Accessibility Policy

Statement of Commitment

Urban Strategies is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration, and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Scope

This policy applies to the service of our clients and employees, as well as the recruitment and selection process for potential employees. 

Communication

Urban Strategies is committed to communicating with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. We will work with the person with a disability to determine what method of communication works for them.

Assistive Devices

Urban Strategies is committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices. We will endeavor to become familiar with the various assistive devices used by people with disabilities and will be flexible in facilitating their use by people with disabilities to access our services.

Use of Service Animals and Support Persons

We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and other third parties.

We are also committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter Urban Strategies premises with his or her support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises.

All Urban Strategies staff will receive training on how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal or support person.

Disruption of Service

Urban Strategies is committed to provide an accessible and barrier free working environment.

If disruptions to accessible facilities occur (or are anticipated to occur) Urban Strategies will post a notice in a timely manner. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. Notices will be placed on the front door to our office for people to view before entering our facilities.

Notice of Availability of Documents

Upon the request of an employee with a disability, Urban Strategies will provide documents in an accessible format or with communication support, on request. We will further consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the format or communication support.

Employment

Upon the request of an employee with a disability, Urban Strategies will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports to ensure that all employees have the information required to perform their job and that any information generally available to employees in the workplace is accessible to all.

Training for Staff

Urban Strategies Inc. will provide training to:

  1. All its employees who could reasonably be expected to interact with the public or third parties on behalf of Urban Strategies Inc.
  2. All those who are involved in the development, approval, monitoring or implementation of Urban Strategies Inc. customer service policies, practices and procedures about the provision of good and services to the public and/or third parties.

These individuals will receive training within their first 30 days of employment.

Additional training will be provided within three weeks of any revisions made to this policy and/or related procedures and practices.

Training will include the following:

  • All provincial human rights and accessibility legislation, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and Human Rights code
  • Interaction between the legislation and people with disabilities.
  • Information on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
  • Information on how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or support person.
  • Urban Strategies internal policies, practices and procedures relating to accessibility.

Recruitment and Hiring

Urban Strategies is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a workplace free of any discrimination or harassment. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply to an open requisition, including all genders, Indigenous peoples, members of visible minorities, and persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are available at all stages of the recruitment process. Job applicants who have accommodation needs are asked to contact the Human Resources Department as soon as possible for appropriate arrangements to be made.

Feedback Process

Urban Strategies is welcome to receiving feedback about the manner in which it accommodates persons with disabilities. Feedback should be shared with the HR manager, in person, by telephone, or in writing.

Feedback received shall be recorded, documented, and forwarded to the firm’s HR committee for review and response. Depending on the nature of the feedback, responses will be responded to within 20 working days of receiving feedback or complaints.

Modifications to this or Other Policies

We are committed to maintaining HR policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to a company policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities. Any policy of Urban Strategies that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

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2023 Accessibility Compliance Report

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