Honda Ottawa is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We strive to treat people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner.
Introduction
In 2005, the government of Ontario passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) with the goal of ensuring greater accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities by 2025. To help public, private, and non-profit organizations identify, prevent, and remove barriers to accessibility, the AODA contains accessibility standards in areas, including:
- Customer service
- Information and communications
- Employment
- Transportation
- Built environment
The accessibility standard for customer service came into force in 2008. The next three standards, information and communications, employment, and transportation have been combined into the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations (IASR). The IASR is now law and the requirements will be phased in over time. The standard for the built environment for facilities and outdoor spaces is still in development.
Customer Service
Ottawa Honda strives at all times to provide goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. We are committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our goods and services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers.
Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR)
Part 1 (General)
Ottawa Honda’s Accessibility policy affirms its commitment to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner and governs the way that we will achieve accessibility. We have created a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlining the Company’s phased-in strategy for identifying, removing and preventing barriers to accessibility. The plan can be provided upon request. Once all AODA initiatives have been met, the plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years.
Ongoing Initiatives
Training
- Employees have been made aware of the training requirement and all employees are taking the training on the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in this regulation and on the Human Rights Code as it pertain to persons with disabilities and a record will be kept of the training.
- New employees will be trained as part of their on-boarding.
Part 2 (Information and Communications)
Ottawa Honda will follow best practices when developing, implementing, and maintaining information and communications strategies and products to ensure that information and communications are available and accessible to people with disabilities. This includes websites, intranet sites, communication materials, telephone communications and face-to-face interactions. The goal is to achieve the most effective and efficient access to information for all users.
Ongoing Initiatives
Feedback
- Conduct a review of all feedback processes across the organization (internally and externally).
- Determine what accessible formats and communication supports will be provided upon request.
- Notify the public about the availability of these accessible formats and communication supports.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
- Upon request, provide or arrange for information in accessible formats and/or provide communication supports for people with disabilities.
- Ensure that the information is provided in a timely manner, at no extra cost, and that the person making the request is consulted in order to determine the most appropriate format or support.
- Train all staff in the availability of communications in accessible formats
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Accessible Websites and Web Content
- Ensure that all new websites and web content comply with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 at Level A and increasing to Level AA.
- Conduct an assessment of the company’s website and testing for accessibility.
- A course of action and timelines needed to achieve web accessibility will be outlined, based on the results of the assessment and compliance with the law.
- Target date – January 1, 2021
Part 3 (Employment Standards)
Ottawa Honda is committed to inclusive and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees with disabilities.
Ongoing Initiatives
Evaluation and Review of Barriers
- Ottawa Honda will review existing recruitment and employment practices and identify potential barriers to employment, including without limitations:
- Methodology of advising of potential job opportunities
- Identification of barriers that may arise during the interview process
Recruitment, Assessment or Selection Process
- During the recruitment process, candidates who are selected for assessments or interviews will be informed that accommodations are available upon request in relation to materials or processes to be used.
- Candidates requesting accommodation will be consulted with in order to provide suitable accommodation that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.
- Creating systems to reduce or eliminate biases in recruitment processes (selection criteria, interview methodology)
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Notice to Successful Applicants
- Successful candidates will be notified of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when offering employment. This notice will be included as an attachment to the offer letter of the successful applicant.
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Informing Employees of Supports Available
- All employees will be notified of policies for supporting employees with disabilities, including providing employment-related accommodations.
- New employees will receive this information as part of the offer package.
- All employees will be given updated information whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodations.
- Employees will be assured that their privacy is respected and that any sharing of information about their accommodation needs will be discussed with them. Any plans for communication of accommodation needs will be made with their consent.
- Create posters for employee electronic bulletin board postings on “how to request accommodation” to remind employees of the availability of accommodation.
- Ensure that any updates to the accommodation policy are made available to employees through the employee electronic bulletin board.
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees
- Employees with disabilities will be consulted to determine what the accessible formats and communication supports they require to do their jobs effectively.
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
Written accommodation plans will be written for employees with disabilities indicating:
- How an employee requesting accommodation can participate in the development of their individual accommodation plan.
- How the employee will be assessed on an individual basis.
- How Ottawa Honda can request an evaluation by an outside medical or other expert, at the employer’s expense, to assist them in determining if and how accommodation can be achieved.
- How the employee can request the participation of a representative from the workplace in the development of the accommodation plan.
- The steps taken to protect the privacy of the employee’s personal information.
- The frequency and manner in which the individual accommodation plan will be reviewed and updated.
- Should an individual accommodation plan be denied, how the reasons for the denial will be provided to the employee.
- How the individual accommodation plans will be documented taking into account the employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
All accommodation plans are private. Each plan will include information on accessible formats and communication supports required, individual emergency response requirements and any other accommodation needed. Employees will be trained on the duty to accommodate, the accommodation process, how to support the accommodation process and how to access information and assistance.
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Return to Work
- The return to work process will document what steps Ottawa Honda will take to facilitate the return to work of employees who are away from work due to disability
- The return to work process will implement a method of determining the essential job tasks or job functions and determining the method of accommodating the employee so that the employee can perform the essential duties of the position (with or without accommodation as the situation may arise).
- A process will be put in place to ensure managers understand the accommodations being made as well as the privacy/communication concerns and agreements around the return to work accessibility requirements.
- The return to work policy shall confirm that an individual documented accommodation plan (see above) may be implemented to facilitate the return to work process.
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Performance Management
- The accessibility needs of employees with disabilities will be taken into account with regards to performance management, including performance plans in accessible formats.
- A review of the existing performance management process is to be conducted in order to ensure that accessibility is built into the process.
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Career Development and Advancement
- The accessibility needs of employees with disabilities will be taken into account with regards to career development and advancement, including coaching and feedback.
- A review of the existing career development and advancement process is to be conducted in order to ensure that accessibility is built into the process.
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Redeployment
- The accessibility needs and individual accommodation plans of employees with disabilities will be taken into account when they are reassigned to other departments or jobs within Ottawa Honda.
- Target date – January 1, 2016
Contact Information
If you have questions on this policy or want to provide feedback, please contact:
Vik Dilawri
vik[at]dilawriauto.com
(613) 726-0333