Accessibility Plan and Policies for Stratejm Inc.
This 2023-27 accessibility plan outlines the policies and actions that Stratejm Inc. will put in place to improve opportunities for people with disabilities. The Multi-year Accessibility Plan will be modified on a yearly basis, to reflect Stratejm Inc.’s accomplishments in improving our services for those with disabilities.
Statement of Commitment
The Ontario government passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in 2005. It is the goal of the government of Ontario to make Ontario accessible by 2025. Stratejm Inc.is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and all of the standards under it in order to meet the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner.
The regulations associated with the Integrated Accessibility Standards (hereafter referred to as the “IASR”) under the AODA require that effective January 1, 2014, Stratejm Inc. establish, implement, maintain and document a multi-year accessibility plan which outlines the organization’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers for persons with disabilities and to meet its requirements under the Act.
Under the AODA, the following accessibility standards set certain requirements that are applicable to Stratejm Inc.:
- Customer Service;
- Information and Communications; and
- Employment
Stratejm Inc. 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.
Our multi-year plan outlines Stratejm Inc.’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers to address the current and future requirements of the AODA, and in order to fulfill our commitment as outlined in Stratejm Inc.’s Accessibility Policies. In accordance with the requirements set out in the IASR, Extendicare (Canada) Inc. will:
- Post this plan on our website (stratejm.com);
- Provide this plan in an accessible format, upon request; and
- Review and update this plan at least once every five (5) years
Overview
- Accessibility Standards for Customer Service
- Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations
- Emergency Procedure, Plans, or Public Safety Information
- Workplace Emergency Response Information
- Training
- Information and Communication Standards
- Feedback, Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
- Accessible Websites and Web Content
- Employment Standards
- Recruitment
- Informing Employees of Supports
- Documented Individual Accommodation Plans/Returns to Work Process
- Performance Management, Career Development, and Redeployment
Customer Service Standard
Status: Complete/ongoing
Stratejm Inc. has developed policies to comply with Regulation 429/07 of the AODA – Accessibility Standards for Customer Service. Regulation 429/07 sets out guidelines for preventing and removing barriers to accessibility to improve the customer services of agencies. Regulation 429/07 required private organizations to comply with the Customer Service Standard as of [date].
Stratejm Inc. is committed to excellence in serving all customers including persons with disabilities. We have put the customer service policies into practice as required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Stratejm Inc.’s Accessible Customer Service Policy outlines our commitment to accessibility and status of achievements for each area of the Customer Service Standard (please see attachment).
Customer Service Achievements:
Stratejm Inc. has achieved the following requirements of the Customer Service Standard of the AODA:
Stratejm Inc. has created and put in place a customer service plan that:
- Considers a person’s disability when communicating with them
- Allows assistive devices in the workplace, like wheelchairs, walkers and oxygen tanks
- Allows service animals
- Welcomes support persons
- Advises customers when accessible services aren’t available
- Invites customers to provide feedback
Status: Ongoing
Stratejm Inc. will train staff on accessible customer service and will create an ongoing process to train new staff with regards to the customer service standard.
Status: Ongoing
Stratejm Inc. has put the customer service plan in writing and made the plan available to the public and Stratejm Inc. employees.
- The plan is available in accessible formats, if requested
Status: Complete
Stratejm Inc. has reported Stratejm Inc.’s progress online by filing an accessibility report with the Minister of Community and Social Services. Stratejm Inc. will comply with the customer service standard by filing an accessibility report as required.
Employment Standard: Workplace Emergency Response Information
Accessible Emergency Information
Stratejm Inc. 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.
Status: Complete
Stratejm Inc. has created a process for documenting accessibility issues for employees and for documenting individualized workplace emergency response information, to comply with the AODA Employment Standard: Workplace Emergency Response Information by October 31st, 2023.
Stratejm Inc. has provided all existing employees individualized Employee Emergency Information Worksheets to document emergency plans for those with accessibility issues in the event of an emergency. Stratejm Inc. has provided all employees with accessibility issues in emergencies individualized workplace emergency response plans.
Status: Ongoing
Stratejm Inc. is committed to maintaining a safe workplace for all employees and will continue to document workplace emergency plans, and revise and review existing emergency plans, for employees requiring assistance with accessibility in the event of an emergency.
Stratejm Inc. will review the emergency response information when:
- The employee changes work locations;
- We review the employee’s overall accommodation needs;
- We review our organization’s emergency response policies.
General Requirements
Training
Status: Complete/Ongoing
Stratejm Inc. provides training to employees on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of employees. Stratejm Inc. takes the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario’s accessible laws by March 2024:
- Deliver training to all Stratejm that provides training on:
- The IASR requirements that apply to Stratejm Inc.
