ACCESSIBILITY PLAN AND POLICIES FOR ST. JUDE COMMUNITY HOMES

This accessibility plan outlines the policies and actions that will be put into place to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.

Statement of Commitment

St. Jude Community Homes is committed to respecting the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. We are committed to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner and by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Accessible Emergency Information

St. Jude Community Homes is committed to providing clients and employees with available emergency information in an accessible way upon request.

Training

St. Jude Community Homes will provide training to employees, volunteers on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities.

St. Jude Community Homes will take the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training required to meet Ontario’s accessible laws:

• All new employees will be trained as appropriate to their duties;

• Employees will receive training upon hiring;

• Employees will be trained when changes are made to the policy;

• A record will be kept of all training provided.

Information and Communication

St. Jude Community Homes 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.

Upon request, we will provide, or will arrange for the provision of accessible format and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability.

St. Jude Community Homes welcomes feedback. We will also investigate and respond to any complaints relating to our services in a timely, thorough and objective manner. We may be contacted at 416 359-9241 during business hours to request Feedback or Complaint Forms and to be assisted with the process

Employment

The employment standards build upon existing requirement under the Human Rights Code in relation to how to accommodate individuals with disabilities through the application process and employment relationship. St. Jude will:

1. Notify employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process.

2. Notify job applicants when they are individually selected to participate further in an assessment or section process that accommodations are available upon request, in relation to the materials or processes to be used for the job assessment or selection process. If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, we will consult the applicant and provide, or arrange for the provision of suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the individual's accessibility needs due to disability.

3. When making offers of employment, we will notify the successful applicant or our policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.

4. Documented Individual Accommodation Plans – St. Jude Community Homes will maintain a written process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities

5. Maintain a documented return to work process for its employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and, who require disability related accommodations in order to return to work. The return to work process outlines the steps we will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the success

6. Take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities as well as individual accommodation plans when conducting performance reviews, providing career development and advancement to employees or when deploying employees.

Accessibility Compliance

Accessibility Compliance Reports are available by contacting St. Jude Community Homes at the below contact.

The Accessibility Plan will be reviewed at least every 5 years.

For More Information

For more information on this accessibility plan or to request it in another format you may contact the Main Office by phone 416 359-9241 ext 224 or email info@sjch.ca or in writing: St. Jude Community Homes, 431 Dundas Street, East, Toronto, Ontario M5A 2B1