Who is Premier Equipment?
For purposes of this Accessibility Plan, "Premier Equipment" means Premier Equipment Limited.
Background
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was adopted in 2005 with a goal of making Ontario completely accessible for individuals with disabilities by 2025. To reach this goal, businesses and organizations that provide goods and services to people in Ontario, are required to meet certain accessibility standards in 5 areas: (1) Customer Service; (2) Information and Communications; (3) Employment; (4) Transportation; and (5) the Design of Public Spaces.
Premier Equipment is committed to eliminating barriers and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities and to providing goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. In 2012 we implemented an Accessible Customer Service Policy to ensure that people with disabilities are given the same opportunity to access and benefit from our goods and services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers.
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (“IASR”) under AODA, which incorporates the remaining 4 accessibility standards, requires us to establish, implement, maintain and document a multi-year accessibility plan which outlines our strategy to prevent and remove barriers for persons with disabilities through the requirements under the IASR.
The following accessibility standards are applicable to Premier Equipment under the IASR:
- General Requirements
- Information and Communications
- Employment
- Design of Public Spaces
In accordance with the IASR, Premier Equipment will:
- Establish, review and update this Accessibility Plan
- Post this Accessibility Plan on Premier Equipment’s public website at premierequipment.ca
- Provide this Accessibility Plan in an accessible format, upon request
- Review and update this Accessibility Plan at least once every 5 years
Purpose
The purpose of this Accessibility Plan is to outline Premier Equipment’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers to address the current and future requirements set out under the IASR.
Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation
General Requirements
Training
Commitment:
We are committed to implementing a process to ensure that all employees, volunteers, third party contractors who provide goods, services and facilities on behalf of Premier Equipment, and persons participating in the development and approval of Premier Equipment’s policies, are provided with appropriate training on the requirements of the IASR and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities, and are provided with such training as soon as practicable.
Planned Action:
In addition to the training we provide to our employees under the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service, we will provide training to our employees, volunteers, persons who participate in developing the organization’s policies and other staff members who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of Premier Equipment on the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to persons with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the individual’s actual duties.
Since January 1, 2015 wee complete the required training of our employees, volunteers, persons who participate in developing the organization’s policies and other staff members. In order to meet this obligation, we:
- Develop appropriate training content.
- Deliver training to employees, volunteers and others required to participate.
- Maintain a record of the training provided, including the dates that the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided.
- Ensure that training is provided on any changes to the prescribed policies on an ongoing basis.
Parts and Service department
Commitment:
We are committed to eliminating barriers and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities and to providing goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.
Actions Taken:
Should we design, procure or acquire any parts and service counters on or after January 1, 2014, we will have regard to the accessibility for persons with disabilities. We will ensure that any employees involved in the procurement or acquisition are apprised of the need to consider accessibility features in choosing the appropriate self-service kiosk.
Information and Communication Standards
Commitment:
We are committed to making company information and communications accessible to persons with disabilities. We will incorporate new accessibility requirements under the Information and Communication Standard to ensure that our information and communication systems and platforms are accessible and are provided in accessible formats that meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
Actions Taken:
- Emergency Procedure, Plans or Public Safety Information
Effective January 1, 2012, public safety information that is prepared by Premier Equipment and made available to the public will be made available in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.
- Accessible Websites and Web Content
In order to ensure all of our internet websites, and all content posted on those websites since January 1, 2012, is accessible, we are continually working to improve our digital assets and aim for all our digital properties to be WCAG 2.0 AA compliant.:
- Feedback
Feedback regarding the way Premier Equipment provides goods and services to people with disabilities can be made by completing the feedback form, sending an e-mail to the store (form and address details available through customer service desk) or by speaking directly with a manager on duty.
- Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
Where a request for an accessible format or for communication supports is received, we will:
- Consult with the individual making the request to determine their accessibility needs and what would be a suitable format or support.
- Provide the requested information in a timely manner.
- Provide the information at regular cost (if any).
