Ontario NDP Caucus

Government of Ontario

Accessibility

Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP) Caucus Accessibility Plan (2021-2024)

Introduction

The ONDP strives to meet the needs of its employees and customers with disabilities and is working to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility.

Our organization is committed to fulfilling our requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This accessibility plan outlines the steps the ONDP has and is taking to meet those requirements and to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.

Our plan shows how the ONDP will play its role in making Ontario an accessible province for all Ontarians.

Section One: Past Achievements to Remove and Prevent Barriers (2018-2020)

This document includes a summary of the accessibility initiatives the ONDP has completed.

Customer Service and Training

  • The ONDP continued to train new staff in serving customers with disabilities as part of its orientation training.
  • The ONDP responded to feedback received in relation to serving customers with disabilities and took the next steps to provide required accommodations.
  • The ONDP provided supplemental training to staff relating to unconscious bias with the intent to address concerns of behavioural and attitudinal barriers when serving the public.

Information and Communications

  • The ONDP provided materials and service in various formats when requested.
  • As a branch of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the ONDP was and is able to provide access to formal public Legislative and House documents as it relates to the Legislative work done by the ONDP. A full list of the accessible documents can be found at: https://www.ola.org/en/accessibility/2016-2020-plan-2019-update
  • The ONDP worked to implement the required measures to ensure it is compliant with WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.

Employment

  • The ONDP reviewed its accommodation policies and procedures for all employees.
  • The ONDP’s recruitment notices include information on the availability of accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Upon request, applicants selected for participation in an assessment or selection process are accommodated in their need for materials or changes to the processes used.

Physical Space and Built Environment

  • ONDP Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) constituency offices were selected with consideration of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Accessibility Policies. When selecting facilities, and in consultation with the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, MPPs selected spaces with the following considerations:
    • Ability to enter the facility despite mobility challenges
    • Accessible washrooms
    • Appropriate physical and furniture space for wheelchair mobility (a 10 centimetres (44 inches) wide clearance and a 152 centimetre (67 inch) radius is recommended)
    • Clear walkways to get from place to place, with no tripping hazards and nothing hanging from the ceiling which might hurt someone passing by
    • Service windows no higher than 86 centimetres (34 inches) from the floor
  • If an ONDP Constituency or Queen’s Park office is not fully accessible and there is a constituent wanting to meet with their MPP or their designate and the office cannot accommodate the constituent, arrangements for alternative, accessible meeting places are arranged.
  • The ONDP cleared clutter from the hallways and corridors within ONDP workspaces.
  • As a branch of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the ONDP was and is able to provide accessible building access at the Legislative Assembly (Queen’s Park). A full list of these access achievements can be found at: https://www.ola.org/en/accessibility/2016-2020-plan-2019-update

 

Section Two: Upcoming Strategies and Actions

 

Customer Service and Training

The ONDP is committed to providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities. This means that we will provide goods and services to people with disabilities with the same quality and timeliness as others.

  • The ONDP will continue to train new staff in serving customers with disabilities as part of its orientation training.
    • Timeline: Ongoing
  • The ONDP will improve the feedback process to expand the amount of feedback received.
    • Timeline: Spring 2022
  • Provide staff with additional training that considers how different lived experiences and abilities contributes to workplace scenarios.
    • Timeline:  Fall 2021 

Information and Communications

The ONDP is committed to making our information and communications accessible to people with disabilities.

  • The ONDP will ensure that the content that it adds to its websites is compliant with WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.
    • Timeline: Ongoing
  • The ONDP will expand its existing templates to be readily available for easy conversation to different accessible formats
    • Timeline: Ongoing
  • As a branch of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the ONDP will support the changes taken by the Legislative Assembly to improve the accessibility of public information and communications. A full list of the Legislative Assembly’s information and communication accessibility plans can be found at: https://www.ola.org/en/accessibility/2016-2020-plan-2019-update

Employment

The ONDP is committed to fair and accessible employment practices.

  • The ONDP will continue to notify and implement accessibility policies and accommodations in relation to existing staff and during the recruitment of new hires.
    • Timeline: Ongoing
  • The ONDP will review and revise its policies and templates for:
  • Return to Work Process
  • Return to Work Individualized Plan
  • Accommodation Process
  • Individual Accommodation Plan
  • Individualized Employee Emergency Response Plan
  • Training and/or communication of any changes will be provided to ONDP Management and staff.
    • Timeline: Fall 2022

 

Physical Space and Built Environment

The ONDP will meet accessibility laws when building or making major changes to public spaces.

  • The ONDP will ensure the office and facility selection of newly elected MPPs is in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Accessibility Policies.
    • Timeline: Summer/ Fall 2022
  • As a branch of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the ONDP will support the changes taken by the Legislative Assembly to improve the accessibility of the public Legislative Building (Queen’s Park). A full list of the Legislative Assembly’s building and accessibility plans can be found at: https://www.ola.org/en/accessibility/2016-2020-plan-2019-update

 

For More Information

For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact:

  1. The Member of Provincial Parliament’s office in which you are seeking service from. Each MPP website includes mailing, phone, and email contact information. MPP Office contact information can be found at: https://www.ondpcaucus.com/

OR

  1. If you are seeking service from the Ontario New Democratic Party Caucus Central office and require an accommodation, please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 416-325-7116

Mail: Queen’s Park, Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park, Room 113, Toronto, ON, M7A 1A5

Standard and accessible formats of this document are free upon request.

 

Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP) Caucus - Accessibility Policy for Staff and Customer Services

Statement of organizational commitment

The Ontario NDP Caucus, as a branch within the Ontario Legislative Assembly of Ontario and a central organizational branch for the Members of Provincial Party within the ONDP Caucus, 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 to accessibility and by meeting our accessibility requirements under Ontario’s accessibility laws.

