Policy Type: Programming
Date Revised: January 13, 2016
Supercedes: December 17, 2013
Originally Issued: December 17, 2013

This policy is not intended to replace or supersede RisingOaks’ AODA: Accessible Customer Service policy, required by Ontario Regulation 429/07 and approved on December 11, 2011.
This document shall be made publicly available and will be provided in an accessible format upon request, as soon as is practicable.

1. Statement of Commitment
   
   1. RisingOaks Early Learning Ontario (hereafter referred to as RisingOaks) is committed to meeting the objectives and requirements of Ontario Regulation 191/11, Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA); and the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities with respect to RisingOaks’ programs, services and facilities, in a timely manner.
   2. This policy applies to the provision of goods, services or facilities to members of the public and employees by, or on behalf of, RisingOaks.
   3. This AODA: IAS policy on General Principles, Information & Communication and Transportation will be reviewed and amended, as required, when additional accessibility related regulations are enacted by the Government of Ontario and when changes are made to the legislative framework governing accessibility.
      
      
2. POLICY: Integrated Accessibility Standard – General Principles
   1. Multi-year Accessibility Plan:
      
      • RisingOaks will create and maintain a multi-year accessibility plan. The
        plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years. It will show RisingOaks’ commitment to removing barriers and preventing new ones. This plan will be available to the public and provided in accessible formats when requested and as soon as is practical.
   2. Self-serve Kiosks:
      
      • RisingOaks will consider the accessibility of interactive electronic
        terminals when designing, procuring or acquiring them.
      • RisingOaks currently does not have any self-serve kiosks.
   3. Training:
      • Under the IAS regulation, RisingOaks is required to train employees,
        students, volunteers and persons who participate in policy development on the requirements in this AODA: IAS policy and the Ontario Human Rights Code, as it pertains to persons with disabilities.
      • The training shall be appropriate to the duties of the employees, students, volunteers and other persons and will be completed upon employment and within one month of any change to this policy or related procedures. Ensuring that contractors and agents who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of RisingOaks have been trained will be addressed through RisingOaks’ procurement process.
        
        
3. POLICY: Integrated Accessibility Standard - Information & Communications
   1. Feedback
      • RisingOaks shall ensure that the processes for receiving and responding to
        feedback are accessible to people with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports, upon request.
   2. Accessible formats and communication supports
      • RisingOaks will notify the public about the availability and – upon request
        • provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities.
      • Exceptions: The IAS regulation for Information & Communication does not apply to the following:
        • productandproductlabels;
        • unconvertibleinformationorcommunications;and,
        • informationthatRisingOaksdoesnotcontroldirectlyorindirectly
          through a contractual relationship.
   3. Emergency procedures, plans or public safety information
      • Emergency procedures, plans or public safety information, that are publicly available, shall be provided in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, upon request, as soon as practicable.
      • Accessible Websites and Web Content
      • RisingOaks shall work toward making its website and web content
        conform to the Worldwide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, initially at level A and increasing to level AA in accordance with the timeframes set out in the IAS regulation.
        
        
4. POLICY: Integrated Accessibility Standard - Transportation
   1. The Transportation regulations under the IAS do not apply to RisingOaks due to the nature of our business.
      • However, RisingOaks will incorporate accessibility criteria and features
        when procuring and acquiring transportation services for field trips and special events, except where it is not practicable to do so.
        
        
5. POLICY: Monitoring
   1. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible to ensure that any changes made to these procedures or the related policy considers the impact on people with disabilities.
   2. Any policy of RisingOaks that does not respect and promote dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
      
      
6. DEFINITIONS:
   1. Disability, as defined by the AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code, is:
      • 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.
   2. Accessible Formats:
      • may include, but are not limited to, large print, recorded audio and electronic formats, reading the material aloud, Braille and other formats usable by persons with disabilities.
   3. Communications:
      • means the interaction between two or more persons or entities, or any combination of them, where information is provided, sent or received.
   4. Communication Supports:
      • may include, but are not limited to, captioning, alternative and augmentative communication supports, plain language, sign language and other supports that facilitate effective communications.
   5. Information:
      • includes data, facts and knowledge that exists in any format, including text, audio, digital or images, and that conveys meaning. 6.6. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines:
      • means the World Wide Web Consortium Recommendation, entitled “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0”; and any future updates.
        
