Accessibility at Sioux Narrows - Nestor Falls

The Township of Sioux Narrows - Nestor Falls is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive municipality where all individuals can use municipal services, programs and facilities in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

To meet requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), the Township has developed:

All municipal departments are responsible for meeting the requirements of the AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code, including arranging for disability-related accommodations. This page includes more information on these initiatives and services, as well as links to municipal plans, reports, policies and applicable external agency websites and legislation.

If you are a resident or visitor using a municipal service or facility or you have a contract with the municipality, you may contact us for confidential advice and information on human rights and accommodation concerns. Call 807-226-5241 ext. 204 or email wkabel@snnf.ca.

If you have questions or need information about accessibility at the municipality, you may call 807-226-5241 ext. 204 or email wkabel@snnf.ca. If you have a complaint about accessibility or a disability-related barrier at the municipality, please contact 807-226-5241 ext. 204 or email wkabel@snnf.ca.

Accessibility Complaints

All municipal departments are responsible for meeting the requirements of the AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code, including arranging for disability-related accommodations.

If you have a complaint about accessibility or a disability-related barrier at the municipality, please contact 807-226-5241 ext. 204 or email wkabel@snnf.ca.

Meeting Accessibility Standards: AODA

General Requirements

Establishment of Accessibility Plans and Policies

The Township shall produce a multi-year Accessibility Plan. The plan will be posted on the municipal website and made available in accessible formats upon request. Each year, a compliance report will be prepared and posted on the municipal website. The Accessibility Plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every two years.

The Township maintains policies on how it shall meet AODA requirement and will provide policies in an accessible format upon request.

Accessibility in Procurement

When procuring goods, services, self-service kiosks or facilities, the municipality shall incorporate accessibility criteria and features, unless it is not feasible (practicable) to do so. If not practicable, the municipality shall provide an explanation, upon request.

General Training Requirements

Municipal employees, volunteers, all those who participate in developing the municipality's policies and those who provide goods, services or facilities on the municipality's behalf shall be required to undergo training on the requirements of the AODA accessibility standards and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities.

Accessible Customer Service Standards

The Township of Sioux Narrows - Nestor Falls promotes the provision of goods and services in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons of all abilities.

The municipality has created and maintains a policy to act as a directive and orient staff regarding the provision of goods & services to People with Disabilities. The policy is posted on the municipal website and available in an accessible format upon request.

Communication

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

We will train staff who communicate with customers on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.

Telephone services

We are committed to providing fully accessible telephone service to our customers. We will train staff to communicate with customers over the telephone in clear and plain language and to speak clearly and slowly.

We will offer to communicate with customers by email 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 goods and services. We will ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods or services.

We will also ensure that staff know how to use the assistive devices that may become available on our premises for customers.

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 the public and other third parties. We will also ensure that all staff, volunteers and others dealing with the public are properly trained in how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.

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 the Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls’ 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.

Fees will not be charged for support persons for admission to the Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls’ premises. Customers will be informed of this by a notice that will be posted in the Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls’ premises.

Notice of temporary disruption

The Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls will provide customers with 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 of alternative facilities or services, if available.

The notice will be placed at all public entrances and service counters on our premises.

Training for staff

The Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls will provide training to all employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public or other third parties on their behalf, and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service policies, practices and procedures.

This training will be provided immediately after staff commences their duties.

Feedback process

The ultimate goal of the Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls is to meet and surpass customer expectations while serving customers with disabilities. Comments on our services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.

Feedback regarding the way the Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls provides goods and services to people with disabilities can be made by letter mail, email or verbally. All feedback will be directed to the attention of the Chief Administrative Officer. Customers can expect to hear back in a reasonable period of time.

Complaints will be addressed according to complaint categories already established in our company’s complaint management procedures.

Modifications to the policy or other policies

We are committed to developing customer service policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to this policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities.

Any policy of the Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.

Questions about the policy

This policy exists to achieve service excellence to customers with disabilities. If anyone has a question about the policy, or if the purpose of a policy is not understood, an explanation should be provided by, or referred to, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls; contact 807-226-5241 ext. 204 or email wkabel@snnf.ca.

Information and Communication Standards

Feedback

The municipality is to ensure that any process for receiving and responding to feedback is accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports. The public shall be notified about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.

Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

The municipality will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities, upon request. Accessible formats and communication supports shall be provided in a timely manner, taking into account, the person’s accessibility needs to determine the suitability of an accessible format or communication support. The public shall be notified about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.

Accessible formats may include but are not limited to, large print, recorded audio and electronic formats, Braille and other formats used by persons with disabilities.

Emergency Procedures, Plans or Safety Information

The municipality shall provide public emergency procedures, plans and public safety information to the public upon request, in an accessible format with appropriate communication supports in a timely manner.

Accessible Websites and Web Content

Make internet websites and web content controlled directly by the Township or through a contractual relationship that allows for modification of the product, shall conform with World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level A initially and Level AA in accordance with the schedule set out in the AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is an international standard for making websites and web content accessible through a series of technical checkpoints (Level A and Level AA) so that websites and content are increasingly accessible to a broader range of users with disabilities. Web accessibility involves understanding a broad spectrum of disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, cognitive, speech, learning, language, and neurological disabilities.

Employment Standards

Recruitment

The municipality shall post information about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process. Job applicants who are selected for an interview shall be notified that accommodations are available for processes used in selection, upon request. Successful applicants shall be notified about the municipality's policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.

Employee Supports

The municipality shall inform employees of policies used to support employees with disabilities, including policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability. The municipality shall provide this information to new employees as soon as practicable after they begin their employment and provide updated information to employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodations.

Accessible formats and communication supports for employees

Upon the request of an employee with a disability, the municipality shall consult with the employee to provide/arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for:

• information needed to perform the employee’s job; and,
• for information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.

The municipality will consult with the employee making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

Workplace Emergency Response Information

If an employee’s disability is such that the individualized workplace emergency response information is necessary and the municipality is aware of the need for accommodation, this information shall be provided to employees. In addition, this information shall be provided, with the person’s consent, to the person designated to provide assistance. The information shall be reviewed when the employee moves to a different location, when the employee’s overall accommodation needs or plans are reviewed and when the municipality reviews its general emergency response plan.

Documented individual accommodation plans

A written process for the development and maintenance of documented individual accommodation plans shall be developed for employees with disabilities. If requested, the plans shall include individualized workplace emergency response information. Elements for the individual accommodation plans are set out in the AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards.

Return to work process

The municipality shall have in place a documented return to work process for employees who are returning to work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations. The return to work process shall outline the steps that the municipality shall take to facilitate the return to work.

Performance Management and Career Development and Redeployment

The municipality shall take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities as well as any individual accommodation plans when providing career development, performance management and when considering redeployment.

Design of Public Space Standards

Public spaces that are newly constructed or redeveloped by the municipality shall meet the accessibility requirements set out in the AODA Design of Public Spaces Standards, including the following areas:

• Recreation Trails and Beach Access Routes
• Outdoor Public Use Eating Areas
• Outdoor Play Spaces
• Exterior paths of Travel
• Accessible Parking
• Service counters, queuing guides and waiting areas
• Consultation with the municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee, the public and persons with disabilities