AODA Policy
Essex Power Corporation (EPC) and its subsidiaries are committed to providing high-quality, cost-effective goods and services that keep pace with rising public expectations.
EPC strives at all times to provide goods and services in a way that respects the dignity of independence of persons with disabilities. EPC is also committed to ensuring that customers with disabilities receive accessible goods and services with the same quality and timeliness as others do.
This policy is intended to fulfill the requirements set out in Ontario Regulation 429/07 of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “Act”), which include the establishment of a policy for EPC governing the provision of its good and services to persons with disabilities.
1) Scope
This Policy shall apply to every person who deals with members of the public or other third parties on behalf of EPC in the course of delivering EPC’s good and services, whether the person does so as an employee, Board Member, agent, volunteer or otherwise.
This Policy shall also apply to all persons who participate in the development of EPC’s policies, practices and procedures governing the provision of goods and services to members of the public or third parties.
2) Definitions
“Agent” is a person or business providing goods or services on behalf of EPC through a contract or agreement.
“Assistive Device” is a technical aid, communication device or medical aid that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional abilities of persons with disabilities in seeing, hearing, speaking, mobility, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, working or self-care.
“Customer” is for the purposes of this policy, a person or a third party (i.e. a company or other organization that is not a person) who acquires goods and/or services from EPC.
“Disability” is defined, for the purposes of this policy and in accordance with the Act, as:
- Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
- A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
- A learning disability or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
- A mental disorder,
- An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
“Service Animal” is a service animal for a person with a disability,
- If it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability; or
- If the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.
A service animal includes but is not limited to a “Guide Dog” as that term is defined in section 1 of the Blind Persons’ Rights Acts: “…a dog trained as a guide for a blind person and having the qualifications prescribed by the regulations.”
“Support Person” means, in relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies him or her in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods and services.
3) Authority and Responsibilities
President & CEO
Ensures that EPC implements and updates this policy and related procedures as appropriate.
Senior Management and Managers
- Ensure that employee, volunteers and any third party who report to them or conduct business on their behalf are trained on accessible customer service following corporate standards.
- Ensure that procedures under this policy are communicated to staff and are carried out consistently.
- Ensure that feedback from the public regarding accessible customer service is addressed in accordance with the policy and related procedures.
Employees
- Ensure that accessible customer service is provided to all customers in accordance with the policy and related practices and procedures.
Records
Documents generated as a result of this policy will be maintained in accordance with EPC’s existing document management system.
4) Procedure
This policy is drafted in accordance with the Accessibility Standards for Customers (O. Reg 429/07) and addresses the following:
- The provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities.
- The use of assistive devices by persons with disabilities.
- The use of service animals by persons with disabilities.
- The use of support persons by persons with disabilities.
- Communication with persons with disabilities.
- Notice of temporary disruption in services and fatalities.
- Training.
- Customer feedback regarding the provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities.
- Notice of availability and format of documents.
EPC may from time to time, retain third parties as its agent and/or contractors to provide certain services for and on behalf of EPC, including but not limited to billing and collection services, technical and customer services, information services and other related services. In order to comply with the provisions of the Act and its regulations, it is EPC’s intention to require any such agent and/or contractor to confirm, in writing, that they are compliant with the provisions of the Act and its regulations in the performance of their services to EPC in order to attain compliance with the provisions of the Act and its regulations.
A. Principles for Providing Goods and Services to People with Disabilities.
EPC will make reasonable efforts to:
- Provide its goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities;
- Ιntegrate the provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities and others, unless an alternate measure is necessary to enable a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from the goods or services;
- Provide persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to access its goods and services and allow them to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers.
- At the Company location 2730 Highway 3, Oldcastle, ON, Essex Powerlines provides a barrier free building. At this location there is a separate meeting room available on the main floor should it be required.
- At the Company location 2-2199 Blackacre Dr, Oldcastle, ON, Essex Energy and Essex Power Corp provide a barrier free building.
B. Assistive Devices.
Customer’s own assistive device(s)
A person with a disability may provide their own assistive device for the purpose of obtaining, using and benefiting from EPC’s goods and services unless otherwise prohibited by law (i.e.: health and safety reasons). In the event the assistive device(s) is prohibited by law, EPC may offer a person with a disability other reasonable measures to assist him or her in obtaining, using and benefiting from EPC’s goods and services where EPC has such other measures available and the person so requests.
Assistive devices provided by EPC
EPC will ensure that staff know how to use assistive devices available in its various locations for customers, and will inform customers of the assistive devices that are available. Available assistive devices and the procedure for accessing them are outlined in EPC’s “Assistive Devices, Support Persons and Service Animals for Persons with Disabilities Procedure.”
