Educators Financial Group strives to provide accessible employment, goods, services, and opportunities to people with disabilities in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)and its associated regulations. Educators Financial Group has Accessibility Policy (“Policy”) that provides direction with respect to the Employment Standards, the Customer Service Standards, the Information and Communications Standards, the Design of Public Spaces Standards and Transportation Standards, as they apply to our operations.
This Policy shall apply to every person who deals with employees, clients, members of the public or other third parties on behalf of Educators Financial Group, whether the person does so as an employee, representative, volunteer or otherwise.
Educators Financial Group is committed to providing an accessible environment for all clients, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and visitors who may enter our premises, work for the Company, access our information, or use our services. We respect and comply with the requirements of the AODA and its associated regulations. We strive to identify, and remove barriers for persons with disabilities, as well to prevent new ones. We ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with equal opportunities. We are committed to meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and integrative manner that respects their dignity and independence.
Policy
1.1 Accessible Employment
1.1.1 Recruitment and Hiring
Educators Financial Group notifies employees, job applicants and the public that accommodations can be made during recruitment and hiring. We notify job applicants when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request. We consult with the applicants and provide or arrange for suitable accommodation. We notify successful applicants of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when making offers of employment.
1.1.2 Accessible Workplace Information
Educators Financial Group ensures that new employees are aware of the policies and makes them available for employees with disabilities as soon as reasonably possible after beginning employment and all employees are informed of any updates to existing policies.
1.1.3 Individual Accommodations
Educators Financial Group notifies staff that supports are available for those with disabilities as soon as practicable after they begin their employment. We provide updated information to employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability.
We will consult with employees when arranging for the provision of suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the accessibility needs due to disability. We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication supports specifically for:
a) information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job; and
b) information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.
Where needed, we will also provide customized emergency information to help an employee with a disability during an emergency. With the employee’s consent, we will provide workplace emergency information to a designated person who is assisting that employee during an emergency.
We will provide the information as soon as practicable after we become aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability.
We will review the individualized workplace emergency response information:
a) when the employee moves to a different location in the organization;
b) when the employee’s overall accommodations needs or plans are reviewed; and
c) when the employer reviews its general emergency response policies.
1.1.4 Performance Management and Career Development
The accessibility needs of employees with disabilities are considered in all aspects of the employment relationship, including during performance management processes, career development or advancement opportunities, and in the event of redeployment. Individual accommodation plans are consulted where they exist as part of these processes.
1.2 Accessible Customer Service
The Company is committed to providing its services in a way which respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are committed to providing people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in a similar way as other clients. To provide excellent service to all clients, including people with disabilities we will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following areas:
1.2.1 Communication
Employees of the Company will communicate with people with disabilities in a manner which takes into account their disability. The Company trains all employees on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities. This may include:
- Communicating with clients over the telephone in clear and plain language
- Speaking clearly and slowly
- Providing written communication in hard copy, email, colour (if available) and large print upon request
- Offering the choice to communicate with and provide services by email or where possible, in person at a mutually agreed location.
We will work with the person with disabilities to determine what method of communication works for them.
1.2.2 Assistive Devices
People with disabilities may use their assistive devices to obtain and benefit from our services. The Company ensures that employees are trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by clients with disabilities while accessing our services. The respective AODA training is organized during the New Employee Orientation Program (NEOP) through the Citation Canada training platform.
1.2.3 Use of Service Animals and Support Persons
The Company welcomes support person(s) or service animals accompanying people with disabilities. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to their support person while on our premises or while accessing our services.
When we cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask for documentation (template, letter, or form) from a regulated health professional that confirms the person needs the service animal for reasons relating to their disability. A service animal can be easily identified through visual indicators, such as when it wears a harness or a vest, or when it helps the person perform certain tasks.
1.2.4 Notice of Temporary Disruption
The Company will provide clients with notice in the event of a planned disruption in services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if any, that may be available. The company will provide notice by posting the information in visible places, and/or on the company’s website, or by any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances, as soon as possible.
In the event of an unexpected disruption in service, notice may be provided in a variety of ways and will be done as quickly as possible.
1.3 Information and Communication
The Company communicates with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. When asked, the Company will provide information about our organization and its services in accessible formats or with communication supports:
a) in a timely manner, taking into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability; and
b) at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons.
The Company will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support. If the organization determines that information or communications are unconvertible, the organization shall provide the requestor with:
a) an explanation as to why the information or communications are unconvertible; and
b) a summary of the unconvertible information or communications.
The Company will also continue to meet internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA website requirements in accordance with Ontario’s accessibility laws.
1.4 Training
The Company provides training to all employees. This training is provided as part of the onboarding and is completed within the first month of the new employee starting. Additional training is provided as required throughout employment with the Company.
Training includes the following:
- The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and the requirements of the customer service standard;
- What the requirements are under the Human Rights Code and AODA related to discrimination, disability and accommodation;
- 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; and
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing the Company’s goods and services;
- The Company’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standard.
Applicable employees are trained on policies, practices and procedures that affect the way employment, goods, services and opportunities are provided to people with disabilities. Employees will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices, and procedures.
A record of the training provided is kept and maintained, including the dates that the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided.
1.5 Design of Public Spaces
To ensure services are accessible to individuals who use mobility aids or mobility assistive devices, Educators Financial Group will comply with the requirements set out in the IASR when making changes to public spaces including but not limited to waiting areas and meeting rooms.
Modifications to this or other policies
We are committed to developing policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to this policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities. Any policy of the Company that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
Feedback Process
The ultimate goal of the Company is to meet and surpass expectations while employing and serving people with disabilities. Comments on our services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.
Feedback regarding the way the Company supports goods, services and opportunities to people with disabilities can be made by email, in writing, by telephone call, fax, or in person.
If you would like to provide feedback with regards to our AODA policy or our service, please submit this form.
All feedback will be directed to the HR Department. Individuals can expect to hear back within 5 business days.
Complaints will be taken seriously and be promptly investigated and addressed by the HR Department or the CEO of the Company in collaboration with the respective management team. Confidentiality will be provided throughout the investigation process to the extent practicable and appropriate. Appropriate corrective action will be taken if warranted. Any employee who, after an investigation, is determined to have violated this or any other policy carelessly, deliberately or maliciously will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal.