Introduction

ESC Corporate Services (ESC) is committed to working towards full compliance with current standards of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) Policy, Regulation 191/11, under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA); and any expected upcoming legislations, such as the British Columbia Accessibility Act and Accessible Canada Act as they are introduced. In doing so, we affirm our commitment to providing quality services in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. The five-year Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, effect from 2024-2029, outlines the steps that ESC Corporate Services and its subsidiaries have taken and the work underway to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.

Statement of Commitment

At ESC, 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. We believe in inclusion and equal opportunity. ESC is committed to develop, implement and maintain policies and programs that support how the organization achieves or will achieve accessibility. Our multi-year accessibility plan is reviewed and updated at least once every five years to identify progress made in addressing barriers and will be posted on our corporate website and The Loop, the corporate intranet.

Customer Service Standard

ESC is committed to providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities. This means that we will provide services to people with disabilities with the same high quality and timeliness as others.

This means:

• Ensuring all employees are trained on how to communicate and provide the best possible customer service to all customers, including persons with disabilities.
• Ensuring employees are trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities who are accessing ESC’s services.
• Ensuring completion of accessibility training is tracked and recorded.
• Ensuring customers and other third parties who are accompanied by service animals or support persons in areas of ESC open to the public are accommodated.
• Providing customers with prompt notification of any disruption to our services or facilities. Notices are posted or available in accessible formats with information regarding the reason for the disruption and its anticipated duration

Information and Communications Standard

ESC is committed to making our information and communications accessible to people with disabilities.

This means: 

• Ensuring existing feedback processes are accessible to people with disabilities, upon request.
• Ensuring all publicly available information is made accessible, upon request.
• Where people with disabilities request information and communications in accessible formats, including communications supports, this will be provided in a timely manner and at a cost equal to the regular cost charged to others, if any.

Employment Standard

ESC is committed to fair and accessible employment practices, across all stages of the employment cycle including recruitment, assessment, and selection. This means:

• Informing applicants selected to participate in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available during the recruitment process, upon request, in relation to materials and processes to be used.
• Upon request, consulting with the applicant and arrange for suitable accommodation.
• Maintaining an internal procedure for accommodating employees and applicants with disabilities.
• Partnering with a 3rd party disability service provider to support employees with disabilities throughout the employment lifecycle.

Education & Training

ESC is committed to providing training to employees on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Ontario Human Rights Codes, as it relates to people with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of the employees.  This means: 

• Determining and ensuring that appropriate training on the requirements of the IASRs and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities, is provided to employees.
• Incorporating the training into the employee orientation process for new employees and taking steps to ensure that the training is provided to existing employees as soon as practicable. Ensuring completion of the training is tracked.
• Ensuring that training is provided, on an ongoing basis, as it relates to any policies that have been revised pursuant to AODA.

Accessible Emergency Information

ESC is committed to providing the customers and clients with publicly available emergency information in an accessible way upon request. We will also provide employees with disabilities, with individuals emergency response information where required.

Design of Public Spaces Standard

ESC will meet accessibility laws when building or renovating public spaces that will make it easier for everyone (including persons with disabilities) to access and use. This means: 

• ESC will adhere to the requirements in the Ontario Building Code and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation when selecting, designing and renovating new or existing spaces.
• ESC will continuously strive to improve physical accessibility in our offices.

For more information on this accessibility plan or to provide feedback on our efforts at meeting the AODA and the IASR, please contact [email protected].  

Link: Accessibility Policy