- What you have to do under the Ontario Human Rights Code (related to disabilities)
- Stratejm provides training to:
- All employees;
- Anyone who is involved in developing your organization’s policies, including managers, senior leaders, directors and owners; and
- Anyone who provides goods, services or facilities on your behalf.
Information and Communications Standard
Feedback
Status: Complete
To comply with the AODA Customer Service Standard, Stratejm Inc. has put into place an accessible feedback process to receive and respond to feedback from customers and members of the public who have a disability.
Stratejm Inc. has made the feedback process available to the public and is available in accessible formats on request. We have created a feedback form, to be used to collect information/feedback to Stratejm Inc. regarding accessibility issues. (please see attached)
Status: Complete
Stratejm Inc. has taken the following steps to ensure existing feedback processes are accessible to employees with disabilities upon request:
- Create a feedback process to receive and respond to feedback from our employees.
- Make the feedback process accessible in multiple formats, such as telephone, email, mail, and in-person.
Status: Complete
Stratejm Inc. 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.
Status: Incomplete
Stratejm Inc. is committed to taking the following steps to make all new websites and content on those sites conform with WCAG 2.0, Level A by December 31st, 2024:
- Provide text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms people need, such as large print, Braille, speech, symbols or simpler language.
- Make all functionality available from a keyboard.
- For any moving, blinking or scrolling information that (1) starts automatically, (2) lasts more than five seconds, and (3) is presented in parallel with other content, provide a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it unless the movement, blinking, or scrolling is part of an activity where it is essential; and
- For any auto-updating information that (1) starts automatically and (2) is presented in parallel with other content, provide a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it or to control the frequency of the update unless the auto-updating is part of an activity where it is essential.
Status: Incomplete
Stratejm Inc. will take the following steps to ensure all publicly available information is made accessible upon request by January 2025:
- Let the public know that we will make information accessible upon request.
- Consult with people who request accessible information to figure out how to meet their needs, as soon as possible.
Status: Incomplete
Stratejm Inc. will take the following steps to make all websites and content conform with WCAG 2.0, Level AA by January 2025:
For Web pages that cause legal commitments or financial transactions for the user to occur, that modify or delete user-controllable data in data storage systems:
- Reversible: Submissions are reversible.
- Checked: Data entered by the user is checked for input errors and the user is provided an opportunity to correct them.
- Confirmed: A mechanism is available for reviewing, confirming, and correcting information before finalizing the submission.
Employment Standard
Recruitment
Status: Complete
Stratejm Inc. is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. We have taken the following steps to notify the public and staff that, when requested, Stratejm Inc. will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired.
- Let job applicants know that we will accommodate disabilities during the selection process.
- If a job applicant requests accommodation, consult with them and make adjustments that best suit their needs.
- Notify successful applicants of our policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
Information for Employees
Status: Complete
Stratejm Inc. has taken the following steps to ensure employees know about our organization’s policies for supporting employees with disabilities. We will:
- Ensures our staff know about our organization’s policies for supporting employees with disabilities.
- Informs our employees about these policies when:
- This requirement comes into effect for Stratejm Inc.
- When we hire new employees; and
- When we change the policies.
Processes to Accommodate Employees
Status: Complete
Stratejm Inc. 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 a disability. We ensure that we:
- Develop individual accommodation plans and return-to-work policies for employees that have been absent due to a disability.
- Outline the steps we will take to help our employees return to work when they:
- Have been absent because of a disability, and
- Need some form of disability-related accommodation to return to work.
Status: Complete
We will take the following steps to ensure the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities are taken into account in Stratejm’s use of performance management, career development and redeployment processes. We ensure that we:
- Make performance management accessible by:
- Reviewing our employees’ accommodation plans to understand their needs and see whether we need to make adjustments to help them succeed
- Making performance management documents, such as performance plans, available in accessible formats, such as large print, when asked, and
- Providing feedback and coach your employees in a way that is accessible to them, such as using plain language for an employee who has a learning disability.
- When we provide career development opportunities, consider what accommodations your employees with disabilities may need to:
- Learn new skills, or;
- Take on more responsibilities in their current position;
- Consider what we could do to help our employees with disabilities succeed in other positions in our organization when they change jobs.
Other
Stratejm Inc. will take steps to prevent and remove any other accessibility barriers as identified by the public, employees, and clients of Stratejm Inc. as required and requested.
Design of Public Spaces
Not Applicable
Contact Information
For more information, questions, or concerns regarding accessibility at Stratejm Inc., or to request communication in an accessible format, please contact Arlene Gray, our Human Resources Manager at:
Phone: (437) 538-3748
Email: arlene.gray@stratejm.com
Accessible formats of this document are available free upon request.