Accessibility
Plan 2011-2012
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Table of Contents
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(49 kb)
Introduction
Each year, the Government of Ontario sets a course to prevent,
identify and remove barriers for persons with disabilities. Every
ministry participates through its annual accessibility plans, as
required under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA).
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)
is Ontario's roadmap to become barrier-free by 2025. It includes
accessibility standards in:
- Customer Service
- Information and Communications
- Employment
- Transportation
- The Built Environment
This year the accessibility plans will help to inform planning
requirements under the new Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS)
enacted last summer under the AODA. The IAS requires the Government
of Ontario to develop a multi-year plan to prevent and remove barriers
for persons with disabilities.
Our annual accessibility plan outlines the specific steps the government
is taking to improve opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Building on last year's plan, our 2011-12 accessibility plan will
continue moving the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
toward the goal of an accessible province for all Ontarians.
To view other ministries' Accessibility Plans, visit Ontario.ca.
Section One: Report on Measures to Identify, Remove and Prevent
Barriers in 2010-11
The Government of Ontario is working to achieve an accessible
province by 2025.
In 2010-11, the government continued to comply with the Accessibility
Standards for Customer Service regulation and continued to implement
initiatives to enhance accessibility in other areas: employment,
information and communication, transportation, the built environment
and procurement.
This document includes a summary of the initiatives the Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs implemented in 2010-11.
Customer Service
OMAFRA is committed to ensuring that staff and clients with disabilities
obtain accessible goods and services with the same quality and timeliness
which others receive. The ministry took a leadership role in adopting
the requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service
regulation by January 1, 2010 and it continues to maintain this
high standard with its ongoing compliance. In 2010-11 our ministry
made the following advancements in the areas of Accessible Customer
Service:
- OMAFRA maintained full, ongoing compliance with the Accessibility
Standards for Customer Service regulation and associated Ontario
Public Service (OPS) Accessible Customer Service Policy.
- Stakeholder outreach activities were conducted in partnership
with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario. OMAFRA created
a series of notices to inform stakeholders of their new responsibilities
in the area of accessible customer service as of January 1, 2012.
This message was delivered to thousands of stakeholders in the
agri-food and rural sectors. Notices were included in program
area publications to further embed accessibility across all areas
of the ministry.
- Ongoing, mandatory accessible customer service training was
required of all new staff and management, not only frontline service
providers as required by the AODA. Staff are informed of the training
requirement through orientation documents and were required to
complete the training within three months of hire. The status
of staff training is monitored and tracked to ensure a minimum
of 90%, or more, of staff are fully trained at all times.
- Staff training and resources were provided on how to apply
the concepts of the Inclusion Lens, an analytical tool developed
by the OPS Diversity Office. The purpose of this tool is to ensure
the principles of accessibility are consistently applied in the
development of new initiatives and in reviewing existing human
resources and general business-related policies and procedures.
- Various feedback channels and methods were available for clients
and staff to provide feedback on accessible customer service including
the use of surveys and evaluations for internal clients and the
opportunity to provide anonymous feedback. Response mechanisms
were also put in place to ensure feedback received on accessibility
related matters continues to inform continuous improvements to
the way the ministry conducts its business. Feedback was collected,
reviewed and analysed to identify trends and potential gaps in
customer service and appropriate actions were taken in response.
The following are examples of the feedback that was received,
and how that feedback has led to improvements in customer service.
Feedback: A third-party service provider requested
information on the appropriate use of font and background colors
on website content.
Response: An I&IT Accessibility Centre of Excellence
information resource was shared on how to create and update web
pages to improve accessibility.
Feedback: OMAFRA summer students were asked to
provide feedback through a survey on the effectiveness of the accessible
customer service training they received. Overall, the respondents
indicated that the accessible customer service training increased
their knowledge and confidence in serving people with disabilities.
Comments suggested that the training could be more interactive for
future students to test their own knowledge.
Response: OMAFRA-specific training will be re-designed
to be more interactive with questions to be answered after each
section. Enhancements will benefit students new to the ministry
in summer 2012.
To build on existing feedback channels, OMAFRA has required that
third party service providers, who conduct training on behalf of
the ministry, build accessibility considerations into their evaluations
and surveys and report results back to the ministry. See Accessible
Procurement on page 4 for more information.
Information and Communications
- OMAFRA implemented enhanced accessibility features through
the launch of the Online Design Program (ODP) on April 9th, 2011.