C. Use of Service Animals.
Persons with disabilities may bring their service animal on the parts of EPC premises that are open to the public or those areas of EPC premises where customers customarily have access to in order to receive EPC goods or services. EPC will ensure that all staff dealing with the public are trained in how to interact with persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.
On rare occasions, a manager may determine that a service animal cannot enter an area of the premises consistent with other laws. In these instances, the manager will suggest appropriate alternatives and provide assistance.
Care and Control of the Animal
A customer with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal must maintain care and control of the animal at all times.
Allergies
If a customer or staff member has a severe allergy to animals which could result in health and safety concerns, EPC shall make reasonable efforts to meet the needs of all individuals.
D. Use of Support Persons.
EPC is committed to welcoming persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. If a support person accompanies a visiting person with a disability, EPC shall ensure that both persons are entitled to enter the premises together and that the person with a disability is not prevented from having access to the support person while on the premises.
When a support person may be required
EPC may require a visiting person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person when on the premises, but only if a support person is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or of other persons on the premises. Refer to EPC’s “Assistive Devices, Support Persons and Service Animals for Persons with Disabilities Procedure” for details about the criteria that should be used in making such a determination.
E. Communication with Persons with Disabilities.
EPC will endeavour to communicate with persons with disabilities in a manner that takes into account their disability. This means staff will communicate in a manner that enables persons with disabilities to communicate effectively for purposes of using, receiving and requesting EPC goods and services.
EPC will train staff who communicate with customers on how to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities.
F. Notice of Temporary Disruption.
EPC will provide customers with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services used by persons with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, how long the disruption is expected to last, and a description of any alternative facilities or services available (if any).
The notice will be placed at all public entrances and service counters on EPC premises. Depending on the nature of the disruption, notice will also be provided on outgoing telephone messages and on the EPC website.
This notice will be provided in accessible formats.
G. Training for Staff.
EPC will provide training to all employees, volunteers and others who deal with members of the public in the provision of EPC goods or services. Training will also be provided all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service policies, practices and procedures.
New staff and staff who commence new duties that involve interaction with members of the public or other third parties receiving EPC goods and services will undertake training as part of their orientation, if they have not already done so.
EPC will provide staff with training that includes:
- A review of the purposes of the Act and the requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service;
- How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities;
- How to interact with persons with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person;
- How to use the equipment or devices available on EPC’s premises, or otherwise, that may assist with the provision of goods or services to persons with disabilities;
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing EPC’s goods and services; and
- EPC policies, practices and procedures relating to the provision of goods or services to persons with disabilities.
Staff will be trained, as appropriate, on policies, practices and procedures that affect the way goods and services are provided to persons with disabilities. Staff will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.
EPC will ensure that third parties providing services on behalf of EPC undertake training in accessible customer service, as outlined above.
EPC shall keep records of the training provided under this section, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided.
H. Feedback Process
The ultimate goal of this policy is to meet service delivery expectations while serving customers with disabilities. Comments on EPC services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.
EPC will let customers know what methods are available for giving feedback. If a method is not suitable, customers may request another method. Privacy will be respected and all feedback will be reviewed for possible action that can be taken to improve EPC services.
Where possible, complaints will be addressed immediately. However, some complaints may require more effort to address, and must be reviewed for action, possibly at a higher level. EPC will have a mechanism to allow the public to provide feedback on the accessibility of the provision of goods and services. Feedback/response will endeavour to be in a format that is accessible to the complainant.
More specific information about feedback procedures is set out in EPC’s “Customer Feedback Procedure.”
I. Notice of Availability and Format of Documents
EPC shall notify persons with disabilities to whom it provides goods or services that the documents required under the Act are available upon request and in a format that takes into account the person’s disability. This notice may be given by posting the information at a conspicuous place in or on EPC’s premises, on EPC’s website and/or any other reasonable method.
5) Flowcharts
- Nil.
6) References and Related Documents
- Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
- Ontario Human Rights Code, 1990
- Dog Owner’s Liability Act, 1990
- Blind Persons’ Rights Act, 1990
- Ontario Regulation 562 – Health Protection and Promotion Act
- Ontario Regulation 429/07 – Accessibility Standards for Customer Service
- Essex Power Corp – Assistive Devices, Support Persons and Service Animals for Persons with Disabilities Procedure
- Essex Power Corp. – Customer Feedback Procedure
- Essex Power Corp – Notice of Temporary Service Disruption Procedure
- Essex Power Corp. – Availability of Accessible Customer Service Documents