The following standards have been established by the OTIP Group of Companies1 (“OGC”) to comply with applicable legislative accessibility requirements.
These standards were developed to break down barriers and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in the areas of information and communications and employment.
OGC strives at all times to provide our goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers.
OGC will develop, maintain, and document a multi-year Accessibility Plan outlining the company’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers from its workplace and to improve opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The Accessibility Plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years, and will be posted on the company’s website. Upon request, OGC will provide a copy of the Accessibility Plan in an accessible format.
View a copy of OGC’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
OGC will ensure that training is provided on the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in the Regulation and continue to provide training on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities to:
The training will be appropriate to the duties of the employees, volunteers, and other persons.
Employees will be trained when changes are made to the accessibility policy. New employees will be trained as soon as practicable upon hire.
OGC will keep a record of the training it provides.
Upon request, OGC 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. Common types of accessible formats we may offer include:
OGC will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.
OGC will ensure that our Internet websites, including web content, conform to the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, at Level AA except where this is impracticable.
OGC will notify its employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process.
OGC will notify job applicants, when they are individually selected to participate further in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used.
If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, OGC will consult with the applicant and provide, or arrange for the provision of, a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs due to disability.
When making offers of employment, OGC will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
OGC will continue to inform its employees of its policies (and any updates to those policies) used to support employees with disabilities, including policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability. This information will be provided to new employees as soon as practicable after commencing employment.
Upon the request of an employee with a disability, OGC will consult with the employee to provide, or arrange for the provision of, accessible formats and communication supports for information that is needed to perform his/her job, and information that is generally available to other employees.
In determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support, OGC will consult with the employee making the request.
OGC 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 if OGC is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. OGC will provide this information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation.
Where the employee requires assistance, OGC will, with the consent of the employee, provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by OGC to provide assistance to the employee.
OGC will review the individualized workplace emergency response information when the employee moves to a different location in the organization or when the employee’s overall accommodations needs or plans are revised.
OGC will maintain a written process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities.
If requested, information regarding accessible formats and communications supports provided will also be included in individual accommodation plans.
In addition, the plans will include individualized workplace emergency response information (where required), and will identify any other accommodation that is to be provided.
OGC maintains a documented return to work process for its employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and who require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work.
The return to work process outlines the steps OGC will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the process.
This return to work process will not replace or override any other return to work process created by or under any other statute (i.e., the Workplace Safety Insurance Act, 1997).
OGC will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when conducting performance management, providing career development and advancement to employees, or when redeploying employees.
This document has been developed to break down barriers and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in the areas of information and communications and employment. OGC will continue to ensure that its process for receiving and responding to feedback is accessible to persons with disabilities by providing, or arranging for the provision of, accessible formats and communications supports, upon request.
If you have questions, or you would like to provide feedback on this accessibility plan, or require a copy of this plan in a different format, please contact us at:
Email: comments@otip.com
Phone: 1-800-267-6847
Mail:
Orbit Insurance Services
Director of Privacy, Risk and Compliance
PO Box 218
Waterloo ON N2J 3Z9
1The OTIP Group of Companies includes: