Multi-Year Plan
Statement of Commitment
California Innovations is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (Integrated Accessibility Standards).
This multi-year accessibility plan describes the policies and activities that California Innovations will put in place over the next several years to prevent and remove barriers to accessibility for persons with disabilities. The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan will be reviewed and updated by California Innovations at least once every five (5) years, and as required.
Accessible Customer Service Policy
California Innovations has implemented an Accessible Customer Service Policy, and strives at all times to provide its goods and services in an accessible manner.
We are committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our goods and services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers and clients.
Communication
We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.
Assistive Devices
We are committed to serving people who need assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from our goods and services.
Service Animals
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.
Support Persons
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 California Innovations’ 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
In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities, California Innovations will notify customers promptly. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. The notice will be placed at the main entrance of our building.
Training
California Innovations will provide training to employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public or other organizations on behalf of California Innovations and all those who are involved in the development and approval of customer service policies, practices and procedures. This training will be provided to employees on their start date with the Company.
Training will include:
- An overview 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 people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing California Innovations’ goods and services
Feedback Process
The ultimate goal of California Innovations is to meet and surpass customer expectations while serving customers and clients with disabilities. Comments on our services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.
Customers or clients (and potential customer and clients) who wish to provide feedback on California Innovations’ Customer Service Standards can contact the Human Resources Department verbally, by email, by letter or otherwise at:
Human Resources
California Innovations
36 Dufflaw Road, Toronto, ON M6A 2W1
Phone: 416-590-7700
sandi.devlin@ca-innovations.com
Customers and clients can expect to hear back within 48 hours. Complaints will be addressed according to our organization’s regular complaint management procedures.
Modifications To This Or Other Policies
Any policy of California Innovations that does not respect and promote the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities in accessing our good and services will be modified or removed.
Questions About This Policy
This policy exists to achieve service excellence to customers and clients with disabilities. If anyone has questions about this policy kindly contact us verbally, by email, by letter or otherwise at:
Human Resources
California Innovations
36 Dufflaw Road, Toronto, ON M6A 2W1
Phone: 416-590-7700 x249
Email: sandi.devlin@ca-innovations.com
Information and Communication Standard
Workplace Emergency Response Information
When California Innovations becomes aware of the need to accommodate an employee’s disability, and if the employee’s disability is such that the individualized emergency response information is necessary, we will provide an Emergency Response Plan Consent Form to the employee with the disability as soon as possible after becoming aware of the need.
If an employee who receives individualized workplace emergency response information requires assistance, and with the employee’s consent, California Innovations will provide the workplace emergency response information to Human Resources to provide assistance to the employee as required.
Training
California Innovations is committed to implementing a process to ensure that all employees, volunteers, and all other persons who provide goods, services and facilities on California Innovations’ behalf, and persons participating in the development and approval of California Innovations’ policies, are provided with appropriate training on the requirements of the IASR and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities, and are provided with such training as soon as practicable.
In accordance with the IASR,
Training
California Innovations will determine and ensure that appropriate training on the requirements of the IASR and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities, is provided to all employees, volunteers, third-party contractors who provide goods and services on California Innovations’ behalf, and persons participating in the development and approval of California Innovations’ policies. California Innovations will ensure that the training is provided to persons referenced above as soon as possible.
A record of the training provided will be kept and maintained, including the dates that the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided. Training will be provided on any changes to the prescribed policies on an ongoing basis.
Information and Communications Standards
California Innovations is committed to complying with the provisions of AODA in respect of this requirement, with the objective of making applicable company information and communications accessible to persons with disabilities.
Feedback, Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
In accordance with the IASR, California Innovations will ensure that feedback processes are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports, upon request.
California Innovations will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports upon request for persons with disabilities in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs. We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support
We will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.
Accessible Websites and Web Content
In accordance with the IASR, California Innovations’ will ensure that the public website and online content conform with World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level A (new websites and online content) by January 1, 2014, to Level AA for all content by January 1, 2021.
Employment Standards
Recruitment
California Innovations is committed to complying with the provisions of AODA in respect of this requirement, with the objective of making the recruitment process accessible to persons with disabilities.
In accordance with the IASR, California Innovations will review, and as necessary, modify existing recruitment policies, procedures, processes and templates. Employees and the public will be notified of the availability for accommodation for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process. It will be specified that accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities on our website and on our job postings.
Applicants who are selected to participate in an assessment or selection process will be informed that accommodations are available during the recruitment process, upon request, in relation to materials and processes to be used in the assessment/selection process. Upon request, we will consult with the applicant and arrange for suitable accommodation.
The successful applicant will be notified when making an offer of employment, of our policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
Informing Employees of Supports
California Innovations is committed to complying with the provisions of the AODA in respect of this requirement, with the objective of informing employees of available accessibility supports.
In accordance with the IASR, California Innovations will inform its employees and new hires of its policies to support its employees with disabilities, including, but not limited to, policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability. This information will be provided to new employees as soon as practicable after they begin their employment.
Updated information will be provided to our employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
Upon request from an employee with a disability, and further to consultation with the employee, provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for: information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job, and information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans/Return to Work Process
California Innovations is committed to complying with the provisions of the AODA in respect of this requirement, with the objective of improving accommodation and return to work processes in the workplace.
In accordance with the IASR, California Innovations has developed a written process for the development of individual accommodation plans. California Innovations will also develop a return to work process for employees who have been absent due to a disability; the process shall outline the steps California Innovations will take to facilitate the employees return to work and use the employees individual accommodation plan as part of that process
Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment
In accordance with the IASR, California Innovations will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities and individual accommodation plans when utilizing performance management processes, considering career development and advancement opportunities and redeployment of its employees with disabilities.
As necessary, California Innovations will review, assess and/or modify existing policies, procedures, practices and templates to ensure compliance with the IASR.
Copies of documents required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 are available upon request. Please notify us in advance if you require such documents, and if required in an alternative or accessible format.
