Accessibility Plan 2007-2008
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Table of Contents
Introduction
In June 2005, the Ontario government took a strong stand on accessibility
when it passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
(AODA) into law.
The AODA lays out a comprehensive road map to make Ontario accessible
to all people through the development, implementation and enforcement
of new, mandatory accessibility standards for some of the most important
aspects of people's lives.
Five key areas have been identified for the first accessibility standards:
customer service, transportation, information and communications,
the built environment, and employment.
The accessible customer service regulations were approved by the
Lieutenant-Governor and will come into force on January 1, 2008.
An initial proposed standard on accessible transportation has been
developed by the Transportation Standards Development Committee. It
was posted for public review on June 27, 2007 and will be available
for public comment until September 28, 2007.
The Standards Development Committee that will draft the proposed
information and communications standard was established and began
meeting in April, 2007. The committees developing the accessible built
environment and accessible employment standards have been selected
and will begin meeting in the fall of 2007.
While the government is moving forward to implement the AODA, there
will be a transition period where government and the broader public
sector will continue to meet their obligations under the Ontarians
with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA). These obligations will remain in
effect until they are repealed and replaced by standards under the
new act.
Under the ODA, Ontario government ministries, municipalities, hospitals,
school boards, colleges, universities and public transportation organizations
are required to develop annual accessibility plans to make policies,
practices, programs, services and buildings more accessible to people
with disabilities. These plans must be made available to the public.
Accessibility planning efforts to date have developed a strong foundation
for the development of accessibility standards that will mean real
and effective change.
This document is the fifth annual accessibility plan developed by
the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. It highlights
the achievements of the 2006-07 plan and outlines the commitments
for 2007-08 so that no new barriers are created and, over time, existing
ones are removed.
This ministry intends to build on its achievements by implementing
initiatives that support the government's commitment to continue to
make Ontario an inclusive and accessible province where people of
all abilities have a chance to fully achieve their potential.
Message from the Minister
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) all public
sector and broader public sector organizations are required by law
to have an annual accessibility plan and to make it available to the
public. This is the fifth year in which plans have been written and
are being implemented by organizations such as ours across the province.
This year marks the second anniversary of the landmark Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, (AODA) - legislation that
will require the development, implementation and enforcement of accessibility
standards in key areas of daily living.
The accessible customer service regulations were approved by the
Lieutenant-Governor and will come into force on January 1, 2008.
An initial proposed standard on accessible transportation has been
developed by the Transportation Standards Development Committee. It
was posted for public review on June 27, 2007 and will be available
for public comment until September 28, 2007.
The Standards Development Committee that will draft the proposed
information and communications standard was established and began
meeting in April, 2007.
The committees developing the accessible built environment and accessible
employment standards have been selected and will begin meeting in
the fall of 2007.
Here at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, we are
building on the success of our previous four plans and continuing
to look for ways to better meet the needs of people with disabilities
who come into contact with this ministry, regardless of whether they
are staff, members of the general public or ministry stakeholders.
The ministry is committed to improving accessibility through identifying,
removing and preventing barriers, working together within our ministry,
across government and in our relationships with our stakeholders.
The ministry continues to work to better educate staff on accessibility.
Examples of this work in the past year include web publishing training
for over 80 employees, training of over 75 managers in employee accommodation
and return to work policies and procedures, and a workshop for 18
front-line employees to help better welcome customers with disabilities
who come to our ministry for services. More examples are provided
in the pages that follow.
If you have any comments or concerns, I encourage you to send them
using the contact information located at the end of this document.
Leona Dombrowsky
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Report on Achievements
2006 - 2007 Accessibility Improvement Initiatives
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs identified
some specific initiatives for 2006-2007 to reduce or eliminate barriers
to accessibility for citizens and employees. This section provides
a status report on those efforts.
Customer Service
- Commitment: Education and awareness will continue to be
a priority to build employee awareness of the types of disabilities
and how to respond to persons with disabilities. A variety of formats
will be used including e-modules, workshops, and lunch and learn
sessions. Specific training will be directed to staff who provide
service over the phone and via the internet.
Status: Completed
Action: The provision of relevant education and awareness
sessions through the Lunch and Learn program was promoted
on the ministry's Wellness intranet page. Staff participated
in a number of relevant workshops which fostered a positive approach
to maintaining mental and physical well being.
