan n its website ( ); Reprt as required n its website ( n the prgress f the implementatin f this plan; Prvide this plan in an accessible frmat, upn request; and Review and update this plan at least nce every five years. ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE Cmmitment: Since 2010, the Central West LHIN has been in cmpliance with the Accessible Custmer Service Regulatin under the AODA, and will cntinue t cmply with that regulatin frm January 1, 2013 t December 31, The Central West LHIN is cmmitted t excellence in serving all custmers, including persns with disabilities, and it will carry ut its functins in a manner which delivers an accessible custmer service experience.

2 The Central West LHIN is cmmitted t prviding its gds and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence f persns with disabilities. This cmmitment will be integrated wherever pssible and will ensure that persns with disabilities will benefit frm the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as ther custmers. Actin Taken: The fllwing measures have been implemented by the Central West LHIN: Ensuring all persns wh, n behalf f the Central West, deal with the public r ther third parties, and all thse wh are invlved in the develpment and apprvals f custmer service plicies, practices and prcedures, as well as all thers prviding services t ur custmers, are trained t cmmunicate and prvide the best pssible custmer service t all custmers, including persns with disabilities; Ensuring staff are trained and familiar with varius assistive devices that may be used by custmers with disabilities wh are accessing the Central West LHIN s gds r services; Ensuring cmpletin f accessibility training is tracked and recrded n the Human Resurces Infrmatin System (HRIS); Ensuring custmers, accmpanied by a guide dg r ther service animal in areas f the Central West LHIN pen t the public and ther third parties, are accmmdated; Ensuring that if a persn with a disability is accmpanied by a supprt persn, the supprt persn is accmmdated. Prviding custmers with ntice in the event f a planned r unexpected disruptin f service r inaccessibility f facilities used by persns with disabilities, by placing such ntices at all public entrances and service cunters n the Central West LHIN premises. If the disruptin is lngterm, the Central West LHIN psts an annuncement n its website infrming custmers f the lcatin, duratin f the disruptin and alternate slutins; Cntinuing t welcme and appreciate feedback frm persns with disabilities thrugh multiple cmmunicatin channels; Reprting cmpliance with the custmer service standard n the Accessibility Cmpliance Reprting tl at Service Ontari s One-Surce fr Business website. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2010 Cmpletin date: January 1, 2010 INTEGRATED ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS REGULATIONS EMERGENCY PROCEDURE, PLANS OR PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION Cmmitment: The Central West LHIN is cmmitted t prviding and maintaining premises that respect the dignity and independence f persns with disabilities. Actin Taken: The fllwing measures have been implemented by the Central West LHIN effective January 1, 2012: Page 2 f 9

3 Emergency prcedures, plans and public safety infrmatin that are prepared by the Central West LHIN and made available t the public, will be made available in an accessible frmat r with apprpriate cmmunicatin supprts, as sn as practicable, upn request; An Accessible Frmat Request Frm was develped and is available n-line n the LHIN s internal website, fr cmpletin by Central West LHIN staff upn receipt f a request frm the public fr such dcumentatin in an accessible frmat. In additin, an internal referral prcess is in place fr fulfilling the accessible frmat request. All cmpleted request frms shuld be sent t human resurces. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2012 Cmpletin date: January 1, 2012 WORKPLACE EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION Cmmitment: Where the Central West LHIN is aware that an emplyee has a disability and that there is a need fr accmmdatin, individualized wrkplace emergency respnse infrmatin will be prvided t the emplyee as sn as practicable if such infrmatin is necessary given the nature f the emplyee s disability. Actin Taken: The fllwing measures have been implemented by the Central West LHIN effective January 1, 2012: Individualized wrkplace emergency respnse infrmatin prcedures have been develped fr emplyees with disabilities, as required; Wrkplace Emergency Respnse Infrmatin frms have been prepared fr emplyees wh have disclsed a disability and wh are being accmmdated accrding t their disabilities; (a frm fr vluntary disclsure is given t all new hires fr accmmdatin request and emergency respnse accmmdatin) Where required, the Central West LHIN prvides assistance t specific disabled emplyees, with the disabled emplyees prir cnsent, t help them evacuate the wrkplace in case f an emergency r disaster. These plans fr prviding assistance have been set ut in individualized emergency plans fr the emplyees; These individualized emergency plans have been cmmunicated t the emplyees respective managers and Safety persnnel, n an as needed basis; On an nging and regular basis, and as per the applicable terms f the IASR, the Central West LHIN will review and assess general wrkplace emergency respnse prcedures and individualized emergency plans t ensure accessibility issues are addressed. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2012 Cmpletin date: January 1, 2012 Page 3 f 9