        
7. RELATED DOCUMENTS:
   1. AODA: Accessible Customer Service policy & procedures
   2. AODA: IAS – Employment policy & procedures

1. APPROVALS:
   • Approved by the CEO and Director of Operations on January 13, 2016

Date Revised: January 4, 2021
Supercedes: January 13, 2016
Originally Issued: December 17, 2013

1. Procedures: General
   1. The Senior Leadership Team is responsible to create a multi-year accessibility plan that outlines RisingOaks’ strategies and tactics to prevent and remove barriers and meet its AODA requirements.
      • In creating this plan, senior management will seek feedback from
        employees, volunteers and members regarding current accessibility
        barriers.
      • The plan will include short-term strategies to meet, prevent or remove
        current accessibility barriers and long-term strategies to address future
        issues or requirements under the IAS regulation.
   2. At minimum, this plan will be reviewed and updated every five years. This review
      and status report will be presented to the Board of Directors and posted on
      RisingOaks’ website by the Executive Director.
   3. Should RisingOaks design or look to procure self-serve kiosks, the purchaser will
      consider accessibility features with respect to the following:
      • Technical features: includes colour contrast, font size options, voice
        activation and other visual and non-visual modes of operation.
      • Structural features: includes height and stability of kiosk, headset jacks with
        volume control, specialized keypads, etc.
      • Access path: includes reach ranges for those with mobility aids, the
        proximity of kiosks to other objects, etc.
   4. The training program for employees, students, volunteers and those involved in
      policy development is the responsibility of the Director of Operations (DO).
   5. This training must be implemented for existing employees, students and
      volunteers prior to the stated compliance date and upon hire for new employees, students and volunteers.
      • The training can be provided as a self-study, as part of an orientation
        session or other methods as determined by RisingOaks from time to time.
   6. The DO is responsible to update training materials and provide additional
      training in respect of any changes to the policies or procedures.
   7. The DO, in collaboration with centre supervisors and the Executive Director
      (ED), is responsible to keep a record of the training received by each employee, student, volunteer or other person. At minimum, the training record must indicate the date the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided.
      
      
2. Procedures: Information & Communications
   1. Notwithstanding the requirements under the AODA: Customer Service Standard policy and procedures, those responsible for creating and distributing feedback requests will take into consideration accessibility features for persons with a disability.
      • This includes online surveys, comment/suggestion cards, Developmental Screen and Observation reports and other forms of seeking or responding to feedback that arise from time to time.
   2. The management team is responsible to state that such requests for giving or receiving feedback are available in an accessible format upon request.
   3. Upon request, such forms of feedback provided to or sought from individuals with disabilities will be provided in an accessible format and/or with communication supports as soon as is practical and with no added cost to the individual.
   4. Any information and communication provided to the public, members, employees, students and volunteers that is controlled by RisingOaks (directly or through a contractual obligation) will be available in an accessible format or with communication supports.
   5. The ED – and those responsible to distribute such information or communication – will ensure that this is stated on RisingOaks’ website and on the information or communications to be provided (e.g., in form footers, etc.).
   6. When a request is received to provide information in an accessible format, the supervisor (or other receiver of the request) will inform the ED of the request.
   7. The ED, or designate, will consult with the requestor about their needs and will make every effort to provide the information in a timely manner, taking into account the person’s accessibility needs and at a cost no more than the regular cost charged to other persons.
      • As part of the consultation process, the IAS regulation gives RisingOaks the flexibility to decide on the most appropriate accessible format or communication support, given the needs of the person and the organization’s capability to deliver.
   8. Publicly available emergency or public safety information, including fire evacuation procedures, will be made available in alternate formats or with communication supports for people with disabilities upon request.
      • See procedures, section 5, in the AODA: Accessible Customer Service
        procedures for more details.
      • This does not apply to internal emergency and security protocols.
   9. The ED is responsible to ensure that RisingOaks’ website and web content comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA as follows:
      • By January 1, 2021, all RisingOaks websites (internet and intranet) and content on those sites must comply at Level AA, except as noted in the IAS regulation; except in cases where an extension with work plan is approved by the governing authority.
        
        
3. Procedures: Transportation
   1. Under the IAS regulation, RisingOaks is not required to meet the Transportation regulations. However, those arranging for transportation for children or staff for a field trip or special event must consider accessibility needs of children, volunteers, students and staff when booking transportation.
      • Such needs should be communicated to the school bus company to ensure that their needs may be met.
        
        
4. ATTACHMENTS: None
   
   
5. RELATED DOCUMENTS:
   1. AODA: Accessible Customer Service policy & procedures
   2. AODA: IAS – Employment policy & procedures
      
      
6. APPROVALS:
   1. Approved by the CEO and Director of Operations on January 4, 2021