Kids Come First (the “Centre’) is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities. We are committed to ensuring that participants and clients with disabilities receive accessible programs and services with the same quality and timelines as others do, wherever possible, and individuals are provided with equal treatment and opportunity with respect to employment. The Centre supports the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all our programs and services as set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Ontario Human Rights Code (“Code”), the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, and the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”).
It is acknowledged that providing accessible programs, services and employment at the Centre where the building itself is not accessible is a great challenge and sometimes not possible even with accommodation. Where this is the case, the Centre is committed to ensuring appropriate referrals.
We are further committed to ensuring that our policies, practices and procedures comply with the following core principles:
1. Dignity and Independence – Goods and services will be provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities at all times.
2. Integration – The provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities will be integrated with the provision of goods and services to others unless alternative measures are required, on a temporary or permanent basis, to allow persons with disabilities to benefit.
3. Equal Opportunity – Persons with disabilities will be given equal opportunity to that given to others to obtain, use and benefit from goods and services.
The Centre has prepared a Customer Service Standard policy and Accessibility policy to put into practice its responsibilities under the AODA. These AODA policies apply to all employees, volunteers and individuals that provide services or interact with people with disabilities on behalf of the Centre.
Any policy of Kids Come First that does not respect and promote dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
All accessibility requests will be taken seriously. No person will be penalized for making an accessibility request. The Centre will maintain the confidentiality of information related to an accessibility request and will only disclose this information with the consent of the employee or the client.
The Centre’s Accessibility Policy will be reviewed as often as is necessary, but at least annually.
PURPOSE
The AODA, and O. Reg. 191/11 the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (“IASR”) establish standards to address barriers that persons with disabilities face in the areas of employment, as well as information communications, and establishes accessibility standards for providing customer service to persons with disabilities. The requirements under these standards are not a replacement or substitution for the requirements of the Code.
The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework through which the Centre can provide accessible services and employment for those with disabilities. The Centre is committed to providing a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environment to all individuals.
The purpose of this policy is also to outline our responsibilities under applicable provincial accessibility legislation and to ensure that the Centre complies with applicable provincial accessibility standards.
APPLICATION
The Centre strives to meet the accessibility needs of its employees and those that it serves. As such, the practices and procedures in this Accessibility Policy applies to all Centre employees, volunteers, and individuals that provide the Centre’s services, and individuals who interact with people with disabilities on behalf of the Centre.