First Stage Child Care Centre - Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

2023

Statement of Commitment

First Stage Child Care Centre (FSCCC) is committed to providing 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 while accessing our services. We believe in integration and are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely matter. We are committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities are given an opportunity equal to that of those without disabilities to obtain, use or benefit from FSCCC’s services wherever possible by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility.

FSCCC is committed to meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), Ontario’s accessibility laws as well as its current and ongoing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code respecting non-discrimination.

First Stage Child Care Centre 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.

FSCCC is committed to fulfilling our requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This plan will outline the steps we are taking to meet those requirements and to improve opportunities for people with disabilities. Our plan will show how we will play a role in making Ontario accessible for all Ontarians, this plan will be reviewed at least once in every 5 years.

Customer Service

First Stage Child Care Centre continues to provide staff training on the customer service standard to all employees and volunteers to help remove attitudinal barriers.

FSCCC will continue review policies, procedures, protocols, and our facilities to identify barriers that exist within our organizations and locations. FSCCC will to the best of our ability, prioritize eliminating those barriers that have the biggest impact on customers and employees with disabilities.

FSCCC welcomes customer/client feedback regarding our accessibility process and have implemented the following strategies to ensure the process is accessible for all. Feedback can be submitted in various forms, for example: email, telephone, mail or in-person to the Program Manager or Supervisors at any of our locations. Feedback received will be responded to within 15 business days in the requested accessible format to the best of our ability.

Emergency procedures for evacuation for persons with disabilities will be included in our Emergency Preparedness plan.

In the event of a disruption service, FSCCC will commit to notifying clients, employees, volunteers and the public by email, physical notifications on location entrances, outgoing telephone messages and if feasible on the website.

Information and communications

FSCCC is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities and will continue to consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs.

FSCCC currently provides the Parent Handbook, Admission package and numerous policies in hard copy or digital form. Upon request clients, employees and volunteers may set up Zoom or in-person meetings to review the information and complete forms with assistance in a one-on-one setting.

Other accessible formats and communication supports will be provided in a timely manner that considers the person's accessibility needs due to disability and at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to the other persons. All requests will be documented, and the format needed confirmed. If FSCCC is unable to provide the requested format a response explaining the reason we are unable to provide an accessible format will be given and a summary of the information requested will be provided.

Information regarding the availability of accessible formats is posted on the website or the information boards at our physical locations.

FSCCC is taking steps to ensure our Website and all content material is WCAG 2.0 AA compliant.

Employment

FSCCC notifies employees, job applicants and the public that accommodations can be made during through all parts of the recruitment and hiring process. We will consult with the applicants and provide or arrange for suitable accommodation.

FSCCC currently has an employee accommodation policy in place.

Where needed, customized emergency information/plan to help employees with a disability during an emergency will be included in the Employee’s individual accommodation plan and shared only with a designated person as necessary to facilitate the plan. Plans will be reviewed when an employee changes location within the organization, overall employee accommodation needs/plan are reviewed, and/or when FSCCC reviews its general emergency response policies.

Individuals who have been away from work due to a disability and require a disability-related accommodations to return to work will work with the Program Manager, (Insurance provider in the case of LTD) and/or Site Supervisor to develop a return-to-work accommodation plan.

All performance management, career development and redeployment processes will consider the accessibility needs of all employees.

FSCCC will continue to review its existing policies and processes and revise as necessary to incorporate AODA requirements.

Training

First Stage Child Care Centre will continue to provide training to all employees, volunteers, persons who develop policy, and persons who provide goods, services, or facilities on behalf of the FSCCC, receive Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS) and Human Rights training; and that training is appropriate to their duties and abilities.

Written documentation of training will be kept on file by FSCCC. Documentation will include the dates of training, the names of staff and volunteers attending the training and the name of the training course attended/received.

Additional training resources will be provided for all employees, volunteers, persons who develop policy, and persons who provide goods, services, or facilities on behalf of the FSCCC as required.

All staff were retrained in December of 2023 to ensure that everyone was current and up to date.

Additional Information

For more information on this accessibility plan or for accessible formats of this document please contact the Program Manager at 416-394-4689

Email: firststageccc.pm1@outlook.com