Accessibility

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Accessibility Policy

Last revision date: January 31, 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that DASCH meets or exceeds the requirements outlined in The Accessibility for Manitobans Act by complying with the Manitoba’s Accessibility Standard for Customer Service to address barriers which prevent stakeholders from receiving services and by complying with and meeting the safety requirements for employees.

Definitions

Disability

• 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 in a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
• A condition of mental impairment or an intellectual disability;
• A learning disability, or a 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.

Stakeholders

An individual, group, or organization who is affected by the outcome of service.

Employee

Includes all DASCH staff, contracted individuals, volunteers, students, members of the DASCH Board of Directors and information managers.

Descriptions

DASCH’s policies, procedures and measures shall reflect the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Meeting the communication needs of stakeholders or people we support;
2. Allowing assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers and communication devices;
3. Welcoming stakeholders with support persons, who are there to assist;
   • Employees will: Address the customer, not the support person, unless requested by the customer to do otherwise
   • Make space for support persons on-site and ensure stakeholders have access to their support persons at all times.
4. Welcoming stakeholders with service animals;
5. Maintaining and ensuring good working order of accessibility features, such as automatic doors, ramps or elevators;
6. Informing stakeholders when and why an accessible feature is unavailable; DASCH will inform stakeholders when and why an accessibility feature is temporarily unavailable, how long it will be unavailable, and other ways to access our goods and services.
7. If an accessibility feature becomes temporarily unavailable, DASCH will prepare and post a notice and/or announcement about the disruption, the reason for the disruption, how long it will last, and whether there are other ways we can provide access to our services (e.g. by using an alternate entrance) and, if requested, will work with the customer to find other ways to provide services. Inviting stakeholders to provide feedback; DASCH welcomes, responds to, and documents all feedback received on the accessibility of services as set out in DASCH Standard Operating Procedure #2.10 Consumer Comments.
8. Training employees on accessible service, including reasonable accommodations under The Human Rights Code, Manitoba. DASCH will provide the required training on accessible customer service to employees.

Responsibilities

Employees will be trained on:

• How to interact and communicate with people who: face barriers to accessing services, use assistive devices, are assisted by a support person and/or are assisted by a service animal.
• How to use any equipment or assistive devices that are available on-site.
• An overview of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, The Human Rights Code (Manitoba), and the Customer Service Standard.
• Our organizational policies, procedures and standards, including updates or changes.

DASCH:

• Train new employees within one month after hiring.
• Provide updates to policies, practices and standards.

DASCH will keep a written record of accessibility and training policies. They will include a summary of our training material. DASCH will let stakeholders know written accessibility and training policies are available on request.

DASCH will provide policies within a reasonable timeframe, at no cost, and in a format that meets the needs of the individual.

If a barrier to accessing goods or services cannot be removed, DASCH shall seek to provide alternative ways to access the goods or services.