Accessibility Customer
Service Plan
Purpose
Liberty Utilities is committed to fostering a positive customer service environment in serving all customers, including those with disabilities. As such, this policy is intended to meet the requirements of Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07 under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
Liberty Utilities will strive to provide services in a manner consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity.
Scope
This policy applies to employees, agents, and/or contractors who deal with the public or other third parties that act on behalf of Liberty Utilities.
The section of this policy that addresses the use of guide dogs, service animals, and service dogs only applies to the provision of goods and services that take place at premises owned and operated by Liberty Utilities.
This policy shall also apply to all persons who participate in the development of Liberty Utilities’ policies, practices, and procedures governing the provision of goods and services to members of the public or third parties.
Definitions
Assistive Device – is a technical aid, communication device, or other instrument that is used to maintain or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. Personal assistive devices are typically devices that customers bring with them such as a wheelchair, walker, or a personal oxygen tank that might assist in hearing, seeing, communicating, moving, breathing, remembering, and/or reading.
Disability – the term disability as defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, refers to:
any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation, or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect, or illness, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
a learning disability, or dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
a mental disorder; or
an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
Guide Dog – is a highly trained working dog that has been trained at one of the facilities listed in Ontario Regulation 58 under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, to provide mobility, safety, and increased independence for people who are blind.
Service Animal – as reflected in Ontario Regulation 429/07, an animal is a service animal for a person with a disability if:
it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability; or
if the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.
Service Dog – as reflected in Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Regulation 562 a dog other than a guide dog for the blind is a service dog if:
it is readily apparent to an average person that the dog functions as a service dog for a person with a medical disability;
or the person who requires the dog can provide on request a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires a service dog.
Support Person – as reflected in Ontario Regulation 429/07, a support person means, in relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies him or her in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs, or access to goods and services.
General Principles
In accordance with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07, this policy addresses the following:
The Provision of Goods and Services to Persons with Disabilities
The Use of Assistive Devices
The Use of Service Animals, Guide Dogs, and Service Dogs
The Use of Support Persons
Notice of Service Disruptions
Customer Feedback
Training
Notice of Availability
DETAILS
A. The Provision of Goods and Services to Persons with Disabilities
Liberty Utilities will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity by:
ensuring that all customers receive the same value and quality;
allowing customers with disabilities to do things in their own ways, at their own pace, when accessing goods and services as long as this does not present a safety risk;
using alternative methods when possible to ensure that customers with disabilities have access to the same services, in the same place, and in a similar manner;
taking into account individual needs when providing goods and services; and
communicating in a manner that takes into account the customer's disability.
B. The Use of Assistive Devices
Persons with disabilities may use their own assistive devices as required when accessing goods or services provided by Liberty Utilities.
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 goods and services. For example, open flames and oxygen tanks cannot be near one another. Therefore, the accommodation of a customer with an oxygen tank may involve ensuring the customer is in a location that would be considered safe for both the customer and business. Or, where elevators are not present and where an individual requires assistive devices for the purposes of mobility, service will be provided in a location that meets the needs of the customer.
Personal assistive devices include but are not limited to; wheelchairs, walkers, personal oxygen tanks, or devices to assist with hearing, seeing, communicating, moving, breathing, remembering, and/or reading.
C. The Use of Service Animals, Guide Dogs, and Service Dogs
People with disabilities and accompanied by their service animals will be welcomed onto our premises.
There may be rare circumstances where, for reasons of health and safety of another person, allowing a person with a disability to enter the premise accompanied by a service animal needs to be considered. An example of such a situation may include where a person is allergic to animals and adversely affected if they are in close proximity to a service animal. If necessary, a risk assessment will be conducted by Liberty Utilities’ Management and Health & Safety departments.
The person accompanied by a service animal is responsible for maintaining care and control of the animal at all times, including ensuring the safety and clean-up of the animal.
D. The Use of Support Persons
A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises.
In situations where confidential information might be discussed, consent will be obtained from the customer, prior to any conversation where such information is contained.
E. Notice of Service Disruptions
In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities (i.e. wheelchair accessibility), reasonable efforts will be made for customers to be notified promptly or with advance notice.
Notifications will be clearly posted and will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
The notice will be placed in conspicuous places including at the point of disruption and entrances to the building as well as on the company website.
F. Customer Feedback
Liberty Utilities will provide customers the opportunity to give feedback on the provision of goods and services to people with disabilities. Feedback forms along with alternate methods of providing feedback such as verbally (in person or by telephone) or written (hand written or email) will be available upon request.
All feedback will be directed to Human Resources as well as a representative from the appropriate department.
Where possible, feedback will be addressed immediately. In some cases, feedback may require more review before an action is taken and Liberty Utilities will respond as soon as possible in such circumstances.
G. Training
Liberty Utilities will provide training to all employees and those involved in the development and approval of customer service policies, practices, and procedures.
All Individuals will be trained (including Executives, Management, and Non-Management employees) and training will be provided to new employees within the first three months of their employment.
Training will include:
A review of the purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard
Liberty Utilities’ plan related to the customer service standard and to providing accessible service to people with disabilities
Instructions on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
Employees will also be trained when changes are made to the accessible customer service plan.
H. Notice of Availability
Liberty Utilities will notify the public that accessibility policies are available upon request by visiting the company website or requesting a copy from the Human Resources department in a format that takes into account the person’s disability.
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