PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that goods and services are accessible to all people and that persons, including customers and employees, with disabilities are treated with respect, dignity, and equality.

SCOPE

This policy applies to all Vollmer Group Companies, employees, and work sites.

DEFINITIONS

Assistive Device

any device that is used to assist persons with disabilities in performing various everyday tasks.

Barrier

anything that keeps a person with a disability from participating fully in society because of his or her disability.

Disability

a physical, cognitive, mental, or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with, or limits a person’s ability to engage in certain tasks or actions. A disability may present itself from birth or may occur during a person’s lifetime.

Service Animal

an animal that is required by a person with a disability for assistance and is certified, in writing, as having been trained by a professional service animal institution.

Support Person

an individual who accompanies a person with a disability to support independence in things such as communication, mobility, and medical care.

POLICY

Personal Assistive Devices

Customers are encouraged to use their personal assistive devices on Sutherland-Schultz premises. Staff receive training on how to interact with individuals using personal assistive devices.

Service Animals

Individuals with disabilities and their service animals are welcome on Sutherland-Schultz premises in all areas that are open to the public.

Support Persons

Individuals with disabilities and their support person are welcome on Sutherland-Schultz premises in all areas that are open to the public.

Training

Sutherland-Schultz provides training to all employees and volunteers. Training includes:

  • Accessible customer service best practices
  • Ontario’s Human Rights code
  • How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities, including those that use assistive devices or require the assistance of a service animal or support person
  • Employees will also be trained when any changes are made to the policy

REVIEW

This policy will be reviewed at least once every five years.

FEEDBACK

Sutherland-Schultz welcomes feedback on how the company provides goods and services to people with disabilities. If you wish to provide feedback, please email HR@sutherland-schultz.com. The Sutherland-Schultz HR team will respond to all feedback in a timely manner.

Sutherland-Schultz will provide this policy information in an accessible format on request.

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY DISRUPTION

As per the Customer Service Standard of the AODA, Sutherland-Schultz will notify customers of temporary service disruptions to services that customers with disabilities might rely on. The notice will be posted at the affected location.