Accessibility Statement

The Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to ensuring our physical and electronic environments are universally accessible. To that end, service animals are welcome in our facilities and we make every effort to receive and communicate temporary disruption in access to our premises should it occur due to technological, physical or environmental influences.

Policy

Erie Shores Family Health Team recognizes that the Government of Ontario supports the full inclusion of persons with disabilities as set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code (the “Code”) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA”). It is the goal of the Ontario government to make Ontario accessible by 2025.

Under the AODA and its Regulations, the following accessibility standards set requirements that are applicable to Erie Shores Family Health Team:

• Customer Service;
• Information and Communications;
• Employment; and
• Built Environment for Public Spaces

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to providing its services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. This commitment will be integrated wherever possible and will ensure that persons with disabilities will benefit from the same access to services, in the same place and in a similar way as other patients.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to excellence in serving all of our patients, including people with disabilities. When providing information to, or communicating with, a person with a disability, we will provide the information and communication in a manner that takes into account the person’s disability.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to ongoing improvements to accessibility on its premises and facilities as required by law, as well as to the services offered to patients, team members, volunteers and members of the general public.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to promoting values that support relationships between people with disabilities and the organization. Erie Shores Family Health Team will consult with an individual experiencing difficulty with accessibility to understand their specific accessibility needs, and then make all reasonable efforts to meet those individual needs in a timely manner.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to securing the involvement of people with disabilities in the development and review of its annual accessibility plan.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to the establishment, implementation, maintenance and documentation of a multi-year accessibility plan, which outlines the organization's overall strategy to prevent and remove barriers and to address the current and future requirements of the AODA and the Integrated Regulation. In accordance with the requirements set out in the IASR, the Erie Shores Family Health Team will:

• Establish, review and update this plan in consultation with persons with disabilities;
• Post this plan on its website;
• Report as required on its website on the progress of the implementation of this plan;
• Provide this plan in an accessible format, upon request; and
• Review and update this plan at least once every five years.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to incorporating accessibility criteria and features when designing, procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks, or having regard for accessibility for persons with disabilities when designing, procuring or acquiring self-serve kiosks.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to the training of all team members, volunteers, persons who deal with patients and the public on Erie Shores Family Health Team’s behalf, and persons participating in the development and approval of Erie Shores Family Health Team’s policies, practices and procedures on the requirements under the Integrated Regulation and the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to implementing specific requirements, policies, practices and procedures, and a multi-year plan under the Integrated Standards which include customer service, information and communication, employment, and the built environment for public spaces. This includes complying with reviewing these multi-year accessibility plans every five years.

Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to ensuring that every team member, client/patient receives equitable access to employment or services, as applicable without discrimination, and receives reasonable accommodation where required, in accordance with the provisions of the Code and the AODA and its Regulations. Erie Shores Family Health Team seeks to meet the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner.

Purpose

The purpose of this Statement of Policy and Procedure is to serve as a statement of organizational commitment that provides a framework within which accessibility plans and initiatives are to be created. Erie Shores Family Health Team is committed to moving the organization toward the goal of improved accessibility for people with disabilities in a timely manner.

The commitments in this policy are intended to ensure that accessibility remains a priority in Erie Shores Family Health Team’s decision-making process and will serve to assist in ensuring that decisions improve accessibility and do not inadvertently create barriers.

Scope

This policy applies to all individuals entitled to the protections set out in the AODA and its Regulations, including clients/patients and team members of Erie Shores Family Health Team.

Responsibility

The accessibility advisory committee established by Erie Shores Family Health Team is responsible for the administration of this policy. It is the responsibility of this committee to ensure the application of this policy and that the organization achieves compliance with the law

Managers and Leads are responsible for ensuring that all team members follow the guidelines set out in this policy.

Each Manager and Lead are responsible for ensuring all team members are trained under the Accessibility Regulations and Standards under the AODA, the Human Rights Code and all related policies, practices and procedures.

All team members, volunteers, contractors and subcontractors, any other person acting on behalf of Erie Shores Family Health Team, and persons involved in the creation of Erie Shores Family Health Team’s policies are responsible for adhering to and following the commitments set out in this policy.

Definitions

The AODA defines “disability” as:

“Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device; a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability, a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language, a mental disorder, or an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.”

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

“Equal opportunity” means service is provided to individuals in such a way that they have an opportunity to access goods or services equal to that given to others.

“Independence” means when a person is able to do things on their own without unnecessary help or interference from others.

“Information” includes data, facts and knowledge that exist in any format, including text, audio, digital or images, and that covey meaning.

Procedures

Erie Shores Family Health Team (through its accessibility advisory committee) will monitor and evaluate accessibility initiatives and changes to applicable legislation and/or regulations. Changes to policies, plans and initiatives will be incorporated in a timely manner as required. Erie Shores Family Health Team will also report on performance in relation to established accessibility goals and targets.

If you have questions on this policy, want to provide feedback or have a complaint, contact the Executive Director or Clinical Manager at 519-322-1100.

All of the aforementioned documents are available in accessible formats upon request.

James A. Samson
Executive Director
Nov 10, 2021