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Branthaven Homes Accessibility Commitment
and Multi‑Year Accessibility Plan

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Branthaven Homes is pleased to offer online marketing and customer care information accessible to all homeowners.

Statement of Commitment

Branthaven Homes (Company) is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are 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”), specifically Ontario Regulation 191/11, the Integrated Accessibility Standards (“IASR”).

The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlines the policies and actions that the Company will put in place to remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities.

Accessible Emergency Information Completed

Branthaven Homes is committed to providing the public with publicly available emergency information in an accessible way upon request.

Public safety information that is prepared by Branthaven Homes and that is publicly available will be made available in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.

Branthaven Homes will provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary and the Company is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability.

If an employee who receives individualized workplace emergency response information requires assistance and with the employee’s consent, the Company shall provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by the employer to provide assistance to the employee.

The Company will provide the information required under this section as soon as practicable after the Company becomes aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability.

The Company will review the individualized workplace emergency response information,

  • when the employee moves to a different location in the organization;
  • when the employee’s overall accommodation needs or plans are reviewed; and
  • when the Company reviews its general emergency response policies.

If the employee who receives an individual workplace emergency response plan requires assistance, and with the employee’s consent, the company will provide the workplace emergency information to the person designated by the company to provide assistance to the employee.

The plan will be shared with the employee’s respective manager and Health & Safety personnel, where the employee’s consent has been obtained, and on an as needed basis.

Training Ongoing

Branthaven Homes will provide training to employees, volunteers and third party contractors on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of employees, volunteers and other staff members.

In accordance with the IASR, Branthaven Homes has taken the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario’s accessibility laws and will continue to take these steps:

  • Determine the training requirements of the IASR and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it pertains to people with disabilities and ensure it is provided to all team members, volunteers and persons developing company policies;
  • Ensure third party contractors who provide goods, services or facilities on Branthaven Homes’ behalf have received appropriate training;
  • Ensure training is provided to the above noted individuals as soon as practicable;
  • Maintain training dates and the number of individuals who are trained; and
  • Ensure training is provided on any related policy changes.

Accessible Customer Service Completed

Branthaven Homes is committed to excellence in customer service, and we will make all reasonable efforts to provide services and information in a manner that is accessible to all persons that we serve. We are dedicated to offering our customers with disabilities the same or comparable opportunities made available to others and to providing services in a manner that respects their dignity and independence.

Information and communications

Upon request Branthaven Homes will provide, or will arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability and at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons.

Branthaven Homes will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

Branthaven Homes, as is necessary, will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports upon request.

Self-Service Kiosks Completed

Branthaven Homes considers accessibility for persons with disabilities when obtaining self- service interactive electronic terminals for public use that allow users to access services or products by advising the affected company representative to consider with the supplier such accessibility, as appropriate.

Company Websites Completed / Ongoing

Branthaven Homes has ensured that our corporate website meets or exceeds the WCAG 2.0, Level A.

Branthaven Homes will take steps to ensure compliance is incorporated into the Company’s website project management and that all websites and content conform with the WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

Feedback Ongoing

Branthaven Homes has taken the following steps to ensure existing feedback processes are accessible to people with disabilities upon request:

  • Identify all existing feedback processes and accessibility barriers pertaining to these processes;
  • Make available the policy and process to customers, employees and third parties for requesting accessible formats of the feedback process;
  • Respond to all requests for alternate accessible formats in a timely manner; and
  • In accordance with our Ontario Accessibility Standard for Customer Service Policy, that Policy and the related feedback process are available upon request from Lisa Zdunska, Customer Care Coordinator. Upon request those documents or the information contained in those documents will be provided to a person with a disability in a format that takes the person’s disability needs into account.

Branthaven Homes has taken the following steps to make sure all publicly available information is made accessible upon request:

  • We will respond to requests in a timely manner and we will consult with persons with disabilities to take into account their accessibility needs appropriate to their disabilities;
  • We have a process in place for persons with disabilities to be provided with information and communication in an accessible format and we will explain in writing when an accessible format is not feasible and why;
  • We have informed staff who may receive requests for accessible information on how to manage requests and obtain accessible formats through training; and
  • We have notified the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports via external and internal websites and Company bulletin boards.

Employment Ongoing

Branthaven Homes is committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain employees with disabilities. This includes providing accessibility through all stages, practices and policies of the employment cycle.

