Accessibility

Integrated accessibility standards

The following policy has been established by FAX Real Estate (“FAX”) 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 are developed to remove barriers and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in the areas of information and communications and employment.

FAX is governed by this policy as well as the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Policy and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 in meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities.

Commitment
FAX 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 will be implemented in accordance with the time frames established by the Regulation.

Procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities
FAX will have regard for accessibility criteria and features when it procures or acquires goods, services or facilities, except where it is not practicable to do so.

Training employees and volunteers
FAX will ensure that training is provided on the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in the Regulation and continue to provide training on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities, to:

  • All its employees and volunteers;
  • All persons who participate in developing FAX’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, volunteers and other persons.
Staff will be trained when changes are made to the accessibility policy. New staff will be trained as soon as practicable.

FAX will keep a record of the training it provides.


Information and communications standards

Feedback
FAX 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 communications supports, upon request.

Accessible formats and communication supports
Upon request, FAX 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.

FAX will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

FAX will also notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.

Accessible websites and web content
FAX will ensure that its Internet and Intranet websites, including web content, conform with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, at Level AA except where this is impracticable.

Employment standards
Recruitment
FAX 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
FAX 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, FAX 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, FAX will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.

Informing employees of supports
FAX 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, FAX 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, FAX will consult with the employee making the request.

Workplace emergency response information
FAX 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 FAX is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. FAX will provide this information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation.

Where the employee requires assistance, FAX will, with the consent of the employee, provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by FAX to provide assistance to the employee.

Documented individual accommodation plans
FAX will maintain a written process 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.

Return to work process
FAX 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 FAX will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the process.

This return to work process will not replace or override any other return to work process created by or under any other statute (e.g. the Workplace Safety Insurance Act, 1997).

Performance management, career development and advancement & redeployment
FAX 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 to employees, or when redeploying employees.

Questions about this policy
This policy has been developed to remove 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, please contact:

General Counsel
FAX Real Estate
2 Bloor St. East, Suite 701
PO Box 76
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 1A8
info@faxrealestate.com

 

Accessible Customer Service Policy


Policy statement
FAX Real Estate (“FAX”) will endeavour to provide its goods and services in a way that respects the independence and dignity of all persons and encourages integration and equality of opportunity. FAX is committed to preventing, identifying, and removing barriers that impede the ability of persons with disabilities to access our goods and services.

Background
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA”) was created with the goal of developing and enforcing standards to improve accessibility for people with disabilities across Ontario. This Accessible Customer Service Policy has been established in order to meet the requirements of the AODA and its regulation, the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service.

Definitions
“assistive devices” – Devices that include technical aids, communication devices, medical aids and other supports that are used by persons with disabilities to enable them to carry out the activities of daily living.

“disability” – As defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, a disability is:

  • Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
  • A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
  • A learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
  • A mental disorder, or
  • An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

“service animal” – An animal used by a person with a disability for reasons relating to his or her disability where it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability; or where the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that he or she requires the animal for reasons relating to his or her disability.

“support person” – A person who accompanies a person with a disability in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods or services. A support person can be a paid professional, a volunteer, a friend or a family member.


Communication
FAX will communicate with persons with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability and respects their dignity.

Assistive devices
FAX is committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices to access our goods and services. Persons with disabilities may use their assistive devices as required in accessing goods and services provided by FAX. Exceptions may occur if FAX determines that the assistive device may pose a health and safety risk to the person with a disability or to others. In such cases, FAX will make every effort to ensure that other measures are made available to enable the person with a disability to access FAX’s goods and services.

It is the responsibility of the person using the assistive device to ensure that the assistive device is operated in a safe and controlled manner at all times.

Support persons
FAX is committed to serving people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person in order to access our goods and services. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter FAX’s premises with their support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises.

FAX may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person while on FAX’s premise in situations where it is necessary to protect the health and safety of the person with a disability or the health and safety of others on the premises.

Service animals
FAX is committed to welcoming persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal when accessing our goods and services on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and other third parties. It is the responsibility of the person using the service animal to ensure that the service animal is kept in control at all times. If a service animal is excluded from our premises by law, FAX will make every effort to ensure that other measures are made available to enable the person with a disability to access FAX Investments’ goods and services.

Service disruptions
Where there is a temporary disruption to services, FAX will take reasonable steps to notify persons with disabilities who might be affected by the disruption. In particular, FAX will identify the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length, and information about alternative services. Notice may be provided by posting the information on the FAX’s website.

Availability of documents
All documents that detail FAX’s accessibility policies and procedures will be posted on FAX’s website, as appropriate, and will be made available upon request. FAX will make every effort to make the information available to persons with disabilities in a format that takes into account their disability.

Training for staff
FAX will train all employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public or third parties on FAX’s behalf and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service policies, practices and procedures. The training will include the following:
This Policy was approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on June 5, 2019.

  • An overview of the AODA and the requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service;
  • How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;
  • How to interact 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 FAX’s services; and
  • FAX’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service.

Training will also take place on an ongoing basis when changes are made to FAX Investments’ policies, practices and procedures.

Feedback process
FAX welcomes feedback on the ways in which it provides its customer service to persons with disabilities. Individuals are encouraged to provide their feedback, including any questions or comments directly to FAX’s General Counsel who will be responsible for investigating the matter and determining the actions to be taken.

In all cases, every effort will be made to respond to the feedback in a timely and effective manner.
Individuals may submit feedback to our General Counsel as follows:

General Counsel
FAX Real Estate
2 Bloor St. East, Suite 701
PO Box 76
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 1A8
info@faxrealestate.com