Introduction

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 sets out the roadmap to make Ontario accessible by 2025. Under this act, accessibility standards are being developed and implemented to break down barriers in key areas of everyday life.

These standards will increase accessibility for people with disabilities in the areas of customer service, information and communications, employment, transportation and the built environment.

The Government of Ontario is preparing to lead the way towards an accessible province. In 2010 the Government of Ontario was the first public service organization to report compliance with the first standard — Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Regulation (Ontario Regulation 429/07).

As we await the additional standards under the AODA, we are guided by the Ontario Human Rights Code and obligations set out in the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA).

Each year, the government sets the course to prevent, identify and remove barriers through annual accessibility plans required under the ODA.

Building on last year’s plan, the 2010-2011 accessibility plan will continue moving the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) toward the goal of an accessible province for all Ontarians.

MCSCS is committed to being an OPS leader in accessibility. As a result, we are integrating accessibility into the MCSCS culture while continuing to maintain compliance with the AODA Customer Service Regulation.

MCSCS accessibility initiatives include showcasing staff who have dedicated their time and effort to accessibility causes as “accessibility champions”, hosting educational sessions for staff on a variety of accessibility topics, and continuing to support staff and management in integrating accessibility into their business operations.

Through the accomplishments related to the ODA in previous years, accessibility planning has laid a strong foundation for MCSCS to build on. MCSCS will continue to help make Ontario more accessible for people with disabilities and a more inclusive society for all Ontarians.

Report on Accessibility Achievements for 2009-2010

Focus Area: Customer Service

Achievements

• 94% of Ministry staff across the province have completed the OPS May I Help You? Parts 1 and 2 training courses as of November 2010.
• 90% of Ministry managers across the province have completed the ODA: Maximizing the Contribution of Employees with Disabilities program training course as of November 2010.
• The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) completed their Video Relay Interpreting (VRI) Project. VRI equipment has been installed in one detachment and employees have been trained on how to use the new technology.
• MCSCS has continued to work with the Ministry of the Attorney General to implement the Site Accessibility Information Project. The Site Accessibility Information Project was launched across the province.
• The Ministry Accessibility Council has continuously monitored the Accessibility Intranet webpage to ensure all links are operating and to update the website with new information.
• MCSCS created and implemented a long-term solution to track compliance with online training requirements for the AODA Customer Service Standards that includes quarterly reports to ensure all Ministry staff complete the training.
• Emergency Management Ontario created an on-line course for all emergency responders and anticipates launching the product in Fall or Winter 2010.
• An internal feedback mechanism was created on the Ministry’s Accessibility Intranet webpage to allow employees to submit ideas and suggestions about accessibility, as well as stories about “Accessibility Champions” in the Ministry.

Focus Area: Information and Communication

Achievements

• All new Ministry forms created by eForms are in an accessible format.
• The Ministry’s website is accessible by using Stellent 10GR3 as the content management tool and is served by Windows Server 2003 Web Edition as the hosting platform.
• The OPP website is accessible according to W3C standards and all downloadable forms are in an accessible format.
• The Ministry hosted an accessibility lunch and learn on creating accessible formats.
• The Ministry accessibility leads hosted educational sessions for managers and staff on accessibility requirements and led pro-active accessibility initiatives to integrate accessibility into the organization’s culture.
• The Ministry accessibility leads participated in consultations regarding the upcoming accessibility standards at the request of the Ministry of Community and Social Services and their potential implications to MCSCS and its stakeholders.

Focus Area: Employment

Achievements

• The OPP delivered nine in-person training sessions to supervisors on Disability Management, Employment Accommodation, and Return to Work Strategies.
• The Ontario Correctional Services College conducted three EAP Services for Managers training sessions.
• A link to employment accommodation information was posted on the MCSCS intranet website.

Focus Area: Built Environment

Achievements

• The Ontario Police College completed two accessibility-related projects that involved renovating an existing lounge and installing a new elevator in the Administration building. There was also significant design work undertaken at the Ontario Police College for a new tuck shop and training office.
• Emergency Management Ontario distributed the Disruption Notification Checklist to all Ministry Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) Coordinators.
• The Ministry is working to ensure built environment projects currently underway are accessible.

Report on Accessible Customer Service Requirements

The Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (Ontario Regulation 429/07) came into force on January 1, 2008. All OPS ministries were required to comply with the Regulation by January 1, 2010.

The OPS was the first public organization to file their compliance report with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario in January 2010. In order to sustain compliance with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Regulation, it is vital that ministries continue to look for opportunities through their accessibility planning process, to continue embed accessibility in all areas of planning, programs and policies.

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: New

The Ministry will host an Accessibility Roundtable to provide a forum for participants to discuss barriers facing persons with disabilities when interacting within the Correctional system and ways to improve working conditions and service delivery for all within Correctional Services.

Planned Action(s): Participants will have the opportunity to provide advice, support and guidance to assist the Deputy Minister, Correctional Services in meeting the requirements of provincial legislation and Ontario Public Service (OPS) directives on accessibility.

