ACCESSIBILITY
STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
TMHC is committed to providing a welcoming, respectful, accessible and inclusive environment for employees, clients, volunteers and members of the public alike. TMHC is committed to and strives to ensure that all persons are treated equitably and in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. TMHC believes in integration and is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. TMHC will meet the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting all applicable accessibility standards and requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).
TMHC will ensures that all persons within its community are aware of their rights and responsibilities to foster an accessible and inclusive environment with and for persons with disabilities.
ACCESSIBILITY POLICIES
Customer Service Policy
TMHC strives at all times to provide accessible customer service to persons with disabilities. This policy is intended to meet the requirements of the Customer Service Standards outlined in O. Reg. 191/11. It applies to the provision of services or facilities to clients and members of the public by TMHC.
TMHC is committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities are given equal opportunity to obtain, use and benefit from TMHC’s services and facilities, in the same place and in a similar way as others. Reasonable efforts will be made with respect to the following:
- Services or facilities are provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. If an alternate measure is necessary to allow a person with a disability to benefit from TMHC services or facilities, other measures will be made available for the person with a disability to access the TMHC’s services. The alternate measure may be temporary or permanent.
Information and Communications Policy
TMHC meets all Ontario Accessibility laws for a large private or non-profit organization with 50 plus workers in regards to how it provides information and communicates with all individuals.
TMHC requires that all TMHC workers interact and communicate respectfully with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. When asked, TMHC will provide information about our organization and its services, including public safety information, in accessible formats or with communication supports.
Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids Policy
Persons with disabilities may use their own assistive devices as required when accessing services provide by TMHC. In cases where the assistive device presents a safety concern or where accessibility might be an issue, other reasonable measures will be used to ensure the access of services. For example, when a person wishes to speak to a Field Director working in a muddy farm field and the individual requires a mobility assistive device, service will be provided in a location that meets the needs of the individual.
Every worker who interacts with the public will be trained on how to assist with various assistive devices, should their assistance be required. No member of the TMHC workforce will touch or interfere with a person’s mobility aid except in response to a request for assistance from the person using the mobility aid.
The TMHC office can be accessed via ramps and automatic doors located at the main entrance on the north side of the building. There are also accessible restrooms. However, the internal/hall doors leading to the TMHC office are not accessible. Therefore, when a person with a mobility aid needs assistance to open doors, a TMHC staff member will meet the individual at the entrance and escort them into the TMHC office.
Service Animals and Support Workers Policy
Any person accompanied by a service animal or support person may freely enter any premises owned/rented by TMHC. At no time will a person accompanied by a service animal/support person be prevented from having access to that service animal or support person while on TMHC property. TMHC workers will be trained on how to properly and respectfully interact with people who are accompanied by a service animal or support person.
Notification of Temporary Accessible Service Disruption Policy
If a disruption in accessible access or services at the TMHC office occurs, written notification of these disruptions will be placed in prominent places in the TMHC office, on the company telephone message machine and posted on the TMHC website. The notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative services, if available.
Receiving & Responding to Feedback Policy
The ultimate goal of TMHC is to meet and exceed expectations of people with disabilities. Comments regarding how well expectations are being met are welcomed and appreciated.
Feedback regarding the way TMHC provides accessibility services to all individuals can be made in person, in writing, by comment card, by email or by telephone. If none of these methods are suitable, an individual can request another method of communication. All feedback will be passed onto the TMHC staff member who is maintaining/updating TMHC’s Accessibility Documents. All feedback will be reviewed and passed on to the TMHC Principals and the Joint Health and Safety Committee for response. If required, action will be undertaken to improve accessibility at TMHC.
Whenever possible, all complaints will be addressed within two business days and the person who made the complaint will be informed of TMHC’s response and/or actions to the complaint. However, some complaints may require more effort to address and may require further review to determine the most appropriate course of action. If this is the case, the person who made the complaint will be informed as soon as possible that the complaint is under review and will be given a rough timeframe in which to except a final response on how TMHC is addressing/correcting the complaint submitted to TMHC.
The privacy of TMHC’s clients, partners, and members of the public will always be respected, and all feedback will be reviewed for possible action that can be taken to improve TMHC customer services. However, TMHC cannot guarantee that the confidentiality of any information that is in the custody or control of TMHC will be preserved if a request for access to it is made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). To the extent permitted under FIPPA, TMHC will inform the person who sent the feedback to TMHC of any request made of TMHC under FIPPA that may reveal information supplied in confidence by the person to TMHC.
Accessibility Training Policy
TMHC is committed to training all employees, volunteers and work-study students in Ontario’s accessibility laws and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities.
Accessibility training will be achieved through oral training sessions, written tests and through the distribution of this Document to all TMHC workers (i.e., full time employees, part time employees, seasonal employees, work-study students and volunteers). TMHC will ensure that each worker is trained on accessibility as it relates to their specific roles.
New workers will undertake accessibility training as part of their orientation as soon as practicable and in a way that best suits the needs of the individuals receiving the training. Update training will be provided to all TMHC workers every two years and when changes to the policies, practices, and procedures governing the provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities are made by TMHC or are passed into law. A record of this training shall be kept by TMHC, including the dates on which the training occurred and the name/number of individuals to whom it was provided. This training and record keeping are in accordance with O. Reg. 191/11, s. 7.
In addition, all contractors, sub-contractors and service companies hired by TMHC will be given a copy of this Document. TMHC will ensure that they are aware of all accessibility requirements as they are laid out in the AODA and the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities.
Accessible Employment Policy
TMHC will notify all workers, potential hires and the public that accommodations can be made during recruitment and hiring. In addition, we will ensure that all workers are notified that supports are available for those with disabilities throughout their work path at TMHC.
TMHC has put in place a process to develop individual accommodations plans for workers and where needed, will also provide customized emergency information to help a worker with a disability during an emergency.
TMHC’s performance management, career development and redeployment processes will take into account the accessibility needs of all employees.
MULTI-YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
Multi Year Accessibility Plan 2023 to 2026 (additional accessible formats available upon request).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on this accessibility plan or to submit questions or comments to TMHC regarding accessibility at TMHC, please contact:
Megan DeVries
TMHC Inc.
1108 Dundas Street, Unit 105
London, ON, N5W 3A7
P: 519-641-7222 // TTY 1-800-855-0511 // F: 519-641-7220
Communication supports and/or accessible formats for all TMHC documents are available upon request.