Employment Standards
Commitment:
We are committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain employees with disabilities. This includes providing accessibility across all stages of the employment cycle.
Actions Taken:
The following measures were implemented effective January 1, 2012:
- Workplace Emergency Response Information
In situations where we are aware that an employee has a disability and that there is a need for accommodation, individualized workplace emergency response information are provided to the employee as soon as practicable if such information is necessary given the nature of the employee’s disability. These individualized emergency response plans are:
- Communicated to the employees’ respective manager and Safety personnel, where the employees’ consent has been obtained and on an as needed basis.
- Reviewed and assessed on an ongoing and regular basis to ensure that accessibility issues are addressed.
- Recruitment General
We will notify employees and the public of the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process. This will include:
- A review and, as necessary, modification of existing recruitment policies, procedures and processes.
- Specifying that accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities on job postings.
- Recruitment, Assessment and Selection
We will notify job applicants, when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials and processes to be used in the assessment/selection process. This will include:
- A review and, as necessary, modification of existing recruitment policies, procedures and processes.
- If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, consult with the applicant and arrange for provision of suitable accommodations in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.
- Notice to Successful Applicants
When making offers of employment, we will notify the successful applicant of our policies for accommodating employees with disabilities. This will include:
- A review and, as necessary, modification of existing recruitment policies, procedures and processes.
- Inclusion of notification of Premier Equipment’s policy on accommodating employees with disabilities in offer of employment letters.
- Informing Employees of Supports
We will inform all employees of policies that support employees with disabilities, including, but not limited to, policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability. This will include:
- Informing current employees and new hires of Premier Equipment’s policies supporting employees with disabilities.
- Providing information under this section as soon as practicable after the new employee begins employment.
- Keeping employees up to date on changes to existing policies on job accommodations with respect to disability.
- Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees
Where an employee with a disability so requests it, we will provide or arrange for provision of suitable accessible formats and communication supports for:
- Information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job.
- Information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.
In order to meet this obligation, we will consult with the requesting employee to determine the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.
- Documented Individual Accommodation Plans/Return to Work Process
Our existing processes include steps that we will take to accommodate an employee with a disability and to facilitate an employee’s return to work after absenteeism due to disability.
We will review and assess the existing processes to ensure that they include a method for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with a disability, if such plans are required.
We will ensure that the process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans includes the following elements, in accordance with the provisions of the IASR:
- The manner in which the employee requesting accommodation can participate in the development of the plan.
- The means by which the employee is assessed on an individual basis.
- The manner in which we can request an evaluation by an outside medical or other expert, at Premier Equipment’s expense to assist us in determining if and how accommodation can be achieved.
- The steps taken to protect the privacy of the employee’s personal information.
- The frequency in which individual accommodation plans will be reviewed and updated and the manner in which this will be done.
- If an individual accommodation plan is denied, the manner in which the reasons for the denial will be provided to the employee.
- The means of providing the individual accommodation plan in a format that takes into account the employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
- If individual accommodation plans are established, ensure that they include:
- Individualized workplace emergency response information.
- Any information regarding accessible formats and communication supports that have been provided for or arranged, in order to provide the employee with:
- Information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job.
- Information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.
- Any other accommodation that is to be provided to the employee.
- Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment
We will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans:
- When using our performance management process in respect of employees with disabilities;
- When providing career development and advancement to our employees with disabilities;
- When redeploying employees with disabilities.
In order to meet this obligation, we will review, assess and, as necessary, modify existing policies, procedures and practices to ensure compliance with the IASR.
Design of Public Spaces Standards
Commitment:
We will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces.
Actions Taken:
Premier Equipment has procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to the accessible parts of our public spaces. In the event of a disruption, we provide notice of the reason for the disruption, the anticipated duration of the disruption and a description of alternative facilities or services that are available.
We have processes and procedures to maintain our public spaces. In order to meet our obligation, we review and update the processes and procedures and make updates as needed to meet compliance with the IASR.