A Deputy Minister's communication was sent to all staff to highlight
efforts made to reduce barriers to accessibility, resources available
to support their own efforts, and to encourage their personal
involvement in the working group.
Two members of the Working Group attended the Accessibility Expo
in Toronto in May 2007 to participate in workshops and presentations
to improve awareness on accessibility issues.
Timeframe: September 2006 - August 2007
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Employment
- Commitment: Training will be provided to managers on accommodating
employees as well as accommodating job applicants who have disabilities.
Status: Completed
Action: This winter, details of the new public service's
employment accommodation and return to work policy were shared
with all ministry staff. Human Resources Branch staff attended
information sessions explaining the policy in order to prepare
to provide advice and support to ministry managers.
As part of its Managers' Forum series, the ministry held
a workshop for all managers on changes to the employee accommodation
and return to work policy. Human Resources staff have conducted
numerous individual consultations with managers to support the
accommodation of individual employee needs.
Timeframe: September 2006 - August 2007
- Commitment: Tools will be made available and promoted as
a way to identify any potential new barriers employees may face
(barriers that are attitudinal, physical, or in the areas of communications,
information, and policy).
Status: Completed
Action: The Ministry intranet site for Accessibility includes
a 'Suggestion Box' which invites employees to identify barriers
to accessibility. In addition, employees have made use of the
email address accessibility.omafra@ontario.ca
in order to outline barriers experienced in the workplace.
Timeframe: September 2006- August 2007
Communication and Information
- Commitment: The ministry will ensure that design and delivery
and administration of ministry-funded programs do not create barriers
for people with disabilities.
Status: Completed
Action: Two areas of focus this past year have been: to
ensure any consulting services purchased to help with the design
of ministry programs follow the guidelines in place under the
Ontarians with Disabilities Act to obtain those services; and
to design barrier free public events using the planning tool "Planning
for Accessible Events". Some examples of this practice:
- The ministry held upwards of 1000 regional meetings and workshops
in 2006-2007. Persons with disabilities have participated as
members of local organizations and have attended many of these
local events.
- The Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Tribunal requests
participants self-identify accommodation requirements in their
Notice of Hearing.
- The procedural guideline was used as a planning tool for
an Expo held in February 2007 which had over 400 attendees.
Timeframe: September 2006 - August 2007
- Commitment: The ministry will work to implement new software,
an Enterprise Content Management System, to keep its internet and
intranet web sites compliant and barrier-free.
Status: Ongoing
Action: The ministry continues to take steps to put in
place the public service's Enterprise Content Management System
(Stellent). This system is designed to help maintain the compliance
of its internet and intranet sites. The ministry has put into
place a new web publishing process with web Publishing coordinators,
employees who are centrally located in Communications Branch,
who review and monitor web content for ODA compliance before it
is published.
Timeframe: September 2007 - August 2008
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Built Environment
- Commitment: Work will continue to identify and set priorities
for specific projects to include in the ministry's 2007-2008 Infrastructure
Plan.
Status: Completed
Action: Renovations involving eight projects were completed
at the ministry's Guelph headquarters, each having regard for
barrier free design principles.
Overview assessments were completed for areas at the Stone Road
head office complex in Guelph.
The ministry worked closely with the Ontario Realty Corporation
to review client needs and ensure barrier free design features were
incorporated into plans for capital repair projects, e.g. four new
building entrance doorways at 1 Stone Road, Guelph. This helped
to ensure that standards for barrier free design were appropriately
adapted to the project or work.
The ministry worked with the realty corporation and ProFac, the
building manager to help the realty corporation define its roles
and responsibilities for building common areas and to encourage
planning for capital projects in these areas.
Timeframe: September 2006 - January 2007
- Commitment: The ministry will continue to work with agencies
to identify any special commitments they will need to make to foster
compliance with the new Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
Act.
Status: Ongoing
Action: Information on new standards under the new accessibility
legislation are being shared through ministry liaisons with agency
staff as progress is made on their development.
Timeframe: September 2007 - August 2008
Acts and Regulations
- Commitment: Legal Services will ensure that barriers to
accessibility are appropriately addressed in proposed ministry legislation.
Status: Completed
Action: Legal Services continues to address barriers to
accessibility in proposed ministry legislation and regulations,
identifying, removing and preventing potential barriers to persons
with disabilities.
Legal Services also has done its part to help the Ministry in
carrying out its commitments in the accessibility plan in other
areas, including providing advice on the duty to accommodate persons
with disabilities in the area of employment, and by choosing fonts
and type sizes recommended by the Canadian National Institute
for the Blind for their legibility by persons who have visual
impairments.
Timeframe: September 2006 - August 2007
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Ongoing Accessibility Improvement
Initiatives
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs continued
to strive to improve accessibility in a wide range of areas - both
for citizens seeking products and services, and for employees seeking
to enjoy a barrier-free work environment. This section provides a
status report on those efforts.
Customer Service
- Commitment: Front line employees need to be aware of, and
formally trained in, service to persons with disabilities. The ministry
will continue outreach awareness and training to employees using
a variety of media and interventions such as e-learning modules,
presentations, workshops and lunch and learn sessions. A target
group for the upcoming year will be employees of the ministry's
Agricultural Information Contact Centre.
Status: Ongoing
Action: Awareness was raised among front line employees
regarding the needs of persons with disabilities using two tools.
A four-hour workshop entitled "May I Help You?" was
held in June for employees in Guelph. The workshop included tips
and techniques for serving persons with vision impairments, deaf
or hard of hearing, physical, mental health and learning disabilities.
Eighteen employees in the Guelph office of the ministry and with
Service Ontario received training and resources. In addition,
front line staff across the ministry were encouraged to review
the new on-line training resource (also entitled "May I Help
You") available through the Accessibility Directorate of
Ontario.
Timeline: September 2007 - August 2008
- Commitment: The accessibility planning work group will
continue to review its membership to ensure that it adequately represents
the focus of ministry priorities.
Status: Ongoing
Action: The working group maintained an appropriate level
of employee participation including division and field representation
through a year which saw the ministry undergo an internal reorganization.
Employees with a disability continue to be encouraged to support
the working group's efforts through membership.
The accessibility planning working group met to review action
plans and timeframes to support the commitments outlined in the
accessibility plan. The intranet web site Ontarians with Disabilities
Act - ODA for OMAFRA was maintained with current information for
staff including membership roll, meeting minutes, suggestion box
- barriers to accessibility, as well as helpful links to enable
staff to procure accessible goods and services, or plan accessible
meetings.
Timeframe: September 2007 - August 2008
- Commitment: The Procedural Guideline to assist ministry
employees to design and administer barrier free public events will
be more widely promoted across the ministry and the accessibility
planning working group will work with ministry employees to review
its usefulness as a planning tool and ensure its continuous improvement.
Status: Completed.
Action: A link to the Procedural Guideline was posted
on the Ministry's intranet site to provide for higher profile.
Numerous individual consultations were held between employees
and members of the working group to provide advice with regard
to the guideline's interpretation. Members of the working group
attended the module "How to Plan Accessible Events"
held as part of the May 2007 Accessibility Expo in Toronto to
remain up to date on this matter.
Timeframe: Spring 2007
Employment
- Commitment: Job competitions that are posted indicate the
provisions that will be made for persons with a disability who apply,
including accessible locations and accommodation.
Status: Completed.
Action: Over the course of the year, 82 competitions for
positions at the ministry were held. All job opportunities advertised
encouraged persons with disabilities to identify any accommodation
they needed with examples provided such as wheelchair access or
sign-language interpretation. The ministry responded to at least
one request for accommodation this past year. Some individual
consultations were held with job applicants to let them know about
the ministry's obligations in this area.
Timeframe: September 2006 - August 2007
- Commitment: The ministry will work to provide ergonomic
and other types of accommodation to employees to ensure their full
participation on the job. Front line managers will be made aware
and trained in supporting job accommodation practices.
Status: Completed.
Action: A total of 5 ergonomic assessments took place
this past year resulting in the workstation equipment and or accessories
made available, including voice activated software, specifically
sized and/or outfitted chairs, footrests and an adjustable desk.
The ministry's intranet site maintained information In order
to help promote ergonomics in the ministry, with resources such
as an Ergonomic Workstation Checklist, Office Ergonomics Resource
Sheets, Stretch Break information, linkages to associated website,
articles on Video Display Terminal Eye Examinations and Repetitive
Strain Injuries, Guide to Preventing Repetitive Strain Injury
in the Workplace and tips for healthy handling.
