Accessibility Policy

• Accessibility Plans

YSM will establish, implement, maintain and document a multi-year accessibility plan outlining its strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet its requirements under the IASR.

The multi-year accessibility plan will be posted on YSM’s website, internal bulletin boards and intranet and be provided in an accessible format, upon request, as soon as is practicable, and will be reviewed and updated every five years.

• Annual Status Reports

YSM will prepare an annual status report on the progress of measures taken to implement the multi-year accessibility plan. The status report will be posted on YSM’s website and intranet and will be provided in an accessible format, upon request, as soon as is practicable.

• Procurement or acquiring goods, services or facilities

YSM will incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring and acquiring goods, services or facilities, except where it is not practicable to do so.

If YSM determines that it is not practicable to incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities, it shall provide an explanation, upon request.

• Training

YSM shall ensure that the following persons have been trained on the requirements in the IASR and the Ontario Human Rights Code, as it pertains to persons with disabilities:

• • employees
  • volunteers
  • contract staff and persons involved in co-op or placement initiatives

The training shall be appropriate to the duties of the employees, volunteers, and other persons. A record will be kept regarding staff training, including the dates on which training was provided, a summary of the contents of the training, and the names of the individuals to whom it was provided.

Training of our employees and volunteers on accessibility relates to their specific roles. Training includes: a.purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the Customer

Service Standards

b.our policies related to the Customer Service Standards

c.how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities

d.how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person

e.how to use the equipment or devices available on-site or otherwise that may help with providing goods, services or facilities to people with disabilities.

f.what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing our YSM’s goods, services or facilities.

We train every person as soon as practicable after being hired and provide training in respect of any changes to the policies.

Ensuring that contractors and agents who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of YSM have been trained will be addressed through YSM’s procurement process.

• Assistive Devices

People with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing our goods, services or facilities. In cases where the assistive device presents a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern or may not be permitted for other reasons, other measures will be used to ensure the person with a disability can access our goods, services or facilities.

We ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices we have on site or that we provide that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods, services or facilities.

• Service Animals

We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and third parties.

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.

If service animals are prohibited by another law, we will do the following to ensure people with disabilities can access our goods, services or facilities:

• • explain why the animal is excluded
  • discuss with the customer another way of providing goods, services or facilities

• Support Persons

If a person with a disability is accompanied by a support person, YSM will ensure that both persons are permitted to enter a Company facility, and that the person with a disability is not prevented from having access to the support person. YSM may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person when in a Company facility, but only if a support person is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health or safety of others in the facility. If an amount is payable by a support person for admission, or otherwise, to a premise, YSM will ensure notice is given in advance about the amount.

• Notice of availability of documents

YSM will provide the public notice of the availability of the documents, required by the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, (0. Reg 429/07) upon request. Notice of availability will be provided on YSM’s web site and through other printed methods.

• Format of documents

If YSM is required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, to give a copy of a document to a person with a disability, YSM will take into account the person’s ability to access the information and will provide the document or information contained in the document in a format that meets those needs as agreed upon with the person.

• Notice of Temporary Disruption

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities, YSM will notify customers promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.