Legislated requirements and statement of commitment (Policy)

Effective April 2017

Accessibility principles

All Public Health Sudbury & Districts workers, including employees, volunteers, students, Board of Health members, and in some cases agency partners who deal with the public or third parties on its behalf, will abide by the following accessibility principles while planning programs, services, activities, events, and in developing related policies, procedures and practices will abide by the following principles for accessibility:

1. Dignity
2. Independence
3. Integration
4. Equality or Opportunity

Dignity

Respect the dignity of people with varying abilities by treating them as clients and participants who are as valued and as deserving of effective and full service as any other client or participant.

People with varying abilities will not be treated as an afterthought or be forced to accept lesser service, quality, or convenience.

Independence

Allow people with varying abilities the freedom to make their own choices, communicate for themselves, and not feel rushed when completing a task, or taking over their task if they prefer to do it on their own.

Integration

Wherever possible, people with varying abilities will be allowed to fully benefit from the same programs, services, activities and events in the same place, and in the same or similar way as other clients. Alternative measures, rather than integration, will be used only when a person with special needs requires it or because the agency is not able to provide another option at the time.

Equal opportunity

People with varying abilities have the same opportunity to benefit from the way Public Health Sudbury & Districts provides programs, services, events, and activities. This may mean that we will work with the individual to find suitable alternatives so that they can fully benefit from our programs, services, events, and activities.

Statement of commitment

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for its clients/customers, students, employees, job applicants, suppliers, visitors and other individuals who enter the premises and access our programs and services.

As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) which applies to all organizations in Ontario and requires the development of standards on an ongoing basis to meet all legislative requirements by 2025.

Under the AODA, the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations establishes the 5 (five) AODA accessibility standards as follows:

• Customer Service Standard
• Employment Standard
• Information and Communications Standard
• Transportation Standard
• Design of Public Spaces Standard (Built Environment)

These standards are known collectively as the Accessibility Standards.

Note: The Transportation Standard does not apply to Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is committed to meet and if possible exceed the requirements of the Public Health Sudbury & Districts Accessibility Plan to be fully accessible by the year 2025. The Public Health Sudbury & Districts Accessibility Plan is posted on the website along with the agency policies related to AODA.

Accessibility measures are being built into decision-making processes, short and long-term program planning, purchasing, event planning, emergency planning and the development of new systems and services.

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is committed to meet the accessibility needs of persons with varying abilities in a timely manner.

Written and electronic communication

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is committed to using inclusive design standards for all print and digital information for both internal and external audiences.

To that end, the agency has created a guide to Accessible Documents.

The Public Health Sudbury & Districts Accessible Documents guide can be found on SharePoint.

Training and instruction

All workers will be provided with the appropriate information, instruction and training and are expected to foster an accessible and inclusive environment for everyone associated with our organization.

Based on legislative requirements, training will cover the following topics:

• The Ontario Human Rights Code
• Accessible customer service
• Any accessibility requirementsthat apply to Public Health Sudbury & Districts

Training must be provided:

• To workers within a reasonable time after they are assigned the duties of their position at Public Health Sudbury & Districts
• On an ongoing basis when amendments are made to legislation, policies, procedures, or practices

Worker orientation and annual refresher:

• As part of their orientation, new workers are required to complete training, and will also be required to complete it annually, as a refresher.

Managers are responsible for ensuring that any worker who reports to them completes appropriate training as soon as operationally feasible. Additional training may be provided for individuals who work in certain programs or team areas as needed including instruction on how to use any equipment and assistive devices available. Individuals will be made aware of any amendments made to policies due to changes in legislation or where a new process or program is developed.

Workers are required to communicate completion of the training and review of required agency policies as directed by Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

Compliance reporting

The Director, Corporate Services, or designate, is responsible for monitoring the organization’s compliance with the legislation.

The Director, Corporate Services, or designate, is required to complete an online compliance reporting as required by the Ministry of Community and Social Services which involves responding to a series of questions by the required deadlines.

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This item was last modified on August 30, 2023