4 PROCURING OR ACQUIRING GOODS, SERVICES OR FACILITIES Cmmitment: The Central West LHIN is cmmitted t incrprating accessibility criteria and features when prcuring r acquiring gds, services r facilities, except where it is nt practicable t d s, cmmencing January 1, Actin Taken: In accrdance with the IASR, the Central West LHIN has implemented prcurement prcesses that: Use accessibility criteria and features when prcuring r acquiring gds, services r facilities, except where it is nt practicable t d s; Where the Central West LHIN has decided that it is nt practicable t incrprate accessibility criteria and features, it will prvide an explanatin upn request; Prvide educatinal awareness and tls t internal stakehlders and cmmunicatin t external stakehlders, infrming n changes t prcurement prcedures and purchasing criteria. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2013 Cmpletin date: January 1, 2013 TRAINING Cmmitment: The Central West LHIN is cmmitted t implementing a prcess t ensure that all emplyees wh prvide gds, services and facilities n the Central West LHIN s behalf, and persns participating in the develpment and apprval f the Central West LHIN s plicies, are prvided with apprpriate training n the requirements f the IASR and n the Ontari Human Rights Cde as it pertains t persns with disabilities, and are prvided with such training as sn as practicable. Planned Actin: In accrdance with the IASR, the Central West LHIN will implement the fllwing prcesses: Establish an internal cmmittee with the respnsibility fr develping apprpriate training; Determine and ensure that apprpriate training n the requirements f the IASR and n the Ontari Human Rights Cde as it pertains t persns with disabilities, is prvided t all emplyees wh prvide gds, services and facilities n the Central West LHIN s behalf, and persns participating in the develpment and apprval f the Central West LHIN s plicies; Ensure that the training is prvided t persns referenced abve as sn as practicable; Keep and maintain a recrd f the training prvided, including the dates that the training was prvided and the number f individuals t whm it was prvided; Ensure that training is prvided n any changes t the prescribed plicies n an nging basis. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2014 Implementatin timeframe: September 1, 2013 t January 1, 2014 Cmpletin date: N/A Page 4 f 9

5 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION STANDARDS Cmmitment: The Central West LHIN is cmmitted t making cmpany infrmatin and cmmunicatins accessible t persns with disabilities. The Central West LHIN will incrprate new accessibility requirements under the infrmatin and cmmunicatin standard t ensure that its infrmatin and cmmunicatins systems and platfrms are accessible and are prvided in accessible frmats that meet the needs f persns with disabilities. 1. Feedback, Accessible Frmats and Cmmunicatin Supprts Actin Taken: In accrdance with the IASR, the Central West LHIN has implemented the fllwing prcesses: Ensure that existing and new prcesses fr receiving and respnding t feedback are accessible t persns with disabilities by prviding r arranging fr the prvisin f accessible frmats and cmmunicatin supprts, upn request and in a timely manner; Mre bradly, as a general principle where accessible frmats and cmmunicatin supprts fr persns with disabilities are requested: Prvide r arrange fr the prvisin f such accessible frmats and cmmunicatin supprts; Cnsult with the persn making the request t determine the suitability f the accessible frmat r cmmunicatin supprt; Prvide r arrange fr the prvisin f accessible frmats and cmmunicatin supprts in a timely manner that takes int accunt the persn s accessibility needs due t disability, and at a cst n mre than the regular cst charged t ther persns; Ntify the public abut the availability f accessible frmats and cmmunicatin supprts. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2014 Feedback, January 1, 2015 Accessible frmats & Cmmunicatin Supprts (r ther applicable cmpliance date as set ut in the IASR) Implementatin timeframe: January 1, 2014 t January 1, 2015 (as applicable) Cmpletin date: N/A 2. Accessible Websites and Web Cntent Accmplishments t Date: AODA cmpliance is included as ne f the criteria in selecting technlgy vendrs fr new website develpment initiatives. Planned Actin: In accrdance with the IASR, the Central West LHIN will: Ensure develpment f its next generatin digital platfrm fr public websites, and infrmatin technlgy infrastructure meet AODA Infrmatin and Cmmunicatin Standards and that partnering vendrs have necessary expertise with such technlgy; Page 5 f 9

