ACCESSIBILITY POLICY
Stonebridge Financial has established a policy to promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Our Accessibility policy sets forth the principles for how Stonebridge Financial and its employees will provide our services and otherwise interacts with people with disabilities.
Commitment to Service for People with Disabilities
Stonebridge Financial strives at all times to provide its services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Stonebridge Financial is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”) and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (“IAS Regulation”) of the AODA.
It is the policy of Stonebridge Financial that every employee and customer has a right to equitable treatment with respect to employment, services, goods, facilities, and accommodation without discrimination in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Policy Development & Availability
Stonebridge Financial will maintain its accessibility policy in a written format. They will be available to the public and will be provided in an accessible format if it is requested.
Providing Services to Clients with Disabilities
Upon request, and in accordance with the compliance schedule set out in the IAS Regulation, Stonebridge Financial will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner and at a cost that is not greater than the cost charged to other persons, if any. Stonebridge Financial will consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of an accessible format or communication support and notify the public about the availability of these formats and supports. Invoices, company documents or other transaction records will be provided in the following formats upon request: hard copy, large print, e-mail, etc.
Website
Stonebridge Financial is committed to having an accessible website and, where practicable, all website content that will comply with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) at Level AA, except for success criteria 1.2.4 Captions (Live), and success criteria 1.2.5 Audio Descriptions (Pre-recorded) until further notice, in accordance with the IAS Regulation.
Feedback
In accordance with the requirements of the IAS Regulation, Stonebridge Financial ensures that its feedback processes are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports, upon request. We will notify the public of the availability of accessible formats and communication supports including by posting this information online. Further information about our feedback process is available at the end of this Policy.
Assistive devices include, for example, wheelchairs, walkers, white canes, oxygen tanks, portable chalk boards and electronic communication devices. A client with a disability may use his or her own personal assistive device for accessing any Stonebridge Financial premises. If it is determined that certain physical limitations of the Stonebridge Financial premises prevent a client with a disability from accessing part or all of the location, an employee will make a reasonable effort to accommodate the client’s needs. This could include arranging a meeting at an alternate location that is better suited to accommodate the client’s disability. When a client meets with a Stonebridge Financial employee, the client is welcome to attend with their personal assistive device. Stonebridge Financial will make reasonable efforts to accommodate assistive devices. For example, when scheduling meetings at off-site locations, Stonebridge Financial will make reasonable efforts to hold the meetings at premises that are wheelchair accessible.
Where a client’s assistive device poses a health or safety risk to themselves or others on the Stonebridge Financial premises, the client may be asked to use an alternative means of communication (and Stonebridge Financial will work with the client to find a reasonable alternative). It is the responsibility of the person with a disability to ensure that their assistive device is operated in a safe and controlled manner at all times.
Clients accompanied by service animals (e.g., guide dogs) are welcome to bring their service animals when meeting with Stonebridge Financial employees. However, service animals are not permitted if they are otherwise excluded by law, in which case Stonebridge Financial will make all reasonable efforts to provide appropriate alternative arrangements to the client. It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that their service animal is under control at all times.
Clients with disabilities are welcome to bring their support persons (i.e., persons specifically assisting individuals in respect of a disability) with them when meeting with Stonebridge Financial employees or attending off-site Stonebridge Financial functions. Should any meeting involve the discussion or exchange of information considered confidential (not available to the general public), or information that could be used for personal gain by the support person, than such person may be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Notice of Temporary Disruptions
Notice of any expected or unexpected disruption in accessing our office premises will be provided to clients to the extent possible. Such notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of an alternative location if applicable.
The notice will be placed immediately outside the office premises entry area.
Stonebridge Financial will, when required, provide accessibility training to all employees who deal with clients or other third parties on its behalf. The type of training given will be targeted to the nature of the employee’s interaction with clients and third parties and to the nature of business activity.
Training will include the following topics:
1) The purposes of the AODA and the requirements of the member service standard;
2) Stonebridge Financial’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the member service standard;
3) Stonebridge Financial’s plan related to the customer service standard;
4) A review of duties and responsibilities under the Human Rights Code;
5) How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;
6) How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person;
7) What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing the Stonebridge Financial office premises; and
When applicable, training will be provided to new employees within three months of hire. Training will also be provided periodically in connection with changes to this policy, and its related practices and procedures. Records of training provided to employees, including training protocol, the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom the training is provided shall be maintained in accordance with the requirements of the AODA.
Any employee that has, or receives from a client or any person requiring access to Stonebridge Financial’s premises, feedback regarding Stonebridge Financial’s Accessibility policy must direct it to, in writing or by electronic communication, Stonebridge Financial’s Health and Safety Committee.
All complaints or comments will be reviewed and addressed by the Health and Safety Committee as soon as is practical. Where applicable, a report will be issued in accordance with Stonebridge Financial’s complaint management policy that will outline how and when the complaint or comment will be addressed. Some feedback may require more effort to address and may need to be reviewed before an action is taken. Stonebridge Financial will respond as soon as possible in such circumstances. Where appropriate, feedback will be taken into consideration as part of the ongoing review Stonebridge Financial’s policies and procedures.
Any provision or section contained in this Accessibility Policy or any other policy manual of Stonebridge Financial that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will, upon being identified, be modified or deleted.