Accessibility

We strive to make our facilities and services accessible to everyone.

Conscientious efforts will be made to ensure that all BCHU programs and services:

• Offer equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of ability.
• Respect and recognize all participants’ strengths and abilities.
• Nurture an inclusive environment for participants of all abilities to learn together, whenever possible.
• Convey a spirit of openness and understanding.
• Provide communication reflective of each participant’s abilities.
• Encourage use of assistive devices to help maximize program or service benefits.

This policy is intended to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

For questions about accessibility, call 519-753-4937 ext. 292 or e-mail accessibility@bchu.org

Brant County Health Unit is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. 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.

Brant County Health Unit 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 individualized emergency response information when necessary.

Brant County Health Unit will provide training to employees, volunteers and other staff members on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Our Learning Management Software (LMS) allows access for all employees to complete this training.

Brant County Health Unit will take the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario’s accessible laws by January 1, 2015

In addition to BCHU current training requirements for AODA, all employees and all person providing goods, services or facilities on behalf of BCHU will be required to complete training on the Integrated Accessibility Standards and the Human Rights Code as it pertains to people with disabilities through our LMS system.

Brant County Health Unit is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. We will consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs.

Brant County Health Unit will take the following steps to make all new websites and content on those sites conform with WCAG 2.0, Level A by January 1, 2014:

• New website (bchu.org) will be developed to conform with WCAG 2.0, Level A.

Brant County Health Unit will take the following steps to ensure existing feedback processes are accessible to people with disabilities upon request by January 1, 2015:

• Review existing feedback processes that include online, telephone/voice, and in writing for effectiveness and alternatives; and
• Provide awareness and or training to all reception staff on the process of assisting clients in providing feedback.

Brant County Health Unit will take the following steps to ensure that all publicly available information is made accessible upon request by January 1, 2016:

• Review and identify the best practices for providing accessible formats and communication supports if requested, addressing timing, cost, consultation with the person with the disability;
• Notification of the availability of differing formats;
• Develop a process for staff to follow if requests for accessible format or communication cannot be provided; and
• Review current guidelines for print material, such as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Clear Print Accessibility Guidelines for print materials.

Brant County Health Unit will take the following steps to make all websites and content conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA by January 1, 2021:

• Recommend that existing websites be tested against accessibility standards ensuring the site(s) comply with legal requirements such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), with a focus on content, text, headings, alternative text, and tables.
• Consider a request for proposal (RFP) that identifies specific AODA requirements in order to contract a review/design of all BCHU websites and web content to be WCAG 2.0, Level AA compliant.

Brant County Health Unit is committed to fair and accessible employment practices.

We will take the following steps to notify the public and staff that, when requested, Brant County Health Unit will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired:

• Develop policies on availability of job accommodations for employees to ensure accommodation is suitable;
• Notify job applicants when participating in the selection process that accommodations are available upon request; and
• Notify successful candidates of the policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.

Brant County Health Unit will take the following steps to develop and put in place a process for developing individual accommodation plans and return-to-work policies for employees that have been absent due to disability:

• Expand the current practice of developing individual accommodations for employees with disabilities; and
• Expand the current return to work process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations;
• Inform employees of changes in existing policies on the provision of job accommodations

We will take the following steps to ensure the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities needs are taken into account if Brant County Health Unit is using performance management, career development and redeployment processes:

• Expand current practices to take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities.

Brant County Health Unit will put the following procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to its accessible parts of its public spaces.

In the event of a service disruption, we will notify the public of the service disruption and alternatives available via our website, telephone automated messaging, use of answering services and or local media as necessary.

The Brant County Health Unit Accessibility Policies and 2014-2021 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan is available via our website. Upon request the plan can be made available in alternative formats as per our Customer Service Standards and Policies.

To request a copy of our plans please contact:
Brent Richardson, Manager, Human Resources
519-753-4937 extension 292
Brent.Richardson@bchu.org

We appreciate all comments and encourage feedback from the general public on our plan. Our goal is to provide service to all. Feedback can be directed by:

• Downloading our client feedback form from our website at www.bchu.org and mailing it to 194 Terrace Hill Street, Brantford, Ontario N3R 1G7;
• By submitting our feedback form on line on our website at www.bchu.org
• By telephoning Brant County Health Unit and asking to speak with the Manager, Human Resources at 519-753-4937 extension 292
• By emailing us at accessibility@bchu.org
• By writing and mailing a letter to: Accessibility C/O Brent Richardson, Manager, Human Resources, Brant County Health Unit, 194 Terrace Hill Street, Brantford, ON N3R 1G7

This policy is intended to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and all related standards and regulations introduced under this legislation, ensuring that persons with disabilities are provided equal opportunities and standards of service.

­The Brant County Health Unit (BCHU) is committed to providing exceptional programs and services to meet the needs of everyone in our community. To achieve this, we recognize the diverse needs of all residents and strive to provide services and facilities which are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.

All programs and services will be delivered in a manner which respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities, to ensure everyone in our community has equal opportunity to obtain, use, or benefit from the services offered by BCHU.

Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure that:

• Persons with disabilities are provided equal opportunity to obtain, use and benefit from goods and services offered by the Brant County Health Unit.
• Goods and services are provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.
• The goods and services provided to persons with disabilities are integrated with the provision to others unless an alternate measure is necessary to allow a person with a disability to benefit. Th­e alternate measure may be temporary or permanent.
• Communications with a person with a disability are conducted in a manner that takes the person’s disability into account.
• Persons with disabilities have the opportunity use their own assistive devices when accessing goods or services. ­These assistive devices may include but are not limited to: support persons, service animals, communication aids, cognition aids, mobility aids and medical aids.

• Feedback form
• Feedback form (large print)
• Making Ontario Accessible