Accessibility - North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd.

Statement of Commitment to Accessibility

North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. 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.

Accessible Customer Service Standards

Access to Goods and Services:

North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. seeks to provide barrier-free access to the company’s goods and services for all customers. Where barriers cannot be removed, alternate means for accessing goods or services are provided to the best of the company’s ability.

Support Persons and Service Animals:

If a customer with a disability is accompanied by a support person, North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. ensures that both persons may enter the premises together and that the customer is not prevented from having access to the support person. A customer with a disability accompanied by a service animal may access premises that are open to the public unless otherwise excluded by law.

In situations where confidential information might be discussed, consent is obtained from the customer before any potentially confidential information is mentioned in front of the support person.

Communication:

North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. understands the importance of accessible digital and non-digital forms of communication and does its best to provide accessible types of communication and information to all individuals with disabilities. Such accessible formats and communication supports are provided upon request, in a timely manner and at no additional cost.

Service Disruptions:

Service disruptions may occur for reasons that may or may not be within the control or knowledge of North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd.. In the event of any temporary disruptions to facilities or services that customers with disabilities rely on to access or use goods or services, reasonable efforts will be made to provide advance notice.

When disruptions occur, the company will:

• Post notices in the nearest accessible entrance to the service disruption;
• Update the company website with information about the disruption; and
• Contact customers with reservations or appointments by any method that may be reasonable under the circumstances.

The company makes every reasonable effort to indicate when services will resume and suggest alternatives that can be used during the disruption. In some circumstances, such as in the situation of unplanned temporary disruptions or emergencies, notice may not be possible.

Emergency Notifications:

North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. provides emergency and public safety information, plans, procedures, maps and warning signs at evacuation points, and any other emergency alert information in accessible formats or with appropriate communication supports, upon request.

The company will work with any individuals requesting information to best meet their needs. If a person with a disability requires assistance in an emergency, the Company will make sure an employee is available to assist.

Building Accessibility:

North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. works to ensure that the built environment, including building interiors and exteriors, is designed to facilitate barrier-free access to goods, services, and employment for customers and employees. If areas of the built environment are not accessible for certain individuals with disabilities, the company will work with the individual to provide an alternate means of access up to the point of undue hardship.

Feedback

North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. acknowledges that customer and employee feedback can lead to improved service, increased clientele, a reduction in complaints, improved working conditions, and an improved workplace culture, especially as it applies to accessibility. The company ensures that feedback can be provided by persons with disabilities through various methods. Feedback forms, along with alternate accessible methods of providing feedback, are available upon request.

Requests and feedback can be submitted to:

Human Resources

519-434-3251 ext. 225
humanresources@northpoletrim.com
560 Glasgow St., London ON N5W 4A3

If negative feedback is received, the company takes all reasonable measures to resolve the issue to prevent future occurrences. Where the reviewers contact information has been provided, the company will respond to the reviewer to explain the steps that have been taken to correct the issue.

Feedback can be provided anonymously if desired, and feedback remains confidential unless the person consents to the disclosure of their personal information. Feedback is received in whatever format the individual providing the feedback is most comfortable with. The personal information of anyone who provides feedback remains confidential in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

Multi-year accessibility plan

Intent

This multi-year accessibility plan outlines the strategy of North Pole Trim & Supplies Ltd. to prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities and comply with the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).

Accessible Requirements	Action	Status
Develop and implement an accessibility policy that identifies the company’s strategy for removing and preventing barriers for all stakeholders (customers, employees, job applicants, suppliers and visitors).	Create an accessibility policy that meets the requirements under the AODA. Post the accessibility policy to the company’s website and internal HRIS system.	Complete.
Maintain the accessibility policy to ensure it is current and continues to meet the requirements under the AODA.	Review the policy annually and update accordingly should there be changes to the company’s procedures or the requirements under the AODA.	On-going and as needed.
Develop and implement a multi-year accessibility plan that outlines the company’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet the requirements under the AODA.	Create a multi-year accessibility plan that focuses on preventing and removing barriers for people with disabilities. Post the multi-year accessibility plan to our website and provide the plan in accessible formats upon request.	Complete.
Maintain the multi-year accessibility plan to ensure that it is relevant and in compliance with the AODA.	Review and update the multi-year accessibility plan every five years to record completed initiatives and identify future initiatives planned to prevent/remove barriers.	On-going and as needed.
Provide training on the requirements of the accessibility standards under the AODA and the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities.	Train employees on the requirements under the AODA, IASR and Ontario Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities every three years.	Complete.
Ensure that new hires are trained on the requirements of the accessibility standards under the AODA and the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities.	Add the required training to the new hire orientation process.	Complete.
Implement and maintain workplace emergency response plans as required under the AODA.	Develop and maintain individualized workplace emergency response plans for employees who require accommodation due to a disability.	On-going and as needed.

Information and Communication Standards
Accessible Requirements	Action	Status
Develop an accessibility feedback process and an accessibility feedback form.	Create an accessible feedback process so customers and employees can submit feedback regarding the accessibility of our goods, services and facility. Create an accessibility feedback form that can be provided upon request.	Complete.
Develop a process for addressing and responding to accessibility complaints.	The company will take all reasonable measures to resolve the issue to prevent future occurrences. The company will contact the reviewer to explain the measures that have been taken to correct the issue should the reviewer provide their contact information.	On-going and as needed.
Update company website and web content to conform with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.	Work with the external website developers to make sure the company website is complaint with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.	Complete.
Ensure maintenance of accessible elements.	Ongoing maintenance (preventative and emergency) of accessible elements in the public areas	On-going and as needed.
Provide notice of temporary disruptions.	Make every reasonable effort to provide advance notice should there be a temporary disruption to accessible elements (preventative or emeregency).	On-going and as needed.

Employment Standards
Accessible Requirements	Action	Status
Notify employees and the public about the availability of accommodations during the recruitment processes.	Add a statement on all job postings that outlines the company’s commitment to uphold the requirements under the AODA. Verbally tell applicants that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes used throughout the recruitment process.	On-going and as needed.
Provide reasonable accommodations to applicants who request an accommodation during the recruitment process.	Accept accommodation requests from applicants and work with the applicants to implement a safe and reasonable accommodation up to the point of undue hardship.	On-going and as needed.
Provide reasonable accommodations to employees who request an accommodation during their employment.	Accept accommodation requests from employees and work with the employees to implement a safe and reasonable accommodations up to the point of undue hardship.	On-going and as needed.
Develop a return-to-work process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability.	Work with employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and ensure that safe and reasonable accommodations are implemented if needed up to the point of undue hardship.	Complete.