Accessibility
Plan 2008-2009
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Table of Contents
Introduction
Ontario is making progress toward building an accessible province by
2025. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)
has laid the foundation to meet this goal. Under the act, Ontario is developing
standards that will remove the barriers faced by people with disabilities.
On January 1, 2008, the first accessibility standard under the act came
into force. Through the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service,
people of all abilities will be able to get the service they need. Public
sector organizations, including the Ontario government, will need to comply
with this standard by 2010. Private sector and non-profit organizations
will need to comply by 2012.
Next year, more standards will be released in other important areas,
including:
- Information and communications
- Transportation
- Employment
- The built environment.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' (ministry) sixth
annual accessibility plan highlights 2007-08's achievements to break down
barriers for people with disabilities. It also outlines this ministry's
commitments in the coming year to make programs, policies and services
more accessible for all Ontarians.
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 promote accessibility for both
citizens and its employees, including more accessible Internet and Intranet
sites and a streamlined site for recruitment advertising. The need for
ergonomically sound work areas and provision for employees requiring accommodation
has been a key focus. The ministry has also promoted new training modules
to help front line employees welcome customers with disabilities who come
to our locations for services.
This accessibility plan is unique, because it reflects our transition
between the AODA and the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA).
The ODA applies to the Ontario government and all broader public sector
organizations. Under this act, the ministry develops annual accessibility
plans to make its policies, programs, services and buildings more accessible
to people with disabilities.
Through the ODA, accessibility planning has laid a strong foundation
for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to build on. This
ministry will continue to help make Ontario more accessible for people
with disabilities and a more inclusive society for all Ontarians.
An
executive summary of all Government of Ontario Ministry Accessibility
Plans is available.
Report on Status of Customer Service
Requirements
Focus Area: Customer Service
Commitment: (New) Establish policies, practices and procedures
on providing goods or services to people with disabilities. Include a
process for people to provide feedback on how you provide goods or services
to people with disabilities and how you will respond to any feedback and
take action on any complaints. Make the information about your feedback
process readily available to the public.
Planned Action: The ministry will establish an accessible customer
service policy, as well as associated practices and procedures, in accordance
with the requirements of the new accessible customer service standards.
The policy will identify a process for feedback and the promotion of that
process to the public.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - March 2010
Results achieved: A ministry committee is in place to review the
new OPS Service Directive and will work with the Accessibility Planning
Working Group to ensure that barriers to accessibility are reflected in
the implementation of the Directive.
Focus Area: Customer Service
Commitment: (Ongoing) Train staff, volunteers, contractors and
any other people who interact with the public, or other third parties,
on your behalf on a number of topics as outlined in the customer service
standard. Train staff, volunteers, contractors and any other people who
are involved in developing your policies, practices and procedures on
the provision of goods or services on a number of topics as outlined in
the customer service standard. Communicate with a person with a disability
in a manner that takes into account his or her disability.
Planned Action(s):
The ministry will develop a strategy to ensure that organizations that
provide services on behalf of the ministry are aware of the requirements
of the accessible customer service standards and are provided with information
about how to meet these standards.
The ministry will encourage employees to complete the "May I Help
You? Welcoming Customers with Disabilities" e-learning course.
The ministry will maintain and update the ministry's intranet website
to inform staff about the ODA, the AODA and accessibility.
The ministry will consider accessibility when planning events and conferences.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - March 2010
Results Achieved:
The "May I Help You?" e-learning course is highlighted in the
"Accessibility Planning" section on the ministry's intranet
site. The launch of the e-learning course was communicated to all OPS
managers and staff in December 2007.
A guideline has been developed to promote accessibility in procurement.
The guideline is used when acquiring goods or services from third party
vendors.
Planning for a number of events including the Premier's Summit (an annual
meeting with stakeholders in the agri-food sector) and the Outlook Conference
(a biennial international forum hosted by the ministry on innovation in
Ontario's agri-food sector) was undertaken using the guideline developed
for use in planning accessible events.
The ministry has adopted a plain language format for its publications
and is moving to make changes as publications are revised or new publications
produced.
Focus Area: Customer Service
Commitment: (New) Use reasonable efforts to ensure that your policies,
practices and procedures are consistent with the core principles of independence,
dignity, integration and equality and opportunity.
Planned Action: The ministry will ensure that the Accessibility
Planning Working Group, and other committees or focus groups which may
be formed in support of accessibility planning to achieve compliance with
the customer service standard, will include representation from persons
with disabilities, to ensure that unique needs are taken into account
in the development of policies, practices and procedures.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - March 2010
Focus Area: Customer Service
Commitment: (New) Set a policy on allowing people to use their
own personal assistive devices to access your goods, use your services
and any other measures your organization offers (assistive devices, services,
or methods) to enable them to access your goods and use your services.
Planned Action: The ministry will review current practices and
ensure that a policy is in place which addresses the specific needs of
persons who use assistive devices.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - March 2010
Focus Area: Customer Service
Commitment: (New) Permit people with disabilities who use a support
person to bring that person with them while accessing goods or services
in premises open to the public or third parties. Where admission fees
are charged, provide notice ahead of time on what admission, if any, would
be charged for a support person of a person with a disability.
