Accessibility Plan for HOCO "Fun by the Falls"

Multi Year Accessibility Plan for HOCO "Fun by the Falls"

This accessibility outlines the policies and actions that HOCO will put in place to improve opportunities for guests and Team Members with disabilities over a period of 2014-2021.

Statement of Commitment

HOCO is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Accessible Emergency Information

HOCO is committed to providing guests and clients with publicly available emergency information in an accessible way upon request. We will also provide Team Members with disabilities individualized emergency response information in an accessible format with appropriate communication supports when necessary.

Training

HOCO will provide training to Team Members, volunteers and others required by regulation on Ontario's accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of Team Members, volunteers and others.

HOCO will take the following steps to ensure Team Members are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario's accessible laws by January

1, 2015:

• Ensure all Team Members and managers employed complete the "Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities -Accessible Customer Service" testing
• Ensure all training, policies and procedures are reviewed annually for compliance and integrate new standards as required.
• Re-train Team Members on updated training requirements, policies and procedures as required to meet the standards and comply.

Information and Communications

HOCO is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities and will consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs.

HOCO will take the following steps to make all new internet websites, including a significant refresh of a website, and all web content published on those sites conforms to WCAG 2.0, Level A by January 1, 2014:

Ensure that our website provider, when applying updates to our website, is doing so in accordance with the WCAG 2.0, Level A standards.

HOCO will take the following steps to ensure existing feedback processes are available in an accessible format or by way of a communication support to people with disabilities, including guests, clients, and Team Members, upon request by January 1, 2015:

• Ensure that guest feedback is accepted by phone.
• Ensure that guest feedback is accepted in person.
• Ensure that guest feedback is accepted in writing (mail, e-mail, web-based).
• Ensure that every team member is aware of how guests can provide feedback using multiple formats.

HOCO will take the following steps to make sure all publicly available information is made accessible upon request by January 1, 2014:

• Post all policies, procedures and multi-year accessibility plan on internal and external websites.
• Ensure policies and procedures are readily available at each operation.
• Train Team Members on where to access the information within each operation
• Ensure all new Team Members are shown the location of the documents as part of their orientat ion .

HOCO will take the following steps to make all existing internet websites, internal and external, and web content on those sites, conform to WCAG 2.0, Level AA by January 1, 2021

• Ensure that our website provider applies the necessary updates to our website in accordance with the WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.
• Ensure that our website provider develops any new site in accordance with the WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.

Employment

HOCO is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. HOCO will ensure compliance to this standard is met, on or before January 1, 2016

HOCO will take the following steps to notify the public and Team Members that, when requested, HOCO will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and when candidates are hired:

• Will leverage all available tools and resources required when sourcing, screening and interviewing candidates. These materials ensure compliance to the standards.
• Will leverage the tools and materials available when hiring, orientating, training and performance managing Team Members. These materials ensure compliance to the standards.
• Notifying a selected applicant by phone or email or by another communication method, which meets an applicant's needs, of the accommodations available during the recruitment and assessment processes

HOCO will take the following steps to develop and put in place a process for developing individual accommodation plans and return-to-work policies for Team Members that have been absent due to a disability:

• Document return to work processes to ensure that such processes become part of HOCO's business practices and are applied consistently.
• Communicate these policies and procedures to all managers and Team Members.
• Communicate these policies and procedures to all new Team Members and managers as part of their orientation program.

HOCO will take the following steps to ensure the accessibility needs of Team Members with disabilities are taken into account when using performance management, career development and redeployment processes by January 1, 2016:

• Create policies and procedures that outline the steps required to accommodate Team Members with a disability as it relates to performance management, career development and redeployment.
• Communicate these policies and procedures to all Managers and Team M embers.
• Communicate these policies and procedures to all new Team Members and managers as part of their orientation program.

Design of Public Spaces - January 1, 2017

HOCO will meet, when applicable, the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when undertaking new construction or making major modifications to public spaces. Public spaces include:

• Outdoor paths of travel, like sidewalks, ramps, stairs, curb ramps, rest areas
• Accessible parking
• Service-related elements like service counters, fixed queuing lines and waiting areas

HOCO will put the following procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to its accessible parts of its public spaces.

• In the event of a service disruption, HOCO will notify the public of the service disruption and alternatives available.

Staying Current

HOCO will take the following steps to prevent and remove other accessibility barriers identified:

• Conduct an annual process that supports the evaluation of all current policies, procedures, training and practices supporting guests and Team Members with disabilities.
• Update the policies, procedures, training and practices in accordance with the standards outlining new legislation, advancement in technology etc. that further accommodates disability barriers for Team Members and guests.

For more information

For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact Human Resources at:

• Phone: 905-357-5911
• Email: [email protected]

Accessible formats of this document are available free upon request from: [email protected]