Statement of Commitment
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union / Syndicat des employés de la fonction publique de l’Ontario (OPSEU/SEFPO) is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all members and stakeholders including employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), and its associated standards and regulations. OPSEU/SEFPO understands that we have a responsibility for ensuring a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for everyone.
We are committed to ensuring our organization’s compliance by incorporating accessibility legislation into our policies, procedures, equipment requirements, training, and best practices. We will review these policies and practices annually, as organizational changes occur, or in anticipation of compliance deadlines. In addition, we will strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.
Providing an accessible and barrier-free environment is a shared effort, and as an organization, OPSEU/SEFPO is committed to working with the necessary parties to make accessibility for all a reality. For more detailed information on our accessibility policies, plans, and training programs, please contact the Employee Relations Unit via email at [email protected] or via telephone at 1-800-268-7376.
OPSEU/SEFPO is committed to providing a fully accessible website experience for all users of all abilities, including those who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers, screen enlargement software, and alternative keyboard input devices to navigate the web.
Digital accessibility
We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 as our guiding principle for determining accessibility. These are internationally agreed-upon standards that cover a wide range of recommendations and best practices for making content useable. As we add new pages and functionality to our website, all designs, code, and content entry practices are checked against these standards.
Website accessibility is an ongoing process. We continually test content and features for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance and remediate any issues to ensure we meet or exceed the standards. Testing of our website is performed by our team members using industry-standard tools such as the Accessibility Checker WordPress Plugin, color contrast analyzers, keyboard-only navigation techniques, and Flesch-Kincaid readability tests.
Accessibility features on our website
The following is a list of items we have included in our website to improve its accessibility:
- On every page and post, you’ll find a “Report accessibility problem” button that will help us get you the information you need, and flag and fix the problem on our site.
Where we’re improving
In our efforts to bring our website up to standard, we are targeting the following areas:
- Ensuring that new documents we are creating are created with accessibility in mind
- Remediating problems with the inaccessible documents stretching back decades.
Accessibility support contact
We welcome comments, questions, and feedback on our website. If you are using assistive technologies and are having difficulty using our website, please email [email protected] or give us a call at 416-443-8888 or 1-800-268-7376. We will do our best to assist you and resolve issues.
Use of Service Animals and Supports Persons
Service Animals
Persons with disabilities may enter OPSEU/SEFPO premises accompanied by a service animal and keep the animal with them, if the public has access to such premises, and the animal is not otherwise excluded by law. While visiting OPSEU/SEFPO, it is the responsibility of the person with a service animal to control the animal at all times. In the event that an OPSEU/SEFPO visitor, employee, member and/or stakeholder is allergic to animals, alternative arrangements will be negotiated.
Support Persons
Persons with disabilities may enter OPSEU/SEFPO premises accompanied by a support person and may have access to that support person at all times. OPSEU/SEFPO may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person while on OPSEU/SEFPO premises in situations where it is necessary to protect the health and safety of the person with a disability, or the health and safety of others on the premises. Consent from the person with a disability is required when communicating private issues related to the person with a disability, in the presence of a support person.
Notice of Temporary Disruption
OPSEU/SEFPO will make reasonable efforts to provide visitors, employees, members and/or stakeholder(s) with notice in the event of a disruption in the organization’s services and facilities usually used by people 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. We may not be able to give advance notice in an emergency disruption. The signs and printed notices will be displayed prominently at the entrance, backdoor and elevators.
Feedback Process
OPSEU/SEFPO welcomes feedback, including feedback about the delivery of our services to persons with disabilities. OPSEU/SEFPO will investigate and respond to all complaints relating to such services in a timely, thorough and objective manner. Any individual can submit feedback by filling out the form below, (you can also download this form by accessing Feedback Form and return it to us via fax 416 448-7461 or contact us via email at [email protected] or via telephone at 1-800-268-7376.
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR)
Intent
This (2012 to 2021) accessibility plan outlines the policies and actions that the Ontario Public Service Employees Union / Syndicat des employés de la fonction publique de l’Ontario (OPSEU/SEFPO) has/will put in place to improve opportunities for people with disabilities in accordance with the requirements communicated under the Integrated Accessibility Standards, Ontario Regulation 191/11.
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Statement of Commitment
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union / Syndicat des employés de la fonction publique de l’Ontario (OPSEU/SEFPO) believes in equal opportunity and is committed to providing a barrier-free environment that allows all people to maintain their independence and dignity. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) and its associated Regulations and strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.
Plan
Accessibility Requirements
Establishment of Accessibility Policies
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2012
- Ongoing development as required
Training on IASR and the Human Rights Code
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2015
- Training on IASR and the Human Rights Code has been delivered online to all staff, and continues to be delivered to new staff as part of their orientation
- AODA training was initially delivered online to staff in 2012 and is ongoing as staff are hired
Feedback Process
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2015
- Feedback Form
- To provide feedback using alternate methods or to speak with someone, please email [email protected] or phone 1-800-268-7376.
- A confidential internal tracking spreadsheet is maintained on file.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Please contact Employee Relations via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 1-800-268-7376 to request other accessible formats and communication supports.
Emergency Procedures, Plans or Public Safety Information
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2012
- Signs posted on doors and elevators.
- Posting on website
- Please contact Employee Relations via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 1-800-268-7376 to request accessible formats and communication supports.
Accessible Websites and Web Content- Level A
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2014
- Training was provided in 2014 and is ongoing as new staff are hired
Accessible Websites and Web Content- Level AA
Compliance Deadline: June 30, 2021
- Website is being reconstructed to comply with Level AA standards
- Training and organizational processes are being revisited to ensure ongoing compliance.
Educational and Training Resources or Materials
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2015
- We provide interpreters, large font print material and SDL Trados Studio 2014 (Electronic Translation Software) when needed
Training for Staff
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2012
- Online training was sent out to all employees October 16, 2012 and a reminder email was sent in November 2012
- Training Policy has been formally written out in OPSEU/SEFPO’s Policy Manual
- New hires complete online training as part of their orientation.
Recruitment, Assessment and Selection Processes
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Completed
Informing Employees of Supports
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Completed and ongoing
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Completed through Workplace Accommodation Process
Workplace Emergency Response Information
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Completed through Workplace Accommodation and Return to Work Process
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Completed
Return to Work Process
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Completed
Performance Management Process
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Ongoing process. Accommodation integrated throughout, where required
Career Development and Advancement
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Refer to Accommodation Plans and Summaries to ensure meeting requirements for the individual
Redeployment
Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
- Completed through our processes