City of Sarnia Accessibility Policy

Name of Policy:	Corporate Accessibility
Policy Number:	CS – 041
Responsibility:	Accessibility Coordinator
Approval:	Mayor and Council
Approval Date:	May 13, 2016
Date of Next Review:

1.0 PURPOSE

This Policy is intended to provide the primary framework to guide the Corporation of the City of Sarnia with providing accessible goods, services, programs and facilities to the people of Sarnia and to be in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”) and the Integrated Accessibility Regulation Standards 191/1, 2010 (“IASR”).

2.0 POLICY STATEMENT

The Corporation of the City of Sarnia is committed to providing quality goods, services, and facilities that are accessible to all persons and is guided by the four core principals of Dignity, Independence, Integration and Equality Opportunity. The City is dedicated to removing barriers to accessibility and ensuring that all the requirements in the Customer Service, Information and Communication, Employment, Transportation and the Design of Public Spaces Standards of the AODA are fulfilled.

3.0 APPLICATION

This Policy applies to Sarnia City Council and all City of Sarnia employees, volunteers and third parties who provide goods, services or facilities to the public on behalf of the Corporation of the City of Sarnia.

4.0 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Corporation shall meet its duties and responsibilities under the AODA by adhering to the following principles:

• All members of the public are treated in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence;
• The programs, services and facilities are inclusive and provide an equal opportunity to all members of the public;
• Representatives of the City of Sarnia are committed to preventing and removing barriers to accessibility.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

TRAINING

The City will ensure that all persons to whom this Policy applies receive training as required by the AODA Customer Service Standard (2005). The training will be tailored to suit each person’s interactions with the public and his or her involvement in the development of policies, procedures and practices pertaining to the provision of goods and services.

THE TRAINING SHALL INCLUDE:

• A review of the purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act, (2005), the IASR (2012) and Human Rights Code as it pertains to people with disabilities;
• How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities; use of assistive devices of people with disabilities, service animals, support persons, notice of disruption, feedback, and information in alternative formats.

The training provided shall be delivered based on the duties of the employee, volunteer or third party and the City of Sarnia shall keep record of the training.

ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING

The City of Sarnia will establish, implement, maintain and document a multi-year accessibility plan in accordance with the AODA. The multi-year accessibility plan will be a guideline for the City of Sarnia staff to prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities for goods, services, programs and services and to comply with the AODA and IASR requirements.

The City of Sarnia will:

• Establish, review and update the multi-year accessibility plan in consultation with persons with disabilities and the Sarnia Accessibility Advisory Committee (SAAC);
• Review and update the plan once every five years;
• Complete an annual accessibility report updating Sarnia City Council and the public on the status of the five year multi-year accessibility plan and other accessibility matters within the City of Sarnia.

PROCUREMENT

The City of Sarnia will incorporate accessibility and the needs of people with disabilities when procuring or acquiring goods, services and facilities. This includes incorporating accessibility features when designing and procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

The City of Sarnia shall provide information that it produces and controls in formats that are accessible and take into account the disabilities of members of the public requesting information.

The City of Sarnia shall provide and arrange for the reasonable provisions of accessible forms and communications supports for persons with disabilities. This will be completed in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to a disability and at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons. In determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support, the City of Sarnia shall consult with the person making the request.

When it is not practicable to provide an alternate format, the City of Sarnia shall provide an explanation and summary of the document in an accessible format.

FEEDBACK

The City of Sarnia shall ensure that all feedback processes are accessible to people with disabilities by providing accessible formats and communication supports upon request.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

The City of Sarnia shall provide information regarding emergency procedures, plans or public safety in accessible formats or with appropriate communication supports for people with disabilities.

SERVICE DISRUPTION

The City of Sarnia shall give notice of temporary disruptions to services or facilities used by persons with disabilities including the reason(s) for the disruption, the anticipated duration of the disruption and alternative facilities or services that may be available. The notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises of the facility or by other sources of information such as the City of Sarnia website (sarnia.ca). When the disruption is planned, advanced notice shall be provided.

SERVICE ANIMALS

A person with a disability accompanied by a service animal is permitted to enter the City of Sarnia premises with the animal unless the animal is otherwise excluded by law. Where a service animal is excluded by law, the City shall, within reasonable measures, ensure that other methods are made available to enable the person with the disability to obtain, use or benefit from the goods and services.

Section 4(9) of the Accessibility Standards on Customer Service Standard (2005) indicates that an animal is a service animal if:

• It is readily apparent that the animal is being used for reasons related to a person’s disability;
• If the person provides a letter from a healthcare provider confirming that, the animal is required for reasons relating to the disability. A person with a disability with a service animal is responsible for the control of that animal of all times.

SUPPORT PERSONS

When a person with a disability is accompanied by a support person, the City will ensure that both persons are permitted to enter any facility, and that the person with a disability is not prevented from having access to the support person.

A support person, when assisting a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from the City’s goods and services, will be permitted to attend at no charge where an admission fee is applicable.

ASSISTIVE DEVICES

When a person with a disability requires assistive devices to obtain goods and services from the City of Sarnia, the City will ensure that all reasonable accommodations are met to support the person.

EMPLOYMENT

The City of Sarnia is committed to continue to provide an inclusive workplace for all applicants and employees in accordance with the City of Sarnia’s Employment Accommodation Policy (2014). This Policy will ensure that the City of Sarnia complies with the IASR Employment Standard (2012).

TRANSPORTATION

The City of Sarnia will adhere to the requirements in the IASR Transportation Standard, 2010. Sarnia Transit has developed policies and practices unique to its service that are available to the public on the City of Sarnia website for both conventional and specialized transit.

DESIGN OF PUBLIC SPACES

The City of Sarnia strives to be a leader in developing accessible environments for all and is moving towards the principles of including “universal design” for all our public spaces. The City of Sarnia will comply with the IASR Design of Public Spaces Standard (2010) when undertaking new construction and redevelopment of public spaces in the following areas:

• Recreational trails and beach access routes s. 80.6 – 80.15
• Outdoor public use eating areas s. 80.16 – 80.17
• Outdoor play spaces s. 80.18 – 80.20
• Exterior paths of travel s. 80.21 – 80.31
• Accessible parking s. 80.32 – 80.39
• Obtaining services s. 80.40 -80.43
• Maintenance planning s. 80.44

5.0 ADMINISTRATION

Questions about this Policy or related procedures should be directed to the Accessibility Coordinator for the City of Sarnia.