December 1, 2023
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to ensuring accessibility for all customers, including
those with disabilities. Adhering to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
(AODA) regulations is an important step in creating an inclusive and welcoming
environment. Here are a few accessibility procedures ensuring that:
- Our communication methods are accessible to individuals with various disabilities. This may include providing information in alternative formats such as large print, or electronic formats,
- Ensuring that our website is accessible, following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This ensures that people with disabilities can easily navigate and access information online,
- Beyond training our staff, ensure that our physical facilities are accessible. This includes ramps, and clear pathways for individuals using mobility aids,
- Establishing a system for customers to provide feedback on the accessibility of our services. This feedback helps to identify areas for improvement and demonstrate our commitment to ongoing accessibility,
- Keeping staff informed and updated on accessibility standards and any changes in regulations and promoting our commitment to accessibility,
- Considering the needs of customers with disabilities in our emergency preparedness plans. Ensuring that evacuation procedures are accessible for everyone, including those with mobility challenges or other disabilities,
- By implementing inclusive hiring practices to ensure that individuals with disabilities are given equal opportunities for employment within our organization.
- We regularly review and stay informed about any updates or changes to accessibility regulations to ensure ongoing compliance.
Jørn Aalefjær
President North America
Viessmann Clean and Cool Solutions
Section 1. Past Achievements to Remove and Prevent Barriers
Customer Service
- Personal Assistive Devices: Canadian Curtis Inc. has trained our employees to be familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods, services and facility.
- Service Animals: Canadian Curtis Inc. has welcomed people with disabilities in ways that take into account their service animal. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public.
- Support Persons: Canadian Curtis Inc. has accommodated for persons with a disability who are accompanied by a support person on our premises.
Information and Communications
- Canadian Curtis Inc. has communicated with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability such as making publicly available information accessible by recreating it in a different format such as printing it in a large print for someone with vision loss, or reading it aloud for someone with hearing loss
- Make publicly available information accessible online in a format that a screen reader can access
Employment
- Canadian Curtis Inc. has committed to fair and accessible employment practises
- Canadian Curtis Inc. has accommodated people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired
- Canadian Curtis Inc. has taken the following steps to develop and put into place a process for developing individual accommodation plans and return-to-work policies for employees that have been absent due to a disability:
- Involve employees in the development of their plans
- Assess the accommodation needs of employees
- Protect the privacy of employees’ personal information
- inform employees why they would be denied a request for an accommodation plan
- provide plans in accessible formats, and
- review and update the plans with employees
Training
- Canadian Curtis Inc. has provided training to employees, volunteers and other staff members on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it related to people with disabilities. Training has been provided in a way that best suits the duties of employees, volunteers and other staff members. Training has commenced upon hiring, and has also been provided when policies are updated.
Section 2. Strategies and Actions
Customer Service
- Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities. This means that we will provide goods, services and facilities to people with disabilities with he same high quality and timeliness as others.
- Training will be provided as soon as possible after hiring
- Training will include:
- an overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard
- the company’s plan related to the customer service standard
- how to interact and communicate 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 in accessing the company’s goods and services
- Employees will also be trained when changes are made to the Company’s accessible customer service plan in a timely manner
Information and Communications
Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to making our information and communications accessible to people with disabilities.
- Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to keeping all forms of communication accessible to those with disabilities
- This will include:
- making publicly available information accessible by recreating it in a different format such as printing it in a large print for someone with vision loss, or reading it aloud for someone with hearing loss
- Make publicly available information accessible online in a format that a screen reader can access
Employment
Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to fair and accessible employment practises.
- Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to fair hiring practises and will not discriminate against those with both visible and non-visible disabilities
- Interviews will be made to be accessible for those with disabilities
- Support Animals and Support Persons will be allowed to attend interviews if needed and if/when hired on
- Personal Assistive Devices will be allowed to be used during the interview process and if/when hired on
Training
Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to providing training in the requirements of Ontario’s accessibility laws and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it applied to people with disabilities.
Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to training its employees with the most up to date training possible
Employees will be trained on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, upon hire, as well as updated as necessary
Transportation
Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to accessible transportation services.
- Canadian Curtis Inc. is committed to training its employees who operate heavy machinery such as transportation trucks, and installer vehicles with the latest information as it pertains to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities