Accessibility Policy

Last revised:

January 5, 2015

Introduction:

Benchmark Independent Medical Examinations Inc. (“Benchmark”, “we”, “us”, and “our”) is committed to excellence in serving all Persons Served, personnel and other stakeholders, including people with disabilities. We have established an Accessibility Policy consistent with and as required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). The AODA lays the framework for the development of province-wide mandatory standards on accessibility in all areas of daily life including customer service, employment, information and communications, transportation, and design of public spaces. If you have any questions regarding our Accessibility Policy, please feel free to contact Benchmark at 905.827.4248.

Customer Service Standards:

Benchmark’s objective is to ensure fair and equal treatment of persons with disabilities while providing our services and employment opportunities. We are committed to the following Customer Service Standards from Regulation 429/07: “The provider shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that its policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the following principles:

• The goods or services must be provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence or persons with disabilities.
• The provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities and others must be integrated unless an alternative measure is necessary, whether temporarily or on a permanent basis, to enable a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from the goods or services.
• Persons with disabilities must be  given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use and benefit from the goods or services.”

Definition of Disability:

The AODA uses the Ontario Human Rights Code definition of “disability” which is:

• “Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
• A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
• A learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
• A mental disorder; or
• An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“handicap”).”

Training:

Benchmark is committed to training employees and others who deal with the public or other third parties on our behalf with respect to Ontario’s accessibility laws and aspects of the Human Rights Code that apply to persons with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of employees and other staff members. Training will also be provided to people involved in the development of policies, plans, practices and procedures related to the provision of our goods and services.

Training will include:

• An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard
• Benchmark’s plan related to the customer service standard
• How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities such as physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional, or developmental
• How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
• What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing Benchmark’s goods and service

Updated training will occur when changes are made to Benchmark’s Accessibility Policy.

Information and Communications:

Benchmark is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. When asked, we will provide information and communication materials in accessible formats or with communication supports. Communication can include, but are not limited to, ASL interpreters, large font print, rooms with adequate lighting, and interpreters. This includes publicly available emergency information.

Benchmark will consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs as needed.

Service Animals:

Benchmark welcomes people with disabilities and their service animals.

Assistive Devices:

Benchmark will make every effort to accommodate the Person Served with all types of assistive devices.

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 and will be accommodated in the appropriate manner while the Person Served is being examined.

Notice of Temporary Disruption:

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for a Person Served with a disability, Benchmark will notify the Person Served promptly. A notice will be posted and will include information about the reason for the disruption, the anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

Design of Public Spaces:

Benchmark will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces. When modifications are needed for public spaces used but not owned by Benchmark, we will contact the owner/manager of the public space to request the needed modifications and ensure that they meet the accessibility needs of people with disabilities.

Reasonable Accommodations and Feedback Process:

Benchmark evaluates and carefully considers the merits of all requests for accommodation to determine whether any remedial actions are appropriate. We will make reasonable accommodations for the Person Served and personnel unless doing so impacts their safety or creates an undue hardship for Benchmark.

The Person Served and all stakeholders who wish to provide feedback on the way Benchmark provides goods and services to people with disabilities can provide feedback in person, by phone, website, e-mail, postage, or fax.

All feedback, including complaints and requests for reasonable accommodation, will be delivered to our Office Manager, identified, reviewed, decided upon and documented.

The Office Manager will reply within 5 business days; except in rare cases involving extenuating circumstances.

Benchmark distributes surveys to the Person Served, personnel, referral sources and assessors to solicit input and identify barriers that may hinder full and effective participation on an equal basis with others.

Notice of Availability:

Benchmark will notify the public that our policies are available upon request in the Accessibility Policy section of our website.

Modifications to Policies:

Any of Benchmark’s policies that do not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified and/or removed.

*All information available in accessible formats upon request.