Legal Services supported awareness and training efforts by providing
advice on the duty to accommodate persons with disabilities in the
area of employment. Human Resources employees conducted a training
session for managers and provided individual consultation as well.
Timeframe: September 2006 - August 2007
Communication and Information
- Commitment: All new or revised publications will include
a TTY number. Publications will be made available in alternative
format to those who request it.
Status: Completed.
Action: The ministry continues to make new publications
available in alternate format if requested, and ensures that TTY
numbers are included in publications available to the public.
Timeframe: September 2006 - August 2007
- Commitment: Implementation of new Enterprise Content Management
System software will keep the ministry in step with the government's
e-Government and e-Ontario strategies for improved seamless, simple,
accountable and accessible service delivery. Until that implementation
is complete, the ministry will actively ensure content is compliant
with existing standards.
Action: The ministry continues to actively ensure content
is compliant on our internet site.
Web publishing training was attended by 87 staff, representing
the majority of employees with responsibility in this area. The
training included awareness of web content accessibility issues
and basic skills in preparing accessible web content.
Two web publishing coordinators attended training in making documents
published in portable document format (PDF) accessible. This should
allow the ministry to ensure all documents in this format on our
website are accessible.
Beginning in November 2006, the ministry helped make government
information more accessible by participating in the first phase
of a pilot project to foster clear writing practices. A comprehensive
web site developed by Cabinet Office Communications helped the
Ministry to look at its writing practices and adopt new ones.
Ministry communications employees were trained in these practices.
As part of the pilot, the areas of the ministry internet web
site which focus on rural affairs and avian influenza were rewritten
in plain language. Under the OPS Clear Web Writing Project, the
Bird Flu site (http://www.ontario.ca/birdflu) and Rural Development
site (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/index.html) were
made easier to understand and more accessible.
Timeframe: September 2007 - August 2008
Built Environment
- Commitment: To identify and develop an Infrastructure Plan
that will recommend annual financial resources over a five year
period for capital projects. Specific projects identified for this
year include:
- Kemptville College - design and planning for accessibility upgrades
to the main administration building
- Ridgetown College - new classroom and athletic complex designed
to current barrier free standards; design and planning for new elevator
and accessibility upgrades at the main administration building;
accessibility upgrades to various classrooms around campus.
Status: In Progress
Action: The Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario
and the University of Guelph, partners with the ministry, have
developed an annual process for identifying and evaluating minor
capital projects against a number of criteria, including: animal
care, human health and safety, building code compliance, building
integrity, life cycle replacement, efficiency / conservation,
and program needs and priorities. The new Rudy Brown Rural Learning
Centre opened at Ridgetown College in November 2006, designed
in full compliance with the legislation. Accessibility upgrades
to the main administration building in Kemptville College were
deferred until the completion of an overall campus master plan.
Timeframe: September 2007 - August 2008
Commitments - Measures to Prevent
New Barriers
In the coming year, the ministry commits to assess relevant
acts, regulations, policies, programs, practices and services as needed
to determine their effect on accessibility for persons with disabilities.
This section summarizes these commitments.
Customer Service
- Education and awareness will continue to be a priority to build
employee awareness of the types of disabilities and how to respond
to persons with disabilities. A variety of formats will be used
including e-modules, workshops, and lunch and learn sessions.
- The ministry will follow-up on all "suggestion box"
items, and promote accessibility.omafra@ontario.ca.
Employment
- Human Resources and Legal Services will work together to support
and educate employees regarding requirements under the Ontarians
with Disabilities Act and the duty to accommodate persons with disabilities.
The ministry will also make use of support available through the
new OPS Regional Employee Health and Wellness Pilot Project to support
the process of identifying and addressing accommodation requirements.