Participants are being asked to share their expert knowledge to help shape planning in Correctional Services to ensure accessibility requirements are met and employees, inmates and clients alike are able to benefit equitably from the Ministry’s programs, policies and practices.

Implementation Timeframe: November 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: New – Completed

The Ministry has created a unique training review tool to ensure accessibility is incorporated into various training programs offered in the Ministry.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry accessibility leads partnered with various training entities in the Ministry to create a new tool to use when reviewing curriculum. This training review tool touches upon the key areas identified in the AODA Customer Service Standard to ensure real-life accessibility examples encountered in the workplace are included and discussed in current training curricula.

Implementation Timeframe: March 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: New

A joint union-employer sub-committee will examine accessibility in adult institutions.

Planned Action(s): The Accessibility for Inmates with Disabilities Committee has been established. Its mandate is to review policies and procedures for inmates with disabilities.

Implementation Timeframe: December 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: New

Review, respond and report accessibility feedback received through various channels by all divisions within the Ministry.

Planned Action(s): Ministry will continue to receive and respond to accessibility feedback according to prescribed timelines set out by the OPS Service Standards. Quarterly reports will be provided to senior management to highlight accessibility feedback received in each quarter to address recurring feedback.

At a Ministry level, analysis will be conducted on accessibility feedback to identify trends. Strategies will be devised to address trends in feedback and remove any systemic barriers that may exist.

Implementation Timeframe: January 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: New

The Ministry will host learning sessions to educate staff on a variety of accessibility-related topics in the OPS.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry will host quarterly accessibility lunch and learn sessions on a breadth of accessibility topics to integrate accessibility into the Ministry’s culture. Among the featured accessibility topics are: creating accessible documents; managing stress; and a mental health awareness session.

Implementation Timeframe: May 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: New – Completed

The Ministry accessibility leads will engage procurement subject-matter experts to provide information on how to consider accessibility in the procurement process.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry accessibility leads hosted a presentation for procurement subject-matter experts within MCSCS to identify ways to consider accessibility when clients are procuring services. Upon request, the Ministry accessibility leads participated in consultations regarding accessibility in the procurement process.

Implementation Timeframe: January 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: Ongoing

The Ministry will continue the project to increase accessibility to law enforcement services by members of the Deaf and hard of hearing community.

Planned Action(s): The OPP will continue to evaluate the success of the VRI project and explore the possibility of expanding it to additional locations.

Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 – December 2011

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: Ongoing

As the Ministry moves beyond the implementation phase of Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (Ontario Regulation 429/07) the Ministry will ensure that it is in compliance with the training requirements on an ongoing basis.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry will create quarterly reports for 2010-2011 to identify any new employees who have not taken the mandatory accessibility training to ensure they complete the courses. The Ministry has also created a long-term solution to tracking employees who have completed their mandatory training for accurate record-keeping.

Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 – December 2011

Focus Area: Customer Service

Commitment: Ongoing

The Ministry will inform employees about accessibility planning and how they can participate in related activities within the Ministry by promoting staff participation in cultural change.

Planned Action(s): Employees who volunteer their time to accessibility causes will be featured as Ministry “Accessibility Champions” on the accessibility intranet page. The intent is to showcase staff who have devoted their time and efforts to accessibility causes and encourage others to partake in similar volunteer activities related to accessibility.

Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 – December 2011

Information and Communication Commitments

Information and the methods of communication are key to delivering many government programs and services to the public. It is essential that we provide the same quality and service to everyone in the province.

In anticipation of the pending standards guiding Information and Communications, the government of Ontario is continuously looking for opportunities to prevent and remove barriers to person with disabilities when creating, procuring, conveying, receiving or distributing information and communications to the public.

Focus Area: Information and Communication

Commitment: New

The Ministry will continue to ensure internal and external web content is accessible according to OPS standards.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry will continue to ensure their internet and public-facing websites are made accessible according to corporate OPS direction.

Implementation Timeframe: December 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Information and Communications

Commitment: New

The Ministry will continue to build upon the knowledge acquired from the May I Help You One and Two OPS training program on providing accessible customer service to persons with disabilities.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry will profile the new accessibility videos created by the Diversity Office on the Ministry’s Accessibility Intranet website. These videos will educate staff on various accessibility-related areas to expand their knowledge on timely accessibility topics in the OPS.

The Ministry accessibility leads participated in a pilot program conducted by a learning organization to test user-friendliness of online accessibility-related training.

Implementation Timeframe: December 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Information and Communications

Commitment: New

TTY lines continue to be made available and used effectively. Policy, guidelines and criteria for TTY lines will be available and embedded in the operation of TTY lines.

Planned Action(s): The Communications Branch will continue to ensure that staff who are responsible for answering the TTY line are trained on how to use the device and on the AODA Customer Service Standards through mandatory training courses.