 

Training Staff

We are committed to training all ONDP staff in Ontario’s accessibility laws and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities.

We will train our employees and volunteers on accessibility as it relates to their specific roles.

 

Employment

We will notify employees, potential hires, and the public that accommodations can be made during recruitment and hiring.

We will notify staff that supports are available for those with disabilities. These supports include the employer’s willingness and commitment to:

  • Developing individual accommodation plans for employees upon request
  • Offering accessible formats and communication supports for employees upon request
  • Providing individualized accessible workplace emergency response information upon request
  • Documenting individual accommodation plans
  • Creating a return to work process and plan for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability
  • Considering the needs of employees with disabilities during performance management, career development, or re-deployment processes

Changes to existing policies

We will modify or remove an existing policy that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

 

Information and communications

We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. When asked, we will provide information about our organization and its services, including public safety information, in accessible formats or with communication supports.

Information can be provided in alternative formats such as audio recordings or live readings (verbal communications), written pieces with enlarged print, and closed captioning.

If available formats do not meet your needs, we will provide alternate formats on request. To requests alternative formats, please contact:

  1. The Member of Provincial Parliament’s office in which you are seeking service from. Each MPP website includes mailing, phone, and email contact information. MPP Office contact information can be found at: https://www.ondpcaucus.com/

OR

  1. If you are seeking service from the Ontario New Democratic Party Caucus Central office, please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 416-325-7116

Mail: Queen’s Park, Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park, Room 113, Toronto, ON, M7A 1A5

We will also meet internationally-recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA website requirements in accordance with Ontario’s accessibility laws.

 

Design of Public Spaces

The ONDP Caucus will work in tandem with the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to make public grounds accessible. The Legislative Assembly’s Plan for accessibility can be found at: https://www.ola.org/en/accessibility  

 

Procurement of Goods, Services, and Facilities

The ONDP will incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services, or facilities. If it is not possible and practical to do so, we will provide an explanation upon request.

 

Providing Goods, Services, and Facilities to People with Disabilities

The ONDP is committed to meeting its current and ongoing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code, upholding policies of non-discrimination.

The ONDP understands that obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its accessibility standards do not substitute or limit its obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code or obligations to people with disabilities under any other law.

The ONDP is committed to complying with both the Ontario Human Rights Code and the AODA.

The ONDP is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities.

 

Assistive devices

People with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing our goods, services, or facilities.

In cases where the assistive device presents a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern or may not be permitted for other reasons, other measures will be used to ensure the person with a disability can access our goods, services, or facilities.

 

Service animals

We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public.

When we cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask a person to provide documentation (template, letter, or form) from a regulated health professional that confirms the person needs the service animal for reasons relating to their disability.

A service animal can be easily identified through visual indicators, such as when it wears a harness or a vest, or when it helps the person perform certain tasks.

A regulated health professional is defined as a member of one of the following colleges:

  • College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
  • College of Chiropractors of Ontario
  • College of Nurses of Ontario
  • College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
  • College of Optometrists of Ontario
  • College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
  • College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
  • College of Psychologists of Ontario
  • College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario

If service animals are prohibited by another law, we will do the following to ensure people with disabilities can access our goods, services, or facilities:

  • explain why the animal is excluded
  • discuss with the visitor another way of providing goods, services, or facilities

Service animals are prohibited from entering the area where food is prepared in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. For further information regarding the Assembly’s accommodation process in these areas, please see: https://www.ola.org/en/accessibility

 

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. Please note that the support person will be subject to any health and safety protocol in effect for the premises.

For additional information regarding the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s protocol for support persons, please visit: https://www.ola.org/en/accessibility

 

Notice of temporary disruption

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities for areas that are specifically within the control of the ONDP Caucus, the ONDP Caucus or their respective offices will notify service users. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

For areas controlled by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, please see: https://www.ola.org/en/accessibility

 

Feedback process

The ONDP welcomes feedback on how we provide accessible customer service. Customer feedback will help us identify barriers and respond to concerns.

To provide feedback on how to make our customer service more accessible, please contact:

  1. The Member of Provincial Parliament’s office in which you are seeking service from. Each MPP website includes mailing, phone, and email contact information. MPP Office contact information can be found at: https://www.ondpcaucus.com/

OR

  1. If you are seeking service from the Ontario New Democratic Party Caucus Central office, please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 416-325-7116

Mail: Queen’s Park, Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park, Room 113, Toronto, ON, M7A 1A5

All feedback will be forwarded to the Operations and Human Resources Office, which will review the feedback and advise the appropriate departments and contacts. 

The ONDP will make sure our feedback process is accessible to people with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats and communication supports, on request.

 

Notice of availability of documents

The ONDP will notify the public that documents related to accessible customer service are available upon request by posting a notice in the following locations/ways:

  • the ONDP Website
  • the ONDP Members of Provincial Parliament’s Websites

The ONDP will provide this document in an accessible format or with communication support, on request. We will consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the format or communication support. We will provide the accessible format in a timely manner and at no additional cost.

 

Requesting an Accommodation

If you require an accommodation of any sort, please contact:

  1. The Member of Provincial Parliament’s office in which you are seeking service from. Each MPP website includes mailing, phone, and email contact information. MPP Office contact information can be found at: https://www.ondpcaucus.com/

OR

  1. If you are seeking service from the Ontario New Democratic Party Caucus Central office and require an accommodation, please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 416-325-7116

Mail: Queen’s Park, Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park, Room 113, Toronto, ON, M7A 1A5

 

Our Accessibility Plan

Our Accessibility plan outlines how we are working to remove existing barriers and make sure that new ones are not created. Plans are available in alternate formats upon request. The Accessibility Plan can be found at: https://www.ondpcaucus.com/accessibility