Accessibility Policy

Statement of Commitment

  1. PORTICO is committed to accessibility as expressed in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (hereinafter referred to AODA), which places a legal obligation on organizations to achieve accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises on or before January 1, 2025.

  2. PORTICO is committed to fostering, creating and maintaining a barrier-free environment for all individuals providing equal rights and opportunities, including:

    • Promoting a respectful attitude for persons with disabilities;

    • Promoting awareness of the needs and abilities of persons with disabilities;

    • Informing the PORTICO community about services available to persons with disabilities and seeking to ensure that such services are delivered in ways that promote equity, and;

    • Providing support services, subject to certain limitations.

  3. PORTICO recognizes that barriers to participation exist and that adjustments to policies and practices of PORTICO are required. This is accomplished through the prevention, identification and removal of barriers within the PORTICO systems, structures and policies. It is understood that where this policy refers to “barriers” it is referring to barriers such as a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technology barrier, or a policy or practice.

  4. The commitments in this policy are intended to ensure that accessibility remains a priority in PORTICO’s decision-making process and will serve to assist in ensuring that decisions are improving accessibility and not inadvertently creating barriers.

Purpose & Scope

  1. This policy provides a framework within which accessibility plans and initiatives are to be created in order to move PORTICO towards serving the community. It is also the purpose of this policy to endeavor to provide the foundation to create an environment that provides the widest feasible scope of access, which is the right or opportunity to reach, use or participate in PORTICO’s system, facilities and services.

  2. The policy applies to:

    • PORTICO members;

    • PORTICO employees

    • Applicants for employment with PORTICO, who may require employment accommodation through the recruitment, assessment, selection and hiring process;

    • Visitors and volunteers, and;

    • Contractors and subcontractors engaged by PORTICO.

Principles

  1. In order to meet the needs of persons with disabilities, the principles of approach are:

    • Dignity - service is provided in a way that allows the individual to maintain self-respect and the respect of other persons.

    • Independence - when a person is able to to do things on their own without necessary help or interference from others;

    • Integration - service is provided in a way that allows the individual to benefit from equivalent services, in the same place, and in the same or similar way as other individuals, unless and alternate measure is necessary to enable the individual to access goods or services.

    • Reasonable Efforts - taking approaches that meet the required needs of the individual.

Accessibility Plan

  1. Providing goods and services to people with disabilities: PORTICO is committed to excellence in serving everyone including people with disabilities.

    • Assistive Devices

      We will ensure that our employees are trained and familiar with various assistive devices we have on site or that we provide, that may be used by people with disabilities while accessing our goods and services.

    • Communication

      We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.

    • Service Animals

      We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public.

    • Support Persons

      A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises. Fees will not be charged for support persons, if applicable.

    • This information will be made publicly available at: PORTICO.cc/AODA

Notice of Temporary Disruption

  1. In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for people with disabilities, the office will notify people about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

Training

  1. The Executive Pastor and the Director of Facilities will provide accessible service training to employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public or other third parties on our behalf. Training will also be provided to people involved in the development of policies, plans, practices and procedures related to the provision of our goods and services.

    Individuals in the following positions will be trained:

    • Employees

    • Ministry Partners

  2. Employees will be trained on accessible customer service within 90 days after being hired. Training will include:

    • An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the service standard;

    • PORTICO’s plan related to the service standard;

    • How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;

    • How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person;'

    • How to use the equipment or devices available on-site or otherwise that may help with providing goods and services to people with disabilities, and;

    • What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing PORTICO’s goods and services.

  3. Employees will also be trained when changes are made to our accessible service plan.

Feedback Process

  1. People who wish to provide feedback on the way PORTICO provides goods and services to people with disabilities can provide feedback in the following way(s):

  2. All feedback, including complaints, will be handled in the following manner:

    • The Executive Pastor will present it to the Operations Committee for deliberation and decisions related to making the service better.

    • Members can expect to hear back in 30 days.

Notice of Availability

  1. PORTICO will notify the public that our documents related to accessible customer service are available upon request at PORTICO.cc/aoda.

  2. Modifications to this or other policies:

    Any policy, practice or procedure of PORTICO that does not respect and promote the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities will be modified or removed.

Accountability

  1. All employees of PORTICO are responsible for adhering to and following the commitments set out in this policy.

  2. PORTICO will monitor and evaluate accessibility initiatives and changes to applicable legislation and/or regulations. Changes to policies, plans and initiatives will be incorporated as required.

  3. The policy will be communicated to PORTICO employees, members and volunteers.

  4. Guidelines will be established for providing feedback and complaints.

Purpose

  1. In accordance with the AODA, PORTICO is required to establish a mechanism for receiving and responding to feedback from persons with disabilities about accessibility in relation to the way PORTICO provides services to them.

  2. Where person with disabilities have concerns or feedback regarding the services provided by PORTICO they may bring such feedback forward to the following individuals/areas:

    • Executive Pastor

    • Director of Facilities