Statement of Commitment
BioTalent Canada is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities, and to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence.
BioTalent Canada believes in integration and is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. It will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and by meeting our accessibility requirements under Ontario’s accessibility laws.
This policy applies to all employees of BioTalent Canada in accordance with the provisions of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005.
Principles
BioTalent Canada’s Accessibility Policy is guided by the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity.
Dignity – Dignity means providing services so that persons with disabilities maintain their self-respect and the respect of other people.
Independence – Independence means ensuring people have the autonomy to do things on their own without unnecessary help or interference from others.
Integration – Integration means providing service in a way that allows the person with a disability to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in the same or similar way as others.
Equal Opportunity – Equal opportunity means having the same chances, options, benefits and results as others. In the case of services, it means that people with disabilities have the same opportunity as others to benefit from the way the organization provides goods or services.
Training
BioTalent Canada is committed to training employees on Ontario’s accessibility laws and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities.
BioTalent Canada will ensure that all employees (full-time, part-time, temporary, students), contractors, anyone involved in developing the organization’s policies, and anyone who provides goods or services on behalf of BioTalent Canada receive training about the provision of its goods or services to people with disabilities.
Training will be tracked for recordkeeping purposes and will include:
- A review of the purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
- An overview of the requirements of the Customer Service Standards
- Our Accessibility Policy
- How to interact with people with various types of disabilities
- How to interact with people who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or support person
- Information on available communication supports
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing our resources.
Additional training will be provided to managers to provide guidance on developing individual accommodation plans, providing accessible formats and communications supports, integrating accessibility considerations into workplace emergency response information, and facilitating returns to work.
Training will be provided to employees upon implementation of this policy and, going forward, as part of new hire orientation or promotion to a management position, as required. Employees will also be trained as necessary when there are any changes to our Accessibility Policy.
Information and Communications
BioTalent Canada will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability and maintains their dignity. When requested, it will provide information about the organization and its services in accessible formats or by providing communication supports.
Employment
Employees, potential hires and the public will be notified that accommodations can be made during the recruitment and hiring processes.
BioTalent Canada will notify our team that supports are available for those with disabilities. It will put in place a process to develop and document individual accommodation plans for employees as required, and work with employees returning from disability leave to facilitate the return to work process.
Where needed, it will also provide customized emergency information to help an employee with a disability during an emergency.
BioTalent Canada’s performance management, career development, and internal transfer and promotion processes will take into account the accessibility needs of all employees.
Use of Service Animals and Support Persons
BioTalent Canada welcomes 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. It will also ensure that all staff, volunteers and others dealing with the public are properly trained in how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.
It is 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 BioTalent Canada’s premises with their support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to their support person while on our premises.
Fees will not be charged for support persons for admission to BioTalent Canada’s premises.
Notice of Temporary Disruption
BioTalent Canada will provide customers with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, the anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
Feedback Process
BioTalent Canada will maintain a feedback process to enable employees, visitors, and members of the public to comment on the provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities. Feedback is welcomed as it may identify areas that require change and encourage continuous service improvements.
Feedback can be submitted by email to [email protected], toll free phone number 1-866-243-2472 x214, or in writing to the attention of Sylvia Monteiro, Manager People & Culture, Unit 730-360 Albert Street, Ottawa Ontario, K1R 7X7.
All feedback will be logged, kept confidential and will be used to improve accessibility at BioTalent Canada.
Information about the feedback process will be readily available to the public and notice of the process will be provided. Should information or communications be required in alternate formats due to a disability, a suitable accessible format will be determined in consultation with the person with a disability upon request.
Policy Review
This Policy may be updated periodically to make improvements or to bring it in line with current accessibility legislation in Ontario.