6 Use guiding principles in the develpment f new crprate intranet applicatins as utlined by the Ontari Gvernment s new Online Design Prgram standard, which specifies cmpliance with internatinal accessibility guidelines, W3C WCAG 2.0; Fllw the mandated Accessibility Directrate f Ontari (ADO) guidelines and Prvince f Ontari I&IT slutins that supprt bligated Private Sectr and Brader Public Sectr rganizatins in cmpliance initiatives; Partner with Crprate Cmmunicatins and, in cllabratin with perating divisins, prvide guidelines t all staff t ensure public dcuments and media are readily available in alternate accessible frmats; Expand crprate awareness f requirements fr cmpliance with Infrmatin and Cmmunicatin Standards f AODA. Required Legislative Cmpliance: January 1, 2014 WCAG 2.0 Level A new Internet websites and web cntent, January 1, 2021 WCG 2.0 Level AA all Internet websites and web cntent, except fr exclusins set ut in the IASR Implementatin timeframe: January 1, 2014 t December 31, 2017 Cmpletin date: N/A EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS 1. Recruitment Cmmitment: The Central West LHIN is cmmitted t fair and accessible emplyment practices that attract and retain emplyees with disabilities. This includes prviding accessibility acrss all stages f the emplyment cycle. Actin Taken: In accrdance with the IASR, the Central West LHIN has implemented the fllwing prcesses: Recruitment General The Central West LHIN will ntify emplyees and the public f the availability f accmmdatin fr applicants with disabilities in the recruitment prcess. This will include: A review and, as necessary, mdificatin f existing recruitment plicies, prcedures and prcesses; Specifying that accmmdatin is available fr applicants with disabilities, n the Central West LHIN s website and n jb pstings; Wrking with suppliers t ensure external Web pages are cmpliant with the Infrmatin and Cmmunicatin Standards under the IASR s requirements. Recruitment, assessment and selectin The Central West LHIN will ntify jb applicants, when they are individually selected t participate in an assessment r selectin prcess, that accmmdatins are available upn request in relatin t the materials r prcesses t be used in the assessment/selectin prcess. This will include: A review and, as necessary, mdificatin f existing recruitment plicies, prcedures and prcesses; Page 6 f 9

7 Inclusin f availability f accmmdatin ntice as part f the script in the scheduling f an interview and/r assessment; If a selected applicant requests an accmmdatin, cnsult with the applicant and arrange fr prvisin f suitable accmmdatins in a manner that takes int accunt the applicant s accessibility needs due t disability. Ntice t Successful Applicants When making ffers f emplyment, the Central West LHIN will ntify the successful applicant f its plicies fr accmmdating emplyees with disabilities. This will include: A review and, as necessary, mdificatin f existing recruitment plicies, prcedures and prcesses; Inclusin f ntificatin f Central West LHIN s plicies n accmmdating emplyees with disabilities in ffer f emplyment letters. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2014 Cmpletin date: January 1, Infrming Emplyees f Supprts In accrdance with the IASR, the Central West LHIN will infrm all emplyees f plicies that supprt emplyees with disabilities, including, but nt limited t, plicies n the prvisin f jb accmmdatins that take int accunt an emplyee s accessibility needs due t a disability. This will include: Infrming current emplyees and new hires f Central West LHIN s plicies supprting emplyees with disabilities, including, but nt limited t, plicies n the prvisin f jb accmmdatins that take int accunt an emplyee s needs due t disability; Prviding infrmatin under this sectin as sn as practicable after the new emplyee begins emplyment, specifically in the rientatin prcess; Keeping emplyees up t date n changes t existing plicies n jb accmmdatins with respect t disability; Where an emplyee with a disability s requests it, the Central West LHIN will prvide r arrange fr prvisin f suitable accessible frmats and cmmunicatins supprts fr: Infrmatin that is needed in rder t perfrm the emplyee s jb; Infrmatin that is generally available t emplyees in the wrkplace. In meeting the bligatins t prvide the infrmatin that is set ut in the paragraph abve, the Central West LHIN will cnsult with the requesting emplyee in determining the suitability f an accessible frmat r cmmunicatin supprt. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2014 Cmpletin date: January 1, 2014 Page 7 f 9

