SOTI Accessibility Plan
Accessibility Plan
SOTI INC & SOTI RIL
Section One: Current Actions
Introduction
SOTI Inc is committed to treating all people in a way that will allow them to maintain their self-respect and independence. SOTI strongly believes in equal opportunities for everyone. As a result, SOTI is dedicated to provide a barrier free environment to people with Disabilities.
In order to achieve this, SOTI has developed its Accessibility Plan. SOTI is committed to achieve its goals and fulfilling the requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. SOTI’s Accessibility Plan outlines the policies and actions SOTI will put in place to improve opportunities and accommodations for people with disabilities.
SOTI will also review and update this accessibility plan once every five years. Additionally, every updated accessibility plan will be published on SOTI’s website.
This document will outline SOTI’s action plan and implementation time frame. In addition, this document will also include a summary of the accessibility initiatives SOTI has completed.
Accessible Emergency Information
SOTI is committed to ensuring that its premises are safe for people with disabilities. SOTI will also create and provide a personalized emergency response information to employees with disabilities when necessary. Should an evacuation be required, SOTI’s health & safety committee will execute this personalized plan for employees with a disability.
Customer Service
In order to remain in compliance with the Customer Service Standard outlined by AODA, SOTI has developed its feedback process to ensure all feedback is handled properly. All feedback should be directed to SOTI’s HR team at hr@soti.net
Information & Communication
SOTI is committed to meeting the communication and information needs of people with disabilities. To achieve this, SOTI aims to follow best practices when developing and maintaining communication and information. SOTI’s form of communication portals include website, intranet sites, email correspondences, telephone communications and face-to-face interactions. SOTI’s goal is to provide efficient forms of communication and make information available to all users.
- SOTI has reviewed the current content on public and intranet websites
- SOTI will update and create any additional content in conformity with the foregoing guidelines
- SOTI has updated its Accessibility policy to notify the public about the availability of our communication support and feedback process. This process will help assess if additional communication supports are required.
Employment
SOTI has taken steps to notify staff and public that accommodations will be made for people with disabilities upon request. Such accommodations will be made during the recruitment and assessment process and when people are hired to ensure fair and accessible employment practices. SOTI has also created a process to ensure employees with disabilities, that are returning to work, are accommodated in accordance with any related statute upon their return to work. It has been communicated to employees, that such accommodations will be made upon request. SOTI has taken steps to review and identify any barriers that may arise during the screening or interviewing process and removed any barriers that may cause bias in recruitment processes.
Training
SOTI has implemented the Integrated Accessibility Standards training of the AODA as part of the onboarding process for all new hires. SOTI has also reviewed current training materials and determined the need for additional material for AODA training. SOTI has developed a plan to create training material and make such training accessible for all staff.
- SOTI will continue to keep a record of employee’s completion of this training
- SOTI will continue to audit these records and ensure all current employees are certified
- SOTI will continue to provide ongoing training as required under AODA for all new employees during onboarding.
Section Two: Strategies and Actions
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
The purpose of the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan is to Identify the projects and programs SOTI plans between now and 2021 to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and to remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities.
Customer Service
SOTI is committed to providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities. SOTI will review its feedback process every five years to identify if any improvements are required.
Information & Communication
1) Upon request, SOTI will provide information in accessible formats
2) Upon request, SOTI will also provide communication supports for people with disabilities
3) SOTI will ensure that such information is provided in a timely manner, at no extra cost
4) SOTI will consult with the person with disability making a request to determine the most appropriate format or support of communication
5) SOTI will ensure that its public website and web content will comply with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines(WCAG) 2.0 at Level A
6) SOTI will ensure that this standard will eventually be increased to Level AA by January 01, 2021.
Employment Standards
1) SOTI will notify all employees and external applicants about the availability of accommodations for applications with disabilities
2) SOTI will notify existing employees of the personalized emergency evacuation plan that can be created and executed for employees with disabilities
3) SOTI will continue to evaluate all needs for employees with disabilities during recruitment, onboarding and career development opportunities. Should there be a need to create a personalized accommodation, SOTI will create and execute this plan upon request by the employee or candidate
4) During the recruitment process, job applicants who are selected for assessments or interviews will be informed that accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request
5) Such candidates who make a request for accommodation will be consulted to provide appropriate arrangements by considering the applicants individual accessibility needs
6) Successful applicants & new hires will be informed of the availability of accommodations for employees with disabilities when offering employment
7) SOTI will communicate and notify of the process for requesting accommodation
8) SOTI will review its performance management process to determine the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities and ensure the process is up to standards by January 1, 2021.
Training
SOTI will provide training to employees, volunteers and other staff members on Ontario’s accessibility laws. SOTI has reviewed current training materials to determine the need for additional material for AODA training. SOTI will develop a training module which will be delivered and available to all employees.
- The Learning & Development team has been made aware of the training initiative for all existing employees to be trained on the requirements of the accessibility standards pertaining to people with disabilities. An internal course will be developed and implemented
- This training will cover all requirements of AODA pertaining to people with disabilities
- This training will include how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
- This training will also include how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
- SOTI will post accessibility training material(s) onto its Internal Learning Portal “SOTI Learning” for internal use by the employees
- SOTI will keep a record of employee’s completion of this training
- SOTI will audit these records and ensure all current employees are certified by January 01, 2021
- SOTI will continue to provide ongoing training as required under AODA for all new employees during onboarding.
Contact Information
For more information on this accessibility plan, or to request this plan in accessible formats, please contact SOTI’s Human Resources Department at HR@soti.net
Alternatively, please contact us at 905-624-9828.
SOTI’s website – www.soti.net