Planned Action: The ministry will review current practices and
identify specific measures to address the need for support persons on
ministry public premises, including any appropriate notice regarding admission
fees.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - March 2010
Focus Area: Customer Service
Commitment: (New) Allow people with disabilities to be accompanied
by their guide dog or service animal in those areas of the premises you
own or operate that are open to the public, unless the animal is excluded
by another law. If a service animal is excluded by law, use other measures
to provide services to the person with a disability.
Planned Action: The ministry will review current practices and
identify specific measures to address the need for a guide dog or service
animal on ministry premises.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - March 2010
Focus Area: Customer Service
Commitment: (New) Provide notice when facilities or services that
people with disabilities rely on to access or use your goods or services
are temporarily disrupted.
Planned Action: The ministry will review current practices and
identify specific measures to address the need to provide notice regarding
the temporary disruption of services.
Report on Other Accessibility
Commitments
Accessibility Improvement Initiatives to Identify, Remove or Prevent
Barriers in Preparation for AODA Standards Currently Under Development.
Focus Area: The Built Environment
Commitment: New
Planned Action: Adopt ergonomic standards for employee workstations
at ministry head office location.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - December 2008
Results Achieved: Layouts for new workstations were designed in
accordance with OPS Barrier Free Design Guidelines and reflect current
industry standards for ergonomic design.
As part of the project, a process was developed whereby employees complete
an ergonomic self assessment to identify concerns with their new workstations.
Issues that were not resolved through minor self adjustments were referred
to an ergonomic specialist who conducted a thorough assessment to determine
requirements. Approximately 75 ergonomic assessments have been referred
to the specialist.
The supplier of the office equipment offers a line of ergonomic accessories
including adjustable keyboard arms, visual display tools, footrests and
laptop stands that can easily be incorporated into the workstation to
meet individual needs.
Focus Area: The Built Environment
Commitment: Ongoing
Planned Action: Participation on advisory committee to the Built
Environment Standards Development Committee
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - December 2009
Results Achieved: In support of the Accessibility for Ontarians
with Disabilities Act, the ministry is participating on an inter-ministry
advisory committee designed to provide input to the Accessible Built Environment
Standards Development Committee. The committees continue to meet and task
forces are being developed in an effort to prepare for public review of
the new standard.
When the new standard is in place, the ministry will work with the Ontario
Realty Corporation and our stakeholders to determine what modifications
or improvements are needed to meet the requirements of the new standard
and to be a role model to our private sector partners.
Focus Area: The Built Environment
Commitment: Completed
Planned Action: Infrastructure projects at agricultural colleges
Results Achieved: The work in previous accessibility plans for
agricultural colleges at Ridgetown and Kemptville has been completed.
At Ridgetown an elevator and barrier free washrooms were constructed at
the main administration building. At Kemptville, an elevator was installed
to all floors of Parrish Hall and a chair lift was upgraded and put in
service in Fraser Hall. The total costs for these projects were $675,000.
Focus Area: Employment
Commitment: New
Planned Action: The ministry will inform managers and supervisors
about a new guide called: "From Disabilities to Possibilities: A
Guide to Hiring, Training and Retaining People with Disabilities".
The information will also be made available on the ministry's intranet
site.
Implementation Timeframe: December 2008 - December 2009
Focus Area: Employment
Commitment: Completed
Planned Action: The following Emergency Management activities
were undertaken to accommodate employees with a disability:
- Evacuation information for special needs was included in the Emergency
Handbook for employees.
- Buddy system information was included in the delivery of awareness
sessions and new manager training.
- The ministry's Emergency Operations Centre was designed to accommodate
special needs, including elevator access; double entry doors; work stations
which are mobile and well spaced; and large screen monitors, display
technologies.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2007 - December 2008
Focus Area: Employment
Commitment: Ongoing
Planned Action: The ministry will inform managers with regard
to the need to accommodate persons with disabilities in the recruitment
process as part of planned recruitment awareness training.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 - December 2009
Focus Area: Information and Communications
Commitment: Ongoing
Planned Action: Advances will be made in the adoption of barrier
free technology for the ministry's Internet and / or Intranet sites.
Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 - December 2009
Results Achieved:
On April 16th, 2008, the OMAFRA
Internet site was refreshed. The site now has improved navigation
features and enhanced performance for accessibility. Printed pages are
also formatted for easier reading. Further improvements are expected when
we move to a content management system in future.
A newly designed Foodland Ontario website improved its accessibility.
It launched October 2008.
Our Intranet website "Charlotte" was re-launched in September
2008. Extensive work to the design, functionality and coding makes it
accessible to staff in a wide range of situations.
For More Information
- Questions or comments about the ministry's accessibility plan are
always welcome.
Please phone: 519-826-3135
General inquiry number: 519-826-3100
TTY number: 519-826-7402
1-800 number: 1-888-466-2372
E-mail: accessibility.omafra@ontario.ca
- Ministry website
Visit the Ministry
of Community and Social Services Accessibility Ontario web portal.
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:
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777 Bay Street, Suite M212, Market Level
Toronto ON M5G 2C8
Tel: (416) 326-5300 or toll-free: 1-800-668-9938
TTY Service: 1-800-268-7095
Fax: 613-545-4223
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ISSN # 1710-291X
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