The following policy has been established by First National Financial GP Corporation (“First National”) to govern the provision of services with Regulation 191/11, “Integrated Accessibility Standards” (“Regulation”)
under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
These standards have been developed to break down barriers and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in the areas of information and communications and employment.
First National is governed by this policy as well as the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Policy in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 to meet the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities.
Commitment
First National 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 persons 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.
This policy, in its entirety, will be implemented in accordance with the time frames established by the Regulation. Please refer to our Integrated Accessibility Standards, Multi Year Plan for details on time frames and implementation.
Accessibility Plan
First National will develop, maintain and document an 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, First National will provide a copy of the Accessibility Plan in an alternate accessible format.
Training Employees
First National will ensure that training is provided on the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in the Regulation and continue to provide training as it pertains to persons with disabilities, to:
- all its employees and managers in Ontario;
- all persons who participate in developing First National’s policies; and,
- all other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of the company
The training will be appropriate to the duties of the employees and other persons.
Employees will be trained when changes are made to the accessibility policy. New employees and Managers will be trained during orientation, within one month of their start date.
First National will track and maintain a record of the training it provides.
Information and communication standards
Feedback
First National 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 communication supports, upon request.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
Upon request, First National 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.
First National will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support. First National will also notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication
supports.
Accessible Websites and Web Content
First National 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.
Employment standards
Recruitment
First National will notify its employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process.
Recruitment, Assessment or Selection Process
First National 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, First National 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.
Notice to Successful Applicants
When making offers of employment, First National will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
Informing Employees of Supports
First National 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.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees
Upon the request of an employee with a disability, First National 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, First National will consult with the employee making the request.
Workplace Emergency Response Information
First National 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 First National is aware of the need for accommodation
due to the employee’s disability. First National will provide this information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation. Where the employee requires assistance, First National will, with the consent of the employee,
provide the workplace emergency response information to the person(s) designated by First National to provide assistance to the employee.
First National 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 reviewed.
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
First National will maintain written internal procedures 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 to the employee.
Return to Work Process
First National 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 First National will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the process.
Performance Management, Career Development and Advancement and Redeployment
First National 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 opportunities to employees, or
when redeploying employees.
Questions about this policy
This policy has been developed to break down barriers and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in the areas of information and communications and employment. If anyone has a question about the policy, or if the purpose of a policy is not
understood, an explanation will be provided by:
Contact: Human Resources Department
Main Line: 416-593-1100 or 1-877-714-2930
Fax: 416 597-5939
Email: humanresources@firstnational.ca
Website: www.firstnational.ca