Implementation Timeframe: December 2010 – December 2011

Focus Area: Information and Communications

Commitment: Ongoing

The Ministry will continue to ensure that any new forms developed for the public are available in an accessible format.

Planned Action(s): Ministry will continue to work through MGS, Forms Services to produce forms in an accessible format.

Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 – December 2011

Other Accessibility Commitments

Accessibility Improvement Initiatives to Identify, Remove or Prevent Barriers in preparation for AODA standards currently under development.

In anticipation of the upcoming standards the Government of Ontario has planned several corporate initiatives in the following areas, Transportation, Employment, Built Environment and others. The goal of these focus areas is to make it easier for people with disabilities to travel in Ontario, ensure accessibility for people with disabilities across all stages of the employment life cycle and break down barriers in buildings. Many of the corporate initiatives identified for 2010-2011 aim to support ministries in their journey towards compliance with the upcoming standards.

To review a list of corporate initiatives please refer to the Ministry of Government Services 2010-2011 Accessibility Plan.

Focus Area: Employment

Commitment: Ongoing

The Ministry will continue its efforts to ensure that managers are aware of their responsibilities in relation to employment accommodation, return to work and accessibility and know how to access the appropriate tools and resources as needed.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry will continue to partner with the Ontario Correctional Services College, the Centre for Employee Health, Safety and Wellness (Ministry of Government Services) and the Career Development Bureau (OPP) to provide employment accommodation training opportunities to managers. The Ministry will continue to monitor compliance with the mandatory online training module “ODA: Maximizing the Contribution of Employees with Disabilities”. In May 2010, accessibility was a key topic at the Correctional Services Managers meeting. David Lepofsky was the keynote speaker and discussed how to integrate accessibility into the organizational culture and operations.

Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 – December 2011

Focus Area: Built Environment

Commitment: Ongoing

The Ministry will enhance accessibility of its new and existing buildings and facilities for persons with disabilities.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry will incorporate the Standards for Barrier-Free Design of Ontario Government Facilities into new facilities being built along with, where possible, retrofitting of Ministry facilities. Additionally, through the Annual Capital Plan accessibility considerations are made through the Rehabilitation and Remediation for OPP detachments.

Built environment projects that are currently underway include: Forensic Services and Coroner’s Complex; Toronto South Detention Centre/Toronto Intermittent Centre; and South West Detention Centre.

AIS has formed a new sub-committee who will consult with subject-matter experts to examine accessibility in new adult institutions for barrier-free design while still meeting safety and security concerns.

The Forensic Services and Coroner’s Complex (FSCC) is currently under development and is slated for completion late in 2012. It will house the Office of the Chief Coroner, the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, and the Centre of Forensic Services in a state-of-the-art forensic facility that has included Barrier-Free Accessibility as an important component. The barrier free design strategy includes appropriate circulation paths and access to all levels of the facility.

The OPP has undertaken an accessibility review of its General Headquarters and Sudbury office. Once the review is completed, recommendations will be examined.

Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 – December 2011

Focus Area: Built Environment

Commitment: Ongoing

The Ministry will continue to assist with determining the most effective way to provide access for persons with disabilities.

Planned Action(s): The Ministry continues to assist where required to provide access for persons with disabilities to Ministry facilities, such as drop off zones. As noted previously, new facilities and the Rehabilitation and Remediation process will incorporate access for persons with disabilities.

Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 – December 2011

Focus Area: Built Environment

Commitment: Ongoing – Completed

Alternative Service Delivery Locations are locations which Ministries use when an emergency or incident affects a primary service delivery location. Emergency Management Ontario has developed a draft Alternate Service Delivery Location Accessibility Checklist to aid in ensuring accessibility in these locations.

Planned Action(s): The Alternative Service Delivery Location Accessibility Checklist has been completed and provided to all provincial ministries for use in Continuity of Operations Planning.

Implementation Timeframe: September 2008 – December 2011

Acts, Regulations, and Policies being Reviewed to Prevent Barriers to Persons with Disabilities

In support of the commitment to remove and prevent barriers for persons with disabilities, the Government of Ontario will continue to review all new legislation, and policies under development to identify and remove barriers.

This will help make services accessible to Ontarians and accommodate the needs of people with all different abilities.

To help meet this commitment, MCSCS will use OPS corporate resources, such as the Inclusion Lens that was recently created by the OPS Diversity Office, when undertaking reviews of new legislation and policies under development.

The Inclusion Lens is an innovative and unique tool that takes a broad approach to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. By asking a series of key questions, the Inclusion Lens can help identify various barriers that an individual may face in accessing provincial programs and services.

Glossary of Terms/Acronyms

For More Information

Questions or comments about the ministry’s accessibility plan are always welcome.

Please phone:
General inquiry number: 1-416-317-9911 or 1-416-326-5000
TTY number: 1-416-326-5511 or 1-866-517-0572
Toll-free number: 1-866-517-0571