Communications and Information
- The new resource "Emergency Preparedness Guide for People
with Disabilities / Special Needs" will be implemented in the
ministry in the following ways:
- the Emergency Unit's planning awareness sessions will include
items on the subject of People with Disabilities / Special Needs
- Branch Continuity Planning leads will be directed to include
current employee needs for accommodation in their 2007 branch
recovery plans
- Operational protocol items will be included for the new Ministry
Emergency Operation Centre to assist with the identified disabilities
and special needs of the individuals responsible for emergency
response
- The Emergency Unit will work with service providers to provide
input to Ministry Alternate Worksite arrangements to support
disabilities and special needs
- The Emergency Unit will work with service providers to provide
input to the various Facility Emergency Plans (evacuation and
first aid / CPR / AED response) to ensure they are aligned with
the guide
Built Environment
-
On finalization of new AODA standards for each of office, institutional
and special purpose category buildings, accessibility deficiencies
will be assessed and priorized for buildings occupied by ministry
staff as well as buildings owned by the Agricultural Research
Institute of Ontario
-
Capital projects approved under the ministry's 2007/08 Infrastructure
Plan as well as minor reconfiguration projects will continue to
incorporate accessibility features in accordance with the 2006
version of ORC's Barrier Free Design Guidelines; projects proposed
in the ministry's 2008/09 plan will have regard for those AODA
standards approved at the point of final design. Projects approved
for 07-08 include the construction of a new elevator and barrier
free washrooms on all three floors of the main administration
building at Ridgetown. The Reek admin building houses the library,
computer labs and central administration offices. Project cost
is estimated to be at $600,000.
Acts and Regulations
- Legal Services will continue to ensure that AODA requirements
are appropriately addressed in proposed OMAFRA legislation and regulations.
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Commitments - Barriers to be Addressed
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs commits to identify,
remove and prevent barriers to persons with disabilities in the coming
year. This section summarizes these commitments.
Customer Service
- Barrier: Persons with disabilities who obtain ministry
services in person, over the telephone, or through the Internet
may not receive the same level of access as the general public.
Commitment: The ministry will provide targeted training
to new employees who provide direct service to clients in the
ways described above to support their understanding of the unique
challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
Responsibility: Line Managers, Human Resources
Timeline: September 2007 - August 2008
Employment Accommodation
- Barrier: Potential candidates for job competitions who
have a disability may not require the same access as the general
public.
Commitment: Job competitions that are posted indicate
the provisions that will be made for persons with a disability
who apply, including accessible locations and accommodation.
Responsibility: Human Resources Branch
Timeline: September 2007-August 2008
- Barrier: Employees who have a disability do not always
have the tools they require to perform their job to their potential.
Commitment: The ministry will work to provide ergonomic
and other types of accommodation to employees to ensure their
full participation on the job. Front line managers will be made
aware and trained in supporting job accommodation practices.
Responsibility: Line Managers, Service Management Branch,
Human Resources Branch
Timeline: September 2007-August 2008
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Communications and Information
- Barrier: Changes to the workplace resulting from the development
of standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
Act and the implications of those changes may not be well understood
by managers.
Commitment: The ministry will devote a section of its
Accessibility Intranet site to the latest information on standards
development, and hold awareness sessions with managers at appropriate
points throughout the year to ensure they remain current with
the changes.
Responsibility: Accessibility Planning Working Group,
Communications
Timeline: September 2007-August 2008
Built Environment
- Barrier: Physical barriers to accessibility need to be
identified and addressed as a team approach including the ministry,
Ontario Realty Corporation and ministry site building service providers.
Commitment: The ministry will work with the new Building
Administration Relations Committees to ensure a team approach
is taken to address building accessibility issues.
Workstation size reviews and subsequent implementation of furniture
refreshes being completed by the ministry will consider staff
and client circulation and accessibility improvements.
The ministry will continue to work with its Agencies to encourage
increased accessibility of agency-owned facilities.
Responsibility: Service Management Branch, Research and
Innovation Branch
Timeline: September 2007-August 2008
For More Information
- Questions or comments about OMAFRA's accessibility plan are always
welcome.
Please phone: (519) 826-3135
General inquiry number: (519) 826-3100
TTY number: (519) 826-7402
Toll Free: 1 888 466-2372
E-mail: accessibility.omafra@ontario.ca
Ministry website: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/
Visit the Ministry of Community and Social Services' Accessibility
Ontario web portal at: http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/accessibility/index.html.
The site promotes accessibility and provides information and resources
on how to make Ontario a barrier-free province.
Alternate formats of this document are available free upon request
from:
Publications Ontario
880 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M7A 1N8. Tel: (416) 326-5300
Out of town customers, except Ottawa, call: 1-800-668-9938
In Ottawa, call (613) 238-3630 or toll-free: 1-800-268-8758
TTY Service: 1-800-268-7095
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ISSN 1710-291X Accessibility Plan. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs
Ce document est disponible en français.
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