Accessibility Plan
Canadian Shield Health Care Services is committed to following all accessibility standards, so that all persons involved with the organization can benefit from accessible services, programs, and employment.
Canadian Shield Health Care Services is committed to removing barriers that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of our business because of his/her/other disability. A disability can be visual, hearing, physical, intellectual, learning, and mental health.
HOW DO WE MEET OUR RESPONSIBILITIES?
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TRAINING
Canadian Shield Health Care Services provides mandatory AODA training upon hire and annually as a refresher. In-Services are utilized to educate the workforce about any changes to policy throughout the year.
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ACCESSIBILITY POLICY
Canadian Shield Health Care Services is commitment to meet the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner. Persons with disabilities will be given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use and benefit from the goods, services, or facilities of the organization.
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ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
Canadian Shield Health Care Services Accessibility Plan outlines steps Canadian Shield Health Care Services will take to prevent and remove barriers to employees and clients. This plan is reviewed and updated annually. We publish an annual status report with appropriate governmental ministries. We solicit and use input from persons with disabilities to improve our Accessibility Plan.
HOW DO WE ELIMINATE BARRIERS?
PHYSICAL BARRIERS
Canadian Shield Health Care Services ensures that all landlords adhere to all its accessibility requirements. Access to a building for an individual in a wheelchair, proper doorway spacing, accessible washrooms, light alarms for people who are deaf, signs in braille for individuals who are blind are all important items for the safe entry and exit of a person with disabilities.
Canadian Shield Health Care Services ensures that office space is free of clutter with plenty of space to move freely throughout.
ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS
Environmental barriers can be interpreted as any location or characteristic of the setting that compromises, hinders, or impedes service delivery and benefits to be gained.
Canadian Shield Health Care Services is constantly working to create an office environment where people feel safe and empowered. All offices are in modern, secure locations that meet accessibility requirements.
Canadian Shield Health Care Services ensures that noise levels are controlled, and soundproof counseling rooms are available for private discussions. We eliminate any substances from the office that may trigger physical reactions like allergies or low tolerances to specific items.
ORGANIZATIONAL BARRIERS
Canadian Shield Health Care Services implements and monitors strict human rights policies to eliminate any harassment or discrimination due to disabilities. Client & Employee feedback systems have options beyond physical surveys with digital and telephone surveys.
Canadian Shield Health Care Services notifies applicants about availability of accommodations. Upon hiring, Canadian Shield Health Care Services notifies successful applicants of AODA policy for accommodating employees with disabilities, who to contact for request of accommodation and encourage applicant to make any requests as soon as possible. All employees with disabilities have access to documents, coaching and feedback that is understandable to them when they are transferred to new positions and receive performance reviews.
Canadian Shield Health Care Services develops, and documents individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities based on a clearly written process. The process includes:
- How an employee requesting accommodation can participate in developing the plan.
- How the employee will be assessed on an individual basis.
- How the employee can request that a representative from the workplace can participate in the creation of the plan.
- How the employer can request an evaluation by an outside medical or other expert, at the employer’s expense, to assist the employer in determining if accommodation can be achieved.
- Steps to protect the confidentiality of the employee.
- How and when the plan will be completed.
- How frequently the plan will be reviewed and updated and how it will be executed. Do we have an Individual Accommodation Process? If not, create one.
We monitor how a person with disabilities is viewed and treated by the organization and provide flexibility in the workplace to assist employees with disabilities to better manage their needs.
Canadian Shield Health Care Services has a Return-to-Work process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work.
COMMUNICATION BARRIERS
Canadian Shield Health Care Services will provide information in accessible formats, and make communication supports available, upon request. Accessibility formats and communication supports will be provided in a timely manner when requested. If it is not technically possible to convert information into accessible format, Canadian Shield Health Care Services will explain why and provide a summary of the information. We do not charge a fee for accessible formats.
Canadian Shield Health Care Services maintains a website that was created to be user-friendly.
TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS
Canadian Shield Health Care Services provides technology training and support to all employees.
TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS
Canadian Shield Health Care Services trains employees how to use accessibility equipment and features safely and, what to do if equipment stops working and ensure people with disabilities are safe during emergencies.
MENTAL HEALTH BARRIERS
Canadian Shield Health Care Services provides mental health & wellness services and self-care services to all our employees.
COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
Here are a few strategies to recognize and understand the needs of persons with disabilities and meet them accordingly.
PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
If you feel that you will need to have a lengthy conversation with a customer using a wheelchair or crutches, consider finding a place to sit to make eye contact easily without straining a client’s neck. If given permission to move a client’s wheelchair, do not position the customer in an awkward spot or undignified place such as in front of an entrance or exit door or facing wall. Know about features such as elevators automatic doors another accessible features in your building.
VISUAL DISABILITY:
Do not assume how blind a person is. Not everyone who has a visual disability is completely blind. Many people have low vision.
HEARING DISABILITY:
To assist people with hearing disabilities, ensure your face and body language is clearly visible, use closed captioning on any television, or captions provided for any promotional videos.
SPEECH OR LANGUAGE DISABILITIES:
Don’t assume that someone with a speech or language disability also has another disability. Keep interactions simple. Yes or No. Be patient. Don’t interrupt or finish the persons sentences. If unsure of what a person said, repeat and ask if this is correct instead of guessing.
INVISIBLE DISABILITIES:
An invisible disability can be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, or sensory condition that limits a person’s behaviors, senses, or activities. Examples: ADHD, Arthritis, Brain injuries, Chronic Fatigue, Gastrointestinal disease, Epilepsy, Chronic Pain, Learning disabilities, Mental illness.
SUPPORT PERSONS:
A support person is someone who accompanies a person with a disability to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods, services, or facilities. Always look at and speak directly to a client with a disability, instead of a friend or support person.
HOW DO YOU GET ACCOMMODATED?
If you would like more information on Canadian Shield Health Care Services Accessibility policy or, if you are experiencing a disability, temporary or permanent, contact your supervisor at 705-618-7233.