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Policy Statement

Commitment

OPSEU is committed to providing our services in a way that ensures accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities.

Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure that:

• Persons with disabilities are provided equal opportunity to obtain, use and benefit from OPSEU’s services;
• Services are provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities;
• The services provided to persons with disabilities are integrated with the provision to others unless an alternative measure is necessary;
• Communications with a person with a disability are conducted in a manner that takes the person’s disability into account;
• Persons with disabilities may use assistive devices, service animals and support persons as is necessary to access our services unless superseded by other legislation.

Legislation

This policy and its procedures address the accessibility requirements of Regulation 429/07 Accessibility Standards for Customer Service under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Scope

This Policy applies to OPSEU Head Office, Regional Office and Membership Centre locations and employees, and to all workplaces or practices under OPSEU’s control.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of Management to ensure that all employees follow the guidelines set out in this policy and to ensure all employees are trained under Accessibility Standards for Customer Service and this policy, practices and procedure.

Definitions

“Assistive Devices” are auxiliary aids such as communication aids, cognition aids, personal mobility aids and medical aids (e.g. canes, crutches, wheelchairs or hearing aids).

“Disability” as per the Ontario Human Rights Code, means:

• 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 coordination, 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;
• A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
• A learning disability or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
• A mental disorder; or
• An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

“Persons with Disabilities” are individuals who have a disability as defined under the Ontario Human Rights Code (and above).

“Service Animals” are animals individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.

“Support Persons” are any persons, whether a paid professional, volunteer, family member, or friend, who accompany a person with a disability in order to help with communications, personal care or medical needs, or with access to goods or services.

Procedures

Communication

We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.

Telephone Services

We are committed to providing fully accessible telephone.

We will offer to communicate by e-mail, TTY, relay services if telephone communication is
not suitable to their communication needs or is not available.

Assistive Devices

We are committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from our services.

Use of Service Animals and Support Persons

We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to our members or the public.

We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter our premises with his or her support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises.

Notice of Temporary Disruption

We will provide notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description or alternative facilities or service, if available.

The notice will be placed at all public entrances.

Training

Training will be provided to all staff. New employees will be provided with training upon the commencement of their duties.

Training will include:

• The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the requirements of the customer service standard;
• How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;

How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require assistance of a service animal or a support person;

Feedback

The ultimate goal of OPSEU is to meet and surpass expectations when providing services to people with disabilities.

Feedback regarding the way we provide service to people with disabilities can be made by e-mail, verbally or by mail. All feedback will be directed to Employee Relations.

Upon receipt of a concern, Employee Relations will investigate the matter with the appropriate staff and provide a written response within thirty (30) days.

Policy Review

Any questions about this policy may be directed to Employee Relations.

A copy of this Policy is available upon request by contacting Employee Relations. In addition, a copy of this Policy is available on our website at www.opseu.org.

This Policy shall be reviewed on a yearly basis.