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Organizational Commitment

DEW Engineering and Development ULC is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. Our accessible access policies are consistent with the principles of independence, dignity, integration, and equality of opportunity for all people with disabilities.

We believe in integration, and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario’s accessibility laws.

DEW Engineering is committed to meeting its current and ongoing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code respecting non-discrimination. We understand that obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its accessibility standards do not substitute or limit our obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code or obligations to people with disabilities under any other law.

Training

We are committed to training all staff and volunteers in accessible customer service, other Ontario’s accessibility standards and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities. In addition, we will train:

  1. all persons who participate in developing the organization’s policies; and
  2. all other persons who provide goods, services, or facilities on behalf of the organization

Training of our employees and volunteers on accessibility relates to their specific roles. Training includes:

  1. purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the Customer Service Standards
  2. our policies related to the Customer Service Standards
  3. how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
  4. how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
  5. what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing our organization’s goods, services, or facilities.

We train every person as soon as practicable after being hired and provide training in respect of any changes to the policies. We maintain records of the training provided including the dates on which the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided.

Communication

DEW Engineering is committed to communicating with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. We will work with the person with disabilities to determine what method of communication works for them and will arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports accordingly.

Assistive devices

People 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 person with a disability can access our goods, services or facilities.

Service animals

We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and third parties. When we cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask for documentation from a regulated health professional that confirms the person needs the service animal for reasons relating to their disability.

Support persons

A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises. No fee will be charged to the support person for admission to DEW's premises.

Notice of temporary disruption

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for employees, visitors or customers with disabilities, DEW will notify affected individuals promptly. Clearly communicated 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.

Notices will be provided in a manner that is reasonable under the circumstances, with consideration given to the disability(s) of customers who access the disrupted service or facility.

Feedback process

DEW Engineering welcomes feedback on how we provide accessible customer service as feedback will help us identify barriers and respond to concerns. Employees, visitors or customers who wish to provide feedback on the way we provides goods and services to people with disabilities can provide feedback via our customer contact page, verbally or via email. Where required and upon request, DEW Engineering will arrange for the provision of additional accessible formats and communication supports to permit feedback. All feedback, including complaints, will be reviewed by our Compliance Department and a response provided within 10 business days.

Notice of Availability of Documents

DEW Engineering makes this, as well as all other documentation required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its accessibility standards available in hard copy at our facility, as well as on our corporate websites found at www.dewengineering.com and www.dewpd.com. We will provide these documents in an accessible format or with communication support, on request. We will consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the format or communication support. We will provide the accessible format in a timely manner and, at no additional cost.

Information and Communications

We have a process for receiving and responding to feedback and the process is accessible to persons with disabilities upon request. We communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. When asked, we will provide information about our organization and its services, including public safety information, in accessible formats or with communication supports: 

  1. in a timely manner, taking into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability; and
  2. at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons.

We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support. If we determine that information or communications are unconvertible, DEW Engineering will provide the requestor with:

  1. an explanation as to why the information or communications are unconvertible; and
  2. a summary of the unconvertible information or communications.

We notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports by posting this information on our corporate Websites which comply with the internationally-recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA website requirements in accordance with Ontario’s accessibility laws.

Employment

We notify employees, job applicants and the public that accommodations can be made during recruitment and hiring. We notify job applicants when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request. We consult with the applicants and provide or arrange for suitable accommodation. We notify successful applicants of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when making offers of employment.      
 

We notify staff that supports are available for those with disabilities as soon as practicable after they begin their employment. We provide updated information to employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodation that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability.   
 

We will consult with employees when arranging for the provision of suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the accessibility needs due to disability. We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication supports specifically for:

  1. information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job; and
  2. information that is generally available to employees in the workplace

Where needed, we will also provide customized emergency information to help an employee with a disability during an emergency. With the employee’s consent, we will provide workplace emergency information to a designated person who is providing assistance to that employee during an emergency. We will provide the information as soon as practicable after we become aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. We 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 accommodations needs or plans are reviewed; and
  3. when the employer reviews its general emergency response policies.

We have a written process to develop individual accommodation plans for employees and we have a written process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work.

Our performance management, career development and redeployment processes take into account the accessibility needs of all employees.

Modifications to this or other policies

Any of our policies found to not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.

This document is publicly available. Accessible formats are available upon request.

Updated 2023.12.07