8 3. Dcumented Individual Accmmdatin Plans/Return t Wrk Prcess Cmmitment: The Central West LHIN will incrprate new accessibility requirements under the IASR t ensure that barriers in accmmdatin and return t wrk prcesses are eliminated and crprate plicies surrunding accmmdatin and return t wrk are fllwed, where applicable. Actin Taken: The Central West LHIN s existing plicies include steps that the Central West LHIN takes t accmmdate an emplyee with a disability and t facilitate an emplyee s return t wrk after absenteeism due t disability. The Central West LHIN will review and assess the existing plicies t ensure that they include a prcess fr the develpment f dcumented individual accmmdatin plans fr emplyees with a disability, if such plans are required. The Central West LHIN will ensure that the prcess fr the develpment f dcumented individual accmmdatin plans includes the fllwing elements, in accrdance with the prvisins f the IASR: Include in the prcess the manner in which the emplyee requesting accmmdatin can participate in the develpment f the plan; Include in the prcess the means by which the emplyee is assessed n an individual basis; Include in the prcess the manner in which the Central West LHIN can request an evaluatin by an utside medical r ther expert, at the Central West LHIN s expense, t assist the Central West LHIN in determining if and hw accmmdatin can be achieved; Steps are in place t prtect the privacy f the emplyee s persnal infrmatin; Outline the frequency in which individual accmmdatin plans will be reviewed and updated and the manner in which this will be dne; Prvide the emplyee with the reasns fr the denial if an individual accmmdatin plan is denied; Include in the prcess the means f prviding the individual accmmdatin plan in a frmat that takes int accunt the emplyee s accessibility needs; If individual accmmdatin plans are established, ensure that they include: Individualized wrkplace emergency respnse infrmatin that is required; Any infrmatin regarding accessible frmats and cmmunicatin supprts that have been prvided fr r arranged, in rder t prvide the emplyee with: Infrmatin that is needed in rder t perfrm the emplyee s jb; Infrmatin that is generally available t emplyees in the wrkplace. Identify any ther accmmdatin that is t be prvided t the emplyee. The Central West LHIN will ensure that the return t wrk prcess as set ut in its existing plicies utlines the steps the Central West LHIN will take t facilitate the emplyee s return t wrk after a disability-related absence, utlines the develpment f a written individualized return t wrk plan fr such emplyees, and requires the use f individual accmmdatin plans, as discussed abve, in the return t wrk prcess. Page 8 f 9

9 Required Legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2014 Cmpletin date: January 1, Perfrmance Management, Career Develpment and Redeplyment Cmmitment: The Central West LHIN will take int accunt the accessibility needs f emplyees with disabilities, as well as individual accmmdatin plans: When using its perfrmance management prcess in respect f emplyees with disabilities; When prviding career develpment and advancement t its emplyees with disabilities; When redeplying emplyees with disabilities. Actin Taken: In accrdance with the IASR, the Central West LHIN des the fllwing: Review, assess and, as necessary, mdify existing plicies, prcedures and practices t ensure cmpliance with the IASR; Take the accessibility needs f emplyees with disabilities and, as applicable, their individualized accmmdatin plans, int accunt when: Assessing perfrmance Managing career develpment and advancement Redeplyment is required Review, assess and, as necessary, include in Perfrmance Management wrkshps, accessibility criteria; Take int accunt the accessibility needs f emplyees with disabilities when prviding career develpment and advancement t its emplyees with disabilities, including ntificatin f the ability t prvide accmmdatins n internal jb pstings; Take int accunt the accessibility needs f emplyees with disabilities when redeplying emplyees, including review and, as necessary, mdificatin f emplyee transfer checklist. Required legislative cmpliance: January 1, 2014 Cmpletin date: January 1, 2014 Page 9 f 9