Accessibility Policy

AODA - Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) Customer Service Policy

Intent

This policy is intended to meet the requirements of the customer service standards included in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. It applies to the provision of goods and services to the public or other third parties, not to the goods themselves.

All goods and services provided by Landscape Effects Group shall follow the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity.

Definitions

Assistive device: Is a technical aid, communication device, or other instrument that is used to maintain or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. Personal assistive devices are typically devices that customers bring with them, such as a wheelchair, walker, or a personal oxygen tank that might assist in hearing, seeing, communicating, moving, breathing, remembering, or reading.

Disability: The term disability as defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, refers to:

• 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 dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
• A mental disorder; or
• An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Guide dog: Is a highly trained working dog that has been trained at one of the facilities listed in Ontario Regulation 58 under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, to provide mobility, safety, and increased independence for people who are blind.

Service animal: An animal is a service animal for a person with a disability if:

1. The animal can be readily identified as one that is being used by the person for reasons relating to the person’s disability, as a result of visual indicators such as the vest or harness worn by the animal; or
2. The person provides documentation from a member of one of the following regulated health professional colleges confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability:
• College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario;
• College of Chiropractors of Ontario;
• College of Nurses of Ontario;
• College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario;
• College of Optometrists of Ontario;
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario;
• College of Physiotherapists of Ontario;
• College of Psychologists of Ontario; or
• College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario.

Support person: A 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, medical needs, or access to goods and services.

Guidelines

The Provision of Goods and Services to Persons with Disabilities

• Landscape Effects Group will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity by:
• Ensuring that all customers receive the same value and quality;
• Allowing customers with disabilities to do things in their own ways, at their own pace when accessing goods and services, as long as this does not present a safety risk;
• Using alternative methods when possible to ensure that customers with disabilities have access to the same services, in the same place and in a similar manner;
• Taking into account individual needs when providing goods and services; and
• Communicating in a manner that takes into account the customer’s disability. 

The Use of Assistive Devices

Customer’s Own Assistive Devices

Persons with disabilities may use their own assistive devices as required when accessing goods or services provided by Landscape Effects Group.

In cases where the assistive device presents a safety concern or where accessibility might be an issue, other reasonable measures will be used to ensure the access of goods and services. For example, open flames and oxygen tanks cannot be near one another. Therefore, the accommodation of a customer with an oxygen tank may involve ensuring the customer is in a location that would be considered safe for both the customer and business. Or, where elevators are not present and where an individual requires assistive devices for the purposes of mobility, service will be provided in a location that meets the needs of the customer.

Guide Dogs and Service Animals

A customer with a disability who is accompanied by guide dog or service animal will be allowed access to premises that are open to the public unless otherwise excluded by law. “No pet” policies do not apply to guide dogs or service animals.

Food Service Areas

A customer with a disability who is accompanied by guide dog or service animal will be allowed access to food service areas that are open to the public unless otherwise excluded by law.

Other types of service animals are not permitted into food service areas due to the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Regulation 493/17.

Recognizing a Guide Dog or Service Animal:

If it is not readily apparent that the animal is being used by the customer for reasons relating to their disability, Landscape Effects Group may request verification from the customer.

Care and Control of the Animal:

The customer who is accompanied by a guide dog or service animal is responsible for maintaining care and control of the animal at all times.

Allergies

If a health and safety concern presents itself (for example, in the form of a severe allergy to the animal), Landscape Effects Group will make all reasonable efforts to meet the needs of all individuals.

The Use of Support Persons

If a customer with a disability is accompanied by a support person, Landscape Effects Group will ensure that both persons may enter the premises together and that the customer is not prevented from having access to the support person.

There may be times where seating and availability prevent the customer and support person from sitting beside each other. In these situations, Landscape Effects Group will make every reasonable attempt to resolve the issue.

In situations where confidential information might be discussed, consent will be obtained from the customer before any conversation where confidential information might be discussed.

Notice of Disruptions in Service

Service disruptions may occur due to reasons that may or may not be within the control or knowledge of Landscape Effects Group. In the event of any temporary disruptions to facilities or services that customers with disabilities rely on to access or use goods or services of Landscape Effects Group, reasonable efforts will be made to provide advance notice. In some circumstances, such as in the situation of unplanned temporary disruptions, advance notice may not be possible.

If a notification needs to be posted, the following information will be included unless it is not readily available or known:

• Goods or services that are disrupted or unavailable;
• Reason for the disruption;
• Anticipated duration; and
• A description of alternative services or options.

When disruptions occur, Landscape Effects Group will provide notice by:

• Posting notices in conspicuous places including at the point of disruption, at the main entrance, and the nearest accessible entrance to the service disruption or on the Landscape Effects Group website;
• Contacting customers with appointments;
• Verbally notifying customers when they are making a reservation or appointment; or
• By any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances.

