Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodation

Foundation for a Path Forward  is committed to treating all individuals, including people with disabilities in a respectful, inclusive manner. We will provide a safe, barrier-free and accessible environment with appropriate accommodation for stakeholders who engage with us in person, by telephone, electronically, by mail, visually, orally or by written means.

In alignment with Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Policy, all employees, volunteers, and stakeholders who provide services on behalf of Foundation for a Path Forward  shall do so in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Policy. The Policy will be reviewed and revised from time to time to maintain it and to keep it current with the prescribed Accessibility Standards for Customer Service and will be posted as amended from to time to time, on the website, where it will come to the attention of members of the public.

Foundation for a Path Forward  will make our goods and/or services available to persons with disabilities in accordance with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service prescribed under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, (2005) (“AODA”) and provide access to persons with disabilities in a manner that promotes dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. This may include but is not limited to acquiring products, resources or technology designed to assist individuals, alternative communication options and other such support or accommodation which may be appropriate.

Programs and services delivered by any means including in person, by telephone, electronically, by mail, visually, orally or by written means will be accessible to everyone in the community in accordance with Ontario Regulation 429/07 Accessibility Standards for Customer Service and in line with the following principles:

• goods or services will be provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.
• provision of goods or services to persons with disabilities and others must be integrated unless an alternate measure is necessary, whether temporarily or on a permanent basis, to enable a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from the goods or services.
• persons with disabilities must be given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use and benefit from the goods or services. O. Reg. 429/07, s. 3 (2).
• Training will be provided for employees and stakeholders as appropriate notably for individuals who interact with the public on behalf of the organization.

Communications and Documents:

• When providing any documentation to a person with a disability, we shall do so in a manner and a format that takes into account the person’s disability.
• Materials and publications should include a statement indicating that the material and/or publication “is available in an alternative format upon request.”
• If requested, an alternate format shall be provided in a manner in which is agreed upon between the parties.

Staff will be familiar with emergency procedures when attending events and how to assist customers or staff that may require help during an emergency.

Anyone who wishes to provide feedback about how to provide goods or services to a person with a disability and/or improve the Policy or who has questions or requires information or support may contact their reporting Manager or the Chief Executive Officer in writing, by e-mail, or by telephone and/or through the Complaints Policy.

An employee of Foundation for a Path Forward  should advise their reporting Manager, Chief Executive Officer or follow the Complaints Policy if they require any accommodations in order to complete their assigned duties. Foundation for a Path Forward  will take all reasonable steps to accommodate needs at work in accordance with the Human Rights Code, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.