We will take the following steps to notify the public and employees that, when requested, Branthaven Homes will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired:

  • Let the public and employees know through our Careers page on our website and job postings that we will accommodate disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes, upon request;
  • If an applicant selected to participate in an assessment or selection process requests accommodation, we will consult with them to understand and make arrangements to accommodate their needs in relation to the materials or processes to be used, where practicable;
  • We will notify new hires in our offers of employment of our policies for accommodating employees with disabilities;
  • The Company will ensure employees know of its policies used to support its employees with disabilities through posting of our policies to our intranet and new hire orientation, and will update employees whenever there is a change made to existing policies; and
  • We will consult with individual employees with disabilities when requested, to provide accessible formats and communication supports for information needed for the employees to perform the job and that is generally available to employees in the workplace.

Individual accommodation and return-to-work plans Ongoing

Branthaven Homes will take the following steps to develop and put in place a process for developing Individual Accommodation Plans (“IAPs”) and return-to- work plans policies for employees that have been absent due to a disability:

  • Develop an IAP and process that includes the following:
  • The employee’s participation in the development of the IAP;
  • Assessment on an individual basis;
  • Identification of accommodations to be provided;
  • Timelines for the provision of accommodations;
  • Branthaven Homes may request an evaluation by outside medical or other expert, at the Company’s expense, to assist with determining accommodation and how to achieve accommodation;
  • Steps taken to protect the privacy of the employee’s personal information;
  • Frequency or applicable review dates with which the IAP will be reviewed and updated and the manner in which it will be done;
  • If denied, the reasons for denial are to be provided to the employee;
  • A format that takes into account the employee’s disability needs;
  • Any information regarding accessible formats and communication supports provided; and
  • Identification of any other accommodation that is to be provided

Branthaven Homes will take the following steps to ensure the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities needs are taken into account if or when using performance management systems and processes, career development and redeployment processes:

  • Review internal policies and procedures to ensure they are in compliance with the IASR;
  • Take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities and, as applicable, their Individualized Accommodation Plans when: Assessing performance and utilizing existing or new performance management processes, tools and forms;
  • Where required and practical, documents related to performance management or career development and advancement or deployment will be made available in accessible formats upon request;
  • Managing career development and advancement, including notification of the ability to provide accommodations on internal job postings; and
  • Updating an individual accommodation plan, with the employee’s participation, if appropriate, in the event the employee is promoted or redeployed.

Branthaven Homes will take steps to prevent and remove other accessibility barriers identified by customers, volunteers, third parties and employees as required and when requested.

Design of Public Spaces Ongoing

Branthaven Homes shall incorporate accessibility into public spaces on its premises that are newly constructed or redeveloped as follows:

  • We will ensure that we follow the existing requirements stated under the Design of Public Spaces Standards (Accessibility Standards for the Built Environment) for outdoor public use eating areas, outdoor play spaces, exterior paths of travel, accessible parking, and service related elements; and
  • We shall also provide maintenance and restoration of Company owned public spaces by ensuring procedures are in place for preventative and emergency maintenance of accessible elements in public spaces and that procedures are in place for dealing with temporary disruptions when accessible elements required under this section are not in working order.

Branthaven Homes will put the following procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to its accessible parts of its public spaces:

  • In the event of a service disruption, we will notify the public of the service disruption and alternatives available.

Customer Feedback Form

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Personal information including information pertaining to the nature of an individual’s disability will be kept confidential. Employees and others acting on behalf of Branthaven Homes will be informed on a need to know basis only.

Customer Service Accommodation Request Form

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Personal information including information pertaining to the nature of an individual’s disability will be kept confidential. Employees and others acting on behalf of Branthaven Homes will be informed on a need to know basis only.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact Lisa Zdunska, Customer Care Coordinator for Branthaven Homes at:

Phone: 905-333-8364 X271
Email: customercare@branthaven.com
Address: Branthaven Homes, 720 Oval Ct. Burlington, ON L7L 6A9

Accessible formats of this document are available free upon request from:
Phone: (905-333-8364 X271
Email: customercare@branthaven.com
Address: Branthaven Homes, 720 Oval Ct. Burlington, ON L7L 6A9

Branthaven is at your service.
Contact our Customer Care team for assistance.