Training

Equans is committed to training all employees who interact with members of the public or clients in accessible customer service, other Ontario’s accessibility standards and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities.

Equans will provide training to all employees who develop Equans’ policies, practices and procedures governing the provision of goods or services to members of the public or clients, and to all other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of Equans.

Training will be provided to employees as soon as practicable after being hired and provide training in respect of any changes to the policies. Equans maintains records of the training provided, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided.

Assistive Devices

Individuals with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing our goods, services or facilities. In cases where the assistive device presents a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern or may not be permitted for other reasons, other measures will be used to ensure the individual with a disability can access our goods, services or facilities.

Communication

Equans will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disabilities and will work with individuals with disabilities to determine what method of communication works for them.

Service Animals

Equans ensure that an individual with a disability accompanied by a service animal is permitted to enter publicly accessible premises owned or operated by Equans, unless the animal is otherwise excluded by law from those premises.

Where Equans cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our employees may ask for documentation (template, letter or form) from a regulated health professional that confirms the person needs the service animal for reasons relating to their disability.

Where a service animal is excluded by law from premises owned or operated by Equans, Equans shall ensure that other measures are available to enable the person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from Equans’ services.

Support Persons

Where an individual with a disability is accompanied by a support person, Equans shall ensure they are both permitted to enter publically accessible premises owned or operated by Equans and that the person with a disability is not prevented from having access to the support person while on those premises. Equans may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person when on premises owned or operated by Equans, to which the client or the public would have access but only if a support person is necessary to protect the health and safety of the person with a disability or the health and safety of others on those premises.

Notice of Temporary Disruption

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities, Equans will promptly notify the client and the public. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

Employment

Equans will notify employees, job applicants and the public about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities during our recruitment processes. Accommodations will be provided, on request, to support the applicant in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. If an applicant has requested an accommodation, Equans will consult with the applicant and provide or arrange for a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.

Equans will inform employees, as soon as practicable, of our policies used to support individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to, policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs.

Equans will consult with employees who have requested information, in order to provide them with the accessible format and communication supports they require to do their job effectively and provide them with the information that is generally available to all employees in the workplace.

If an employee who receives individualized workplace emergency response information requires assistance and with the employee’s consent, Equans will provide, as soon as practicable, the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by the employer to provide assistance to the employee.

Equans will review the individualized workplace emergency response information,

1. When the employee moves to a different location in the organization;

2. When the employee’s overall accommodation needs or plans are reviewed; and

3. When the Equans reviews its general emergency response policies.

Equans will work with employees requiring accommodation to develop an individual accommodation plan which takes into account the individual’s accessibility needs. Equans will take all necessary steps to protect the privacy of the employee’s personal information. Individual accommodation plans will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant and on occasion when the employee has a change in position or take on additional responsibilities.

Equans will develop and have in place a return to work process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work and will document the process. The return to work process will outline the steps we endeavour to take to facilitate the safe return to work of individuals who were absent as a result of their disability and include their individual accommodation plan.