The ODP outlines a common look and feel for all Ontario ministry
websites as directed by Cabinet Office Communications. These features
were extended to our online applications including "The List
of Agriculture and Rural Organizations" and "Agriphones"
tools.
- Communications Branch continued to train and coach new staff
and summer students in the proper use of Dreamweaver to ensure
the accessibility of OMAFRA's web-based resources.
- As part of OMAFRA's accessibility awareness plan, the ministry
encouraged staff to take the "Agent Access" series of
on-line training developed by the Diversity Office. This training
series teaches participants how to create accessible documents
and increases knowledge of the production of literature in different
formats.
- OMAFRA continued to communicate and remind staff of best practices
when sending PDF documents and emails to ensure a greater level
of accessibility.
- Access Awareness Week activities included a learning session
on "Information and Communications: Accessible Formats".
Employment
- Interview questions and assignments were reviewed to remove
potential barriers and to implement the usage of plain language.
- Job advertisements were shared as appropriate including open
competitions.
Transportation
This standard has been reviewed for implications to OMAFRA or its
external stakeholders. OMAFRA does not anticipate any impacts from
the requirements under the transportation standard as they relate
specifically to public transportation and the transportation sector.
Built Environment
- An accessible and ergonomic office layout was incorporated into
the design of OMAFRA's newly constructed office in Downsview.
All workstations and kitchenettes will be designed in accordance
with the OPS Barrier Free Design Guidelines and reflect current
industry standards for ergonomic design.
- Accessibility improvements also included the installation of
additional automated door openers to washrooms in the ministry's
Guelph location.
Procurement
- Accessible and inclusive goods and services were delivered consistent
with the accessibility legislation.
- Accessible procurement contract language was included in competitive
documents to remind staff of the requirement in the planning stage.
- An AODA section was included in the new Procurement Directive
training to strengthen staff awareness of accessibility requirements.
- Ministry staff were supported in developing ministry procurement
documentation by incorporating accessibility language into deliverables
such as; proof the vendor completed the AODA training available
on Ministry of Community and Social Services AODA website and
if facilitating training sessions on behalf of the ministry, including
an AODA satisfaction question in the attendee evaluation.
- Proposals were evaluated using accessibility criteria such
as demonstrated experience.
- An AODA tip sheet was developed to encourage staff to build
accessibility into their procurements.
Other
OMAFRA has an Accessibility Awareness Plan that includes education
and outreach activities aimed to build broad accessibility awareness
among staff, agencies and stakeholders.
In addition to the education and outreach activities listed under
their specific categories above, our ministry increased awareness
by:
- Promoting the OPS Accessibility Expo held in Toronto on December
1st, 2011 and by making resources and web-conferencing available
for staff who could not attend in person.
- Hosting the third annual Southwest Accessibility Expo in February
2012 with the goal of continuing to build broad accessibility
awareness. This event builds on the OPS Accessibility Expo and
is aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness in all of the key
accessibility focus areas collectively. It also aims to raise
awareness about the standards within the new Integrated Accessibility
Standards regulation.
Section Two: Measures Planned for 2011-12 and Beyond
This year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affair's
accessibility plan focuses on 4 areas. These initiatives will support
compliance with the existing Accessibility Standards for Customer
Service. They will also help us enhance accessibility in other areas:
- Employment
- Information & Communications
- The Built Environment
- Procurement
Customer Service
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is committed
to ensuring that people with disabilities receive accessible goods
and services from us. This means they will receive goods and services
with the same high quality and timeliness as others.
- OMAFRA will continue to maintain compliance with the Accessibility
Standards for Customer Service regulation on a day-to-day basis.
- Ensure all new staff and management receive training in accessible
customer service by including the requirement in orientation processes,
and by tracking and monitoring progress on this throughout the
year to maintain 90%, or more, of staff with accessibility training
at any given time.
- Continue to post notices of temporary service disruptions in
a timely manner and identify alternatives available throughout
the disruption consistent with the Service Disruption Protocol
developed by the OPS Diversity Office
- Ask for feedback about accessibility and take appropriate action
to ensure continuous improvement to the way the ministry conducts
its business.
- Provide timely access to documents in accessible formats, as
required by the legislation, through further education and resources
on how to create accessible source documents.
Timeframe - Ongoing 2011- 2012
Information and Communications
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is committed
to making government information and communications accessible to
people with disabilities. The information we provide and the ways
we communicate are key to delivering our programs and services to
the public.
- The ministry will be reviewing accessibility best practices
and guidelines for social media. We will be informing staff and
program areas of the requirements for accessibility when they
are using various social media tools.
- Continue to communicate best practices when sending PDF documents
and emails to ensure a greater level of accessibility.
- Conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA for any new internet or intranet
websites and web content on those sites.
Timeframe: December 2011 - December 2012
Employment
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is committed
to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain
talented employees with disabilities.
- Emergency procedures for persons with disabilities will continue
to be communicated to staff as part of the ministry's accessibility
awareness plan.
- Annual emergency evacuation training will include training
on evacuation procedures for persons with disabilities.
- The effectiveness of our evacuation procedures for persons
with disabilities will be tested annually through simulations
that directly involve persons with disabilities.
- Individualized workplace emergency response information will
be provided to existing and new staff who require them in compliance
with the Integrated Accessibility Standards. With employee's permission,
managers will be asked to identify staff requiring accommodation.
Appropriate materials will then be developed for staff requiring
them.
Timeframe: December 2011- December 2012
Built Environment
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is committed
to greater accessibility in, out of and around the buildings we
use.
- An accessible and ergonomic office layout will be incorporated
into the design layout for the Stratford office relocation in
May 2012.
- Accessibility improvements will be made in the Toronto-Grenville
office by adding three automated door openers to the 10th floor
entry doors.
- The Toronto-Grenville retrofit project will incorporate accessibility
and ergonomic designs into the new layout in March 2012.
Existing OMAFRA facilities will be reviewed to identify accessibility
barriers. A plan to prioritize and implement changes through a phased
approach will be documented by March 2012.
Timeframe: December 2011 - December 2012
Procurement
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is committed
to integrating accessibility considerations into our procurement
processes.
- Improved accessibility language within the procurement competitive
documentation under the deliverables and rated criteria sections.
- Additional accessible procurement resources for staff will
be made available on the ministry's intra-net web site.
- Examples will be provided to assist staff with incorporating
OPS Diversity Office information such as accessibility language
for procurements into documentation.
Timeframe: December 2011 - December 2012
Other
Accessibility, as part of overall diversity and inclusion, will
be incorporated into criteria for OMAFRA's Bravo award recognitions.
Timeframe: December 2011 - December 2012
Section Three: Review of Acts, Regulations and Policies
In support of our commitment to improve accessibility for people
with disabilities, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
will continue to review government initiatives, including legislation
and policies, to identify and remove barriers.
Acts, Regulations and Policies Reviewed in 2010-11
Acts and Regulations
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is committed
to ensuring that our Acts and regulations are reviewed for potential
accessibility barriers.
In April 2011, a group of ministry representatives participated
in a training session for multidisciplinary teams from all ministries
on how to use the OPS Inclusion Lens to review laws for accessibility
barriers. Going forward, the OPS Diversity Office and the Ministry
of the Attorney General are working together to support a coordinated
approach to legislative review across government.
Inclusion Lens
In 2011, the Ontario Public Service launched the Inclusion Lens.
The Lens is an innovative tool to help address diversity and accessibility.
With this tool, ministries can identify and address potential barriers
to people with disabilities, and others that may be present in existing
or proposed legislation, policies, programs, practices or services.
In 2010-11, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
ensured that a multidisciplinary team attended the one-day training
session on using the Inclusion Lens to review legislation for barriers
to persons with disabilities.
In the future, our ministry will continue to promote training on
the use of the Inclusion Lens through education and outreach activities.
Glossary of Terms/Acronyms
AODA - Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
ACS - Accessible Customer Service
IASR - Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation
ODA - Ontarians with Disabilities Act
ODP - Online Design Program
OMAFRA - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
OPS - Ontario Public Service
TTY - Telephone Teletype
WCAG - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
For More Information
Questions or comments about the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs accessibility plan are always welcome.
Please contact:
General inquiry number: 519-826-3100
TTY number: 519-826-7402
Toll-free number: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Ministry website address: www.omafra.gov.on.ca
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 an accessible province for everyone.
Alternate formats of this document are available free upon request
from:
-
ServiceOntario
Publications
Phone: 1-800-668-9938
TTY: 1-800-268-7095
Queen's Printer for Ontario
ISSN 1710-291X
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