Legal Information
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Policy
1. Introduction
This policy has been prepared in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA”) and its associated regulations, including the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service and the Integrated Accessibility Standards.
It is intended to govern Zafin’s provision of goods and services to people with disabilities and sets out how Zafin will comply with the requirements of the AODA and its regulations.
Zafin is committed to meeting the accessibility needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. Zafin will use reasonable efforts to ensure that the provision of goods and services is consistent with the following guiding principles:
- Respecting the dignity and independence of people with disabilities
- Ensuring that the provision of goods and services to people with disabilities is integrated with the provision of goods and services to others unless an alternative measure is necessary
- Ensuring that people with disabilities are given an equal opportunity to obtain, use and benefit from the goods and services provided by Zafin
- This policy will be maintained on Zafin’s website and provided, upon request, in a format that takes a person’s accessibility needs due to disability into account
2. Scope
This policy applies to all employees and to any individual or organization that provides facilities, goods or services to Zafin and the public or third parties on behalf of Zafin.
3. Our Commitment
This policy applies to all employees and to any individual or organization that provides facilities, goods or services to Zafin and the public or third parties on behalf of Zafin.
3.1 Communication
Zafin endeavours to communicate with all people with disabilities in ways that take their needs into account. To enable this, all individuals working on behalf of Zafin are trained on how to communicate effectively with people with disabilities. In addition, Zafin’s website meets the requirements of WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
3.2 Assistive Supports
Zafin will accommodate the use of all required assistive supports, including assistive devices (including but not limited to: wheelchairs, walkers, canes, listening devices, etc.), support person(s), service animals, and any other support that are required for any individual.
3.3 Hiring Practices
To ensure that all job candidates are accommodated from the point of application forward, Zafin will notify applicants of the availability of accommodations for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process, in addition to those available after starting with the Company.
3.4 Individual Accommodation & Return-to-Work Plans
In partnership with the individual requiring accommodation, their manager, and the Human Resources Team, Zafin will support the creation and execution of individual accommodation and/or return-to-work plans, as required. Please see Zafin’s ‘Accommodation Guide & Plan’ and ‘Return to Work Guide & Plan’ for further information.
3.5 Training
To enable Zafin’s employees, contractors, volunteers, and any other third party who provides services on behalf of Zafin to effectively work with and accommodate people with disabilities, Zafin will provide mandatory training which meets (or exceeds) Ontario’s AODA requirements to all new hires in a format that is accessible to the individual completing the training.
3.6 Notice of Temporary Disruption in Service
Zafin will provide notice of temporary disruptions in the facilities or services that people with disabilities use to obtain or benefit from Zafin’s goods or services. Facilities or services may include escalators, elevators, accessible washrooms, accessible parking spots, amplification systems or note-taking devices.
Notice of temporary disruptions in service will include the reason for the disruption, the anticipated duration of the disruption and a description of available alternative facilities, if any. Notice of temporary disruptions may be provided by a variety of methods, depending on the circumstances, and may include posting notices in places where people are likely to see them.
3.7 Other
Should the need for alternate accommodation(s) arise, Zafin endeavours to meet the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities as required, up to the point of undue hardship.
4. Feedback
5. Establishment of Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
To achieve its accessibility goals, Zafin will establish a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, which will describe the specific short-term and long-term actions that Zafin endeavors to take to meet its obligations under the AODA and its regulations within the required timelines. The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan will be updated at least once every five years.
Zafin’s current plan covers a five-year period (2020-2025), to align with our strategic plan.
Please see Zafin’s ‘Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities: Multi-Year Accessibility Plan” for further information.
6. Requests for AODA Compliance Documents
Zafin will provide a copy of this Policy and/or other AODA-related documentation to any person upon request, in a format that will take into account the accessibility needs of the requestor.