Training

Training will be provided to:

• Every person who is a team member of or a volunteer with the provider.
• Every person who participates in developing the provider’s policies.
• Every other person who provides goods, services, or facilities on behalf of the provider.

Training Provisions

Regardless of the format, training will cover the following:

• A review of the purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005;
• A review of the requirements of the customer service standards;
• Instructions on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;
• Instructions on how to interact with people with disabilities who:
• Use assistive devices;
• Require the assistance of a guide dog or other service animal; or
• Require the use of a support person (including the handling of admission fees);
• Instructions on how to use equipment or devices that are available at our premises or that we provide that may help people with disabilities;
• Instructions on what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing your services; and
• Policies, procedures, and practices of Landscape Effects Group pertaining to providing accessible customer service to customers with disabilities.

Administration

If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or its related procedures, please contact Human Resources.

This policy and its related procedures will be reviewed as required in the event of legislative changes or changes to company procedures.

Multi-year Accessibility Plan (AODA) – Ontario

Statement of Commitment

Intent

This Multi– Year Accessibility Plan outlines the strategy of Landscape Effects Group to prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities and comply with the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Statement of Commitment

Landscape Effects Group is committed to providing a barrier–free environment for all stakeholders, including our clients, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and its associated regulations.

Landscape Effects Group understands that we have a responsibility for ensuring a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for everyone. We are committed to ensuring our organization’s compliance by incorporating accessibility legislation into our policies, procedures, equipment requirements, training, and best practices. We will review these policies and practices annually, as organizational changes occur, or in anticipation of compliance deadlines. In addition, we will strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.

Providing an accessible and barrier–free environment is a shared effort, and we are committed as an organization to working with the necessary parties to make accessibility for all a reality. Landscape Effects Group will review and update our accessibility plan at least once every 5 years, or as needed. The current plan covers a five–year period (2023–2028).

Accessibility Plan 2023-2028

Customer Service Standard

Customer Service Policy

Landscape Effects Group has implemented an Accessible Customer Service Policy. It is available and can be provided in an accessible format upon request.

Training

Landscape Effects Group has a training program for all team members who work with customers to be trained on. All team members must be trained on:

• How to interact and communicate with individuals who may have various types of
  disabilities, this includes individuals who may use an assistive device or have a support
  person or animal.
• How to properly handle a situation where an individual with a disability may have
  difficulty accessing our facilities, and/or goods.
• How to properly use any devices required to assist a person with disabilities.

Accessible Websites & Web Content

Landscape Effects Group is committed to making our company website(s) and all of its web content accessible by ensuring we comply with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA.

Employment Standards

Landscape Effects Group is compliant with requirements set out regarding employment legislation– this includes recruitment, emergency responses, notices, accommodation plans, return to work processes, career advancement and performance management. We will continue to remove barriers to build a diverse and accessible environment enabling our team members to reach their full potential.

Recruitment

All job postings that are public–facing websites include the notice of availability of accommodations for disabilities where needed, to support recruitment processes. Landscape Effects Group is committed to fair and accessible recruitment practices to ensure we attract and retain team members with disabilities. We strive to continue to improve our accessibility throughout the recruitment process.

Notices

Landscape Effects will continue to inform current team members and job applicants of our support and accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will notify of our policies on job accommodations for team members accessibility needs.

Emergency Response

Safety is our priority, and we continue to strive and improve our facilities to ensure they are safe for our team members, clients, and visitors. We will work on providing individualized emergency response plans for any team members with disabilities to ensure their safety and accessibility needs are met.

Return to Work Processes and Accommodation Plans

Landscape Effects is committed to developing individualized accommodation plans and return to work plans when required to assist team members with disabilities. We will ensure all processes are documented with steps outlined on return to work or accommodation.

Career Advancement and Performance Management

Landscape Effects Group will ensure all needs are accommodated and proper plans are put in place for team members with disabilities to advance within the company. We will adapt current performance management systems to ensure that accessibility needs are met.

Integrated Accessibility Standards

Information and Communications Standard

Landscape Effects Group is committed to ensuring that all information and communications
are accessible to individuals with disabilities. We continue to improve our processes and procedures to meet accessibility requirements. We will ensure that all information and communications are in accessible formats.

We will continue to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. All feedback is welcome on how we can continue to improve our accessibility processes. Feedback can be provided verbally over the phone or in person, or via email or our website contact form.

Accessible Formats

If any additional information is required by an individual with a disability, Landscape Effects Group will provide communication support. We strive to respond in a timely manner and will ensure we do what we can to accommodate.

If there are any questions or concerns regarding Landscape Effects Group’s policies or procedures, please do not hesitate to contact our Culture Talent/Human Resources Department, or by filling out our feedback form here.