AODA Policy

Purposes and Principles

O’Neill Associates is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for its clients and to provide services to persons with a disability in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the AODA.

The goal of the AODA is to create a more accessible Ontario by identifying and to the extent possible, preventing and eliminating barriers experienced by persons with a disability.

With respect to this goal, Ontario Regulation 191/11 Integrated Accessibility Standards incorporates four guiding principles:

1. Dignity: Persons with a disability must be treated as valued clients who are provided with the necessary accommodations to receive the same standard of service as all other clients.
2. Equality of Opportunity: Persons with a disability must be given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use, and benefit from the services provided by O’Neill Associates.
3. Integration: Unless otherwise necessary, the provision of all services provided by O’Neill Associates to persons with a disability must be integrated with the provision of services that are provided to others.
4. Independence: Services must be provided in a way that respects the independence of persons with a disability. O’Neill Associates must always be in the position to accommodate a person with a disability, but must not do so without the express permission of the individual.

O’Neill Associates will use all reasonable efforts to ensure that its policies and practices are consistent with these principles and to implement them in the provision of their regular services.

This policy applies to all lawyers, staff, volunteers and agents of O’Neill Associates:

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy:

“Assistive Device” means any device that is designed, made, or adapted to assist a person perform a particular task, including physical or technical aids, such as communication devices, canes, crutches, hearing aids, and wheel chairs.

“Barrier” means anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of his or her disability, including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a practice (“obstacle”).

“Disability” means:

(a) 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,

(b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,

(c) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,

(d) a mental disorder, or

(e) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“handicap”).

“Service Animal” means an animal that has been trained to perform tasks that assist persons with a disability and includes any animal:

(a) that can be readily identified as one that is being used by the person for reasons relating to the person’s disability, as a result of visual indicators such as the vest or harness worn by the animal, or

(b) for which the person provides documentation from a regulated health professionals confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.

“Support Person” means in relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies him or her in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods, services or facilities.

Communication with Persons with Disabilities

O’Neill Associates strives to communicate with persons with a disability in a manner that takes into account both the disability and the person’s preferred method of communication. O’Neill Associates can communicate in writing, via telephone, email, or meetings either in person, or via video conferencing (Skype). O’Neill Associates recognizes that not all clients will wish to communicate in the same manner. We will work with persons with a disability to determine what method of communication works for them.

Assistive Devices

Persons with a disability are permitted to use their personal assistive devices, where possible, when accessing O’Neill Associates’ services, or facilities.

If there is a physical, technological or other type of barrier to the use of an assistive device on the premises or the assistive device presents a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern, O’Neill Associates will first endeavor to remove the barrier or concern. If O’Neill Associates is unable to remove the barrier or concern, they will ask the client how best they can be accommodated and what alternative methods for service would be most accessible to them. O’Neill Associates will then endeavor to implement these methods of service delivery to ensure the person with a disability can access our services or facilities.

The lawyers and staff at O’Neill Associates will be trained on various assistive devices that may be used by persons with a disability when accessing O’Neill Associates’ services.

Service Animals

Persons with a disability may be accompanied by a service animal and keep the animal with them while on any O’Neill Associates’ premises that the public or third parties have access to and to which the service animal is not otherwise excluded by law.

If service animals are prohibited by law, O’Neill Associates will explain why the animal is excluded, and discuss with the client other ways of providing services or facilities to persons with a disability.

Support Persons

Persons with a disability may be accompanied by a support person and have access to the support person while on any O’Neill Associates’ premises, provided they execute the required authorizations.

O’Neill Associates may require persons with a disability to be accompanied by a support person while on the premises if it is deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of the person with a disability or others, provided they execute the required authorizations.

Notice of Temporary Disruption

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities used by persons with a disability, O’Neill Associates will notify the public promptly through a clearly posted notice. This 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 of temporary disruption will be available on reception voicemail, and on the entrances to our premises.

Feedback Process

O’Neill Associates is committed to meeting the requirements of the customer service standard in Ontario Regulation 191/11 Integrated Accessibility Standards under the AODA. Any feedback regarding whether client expectations are being met are encouraged and appreciated.

Clients may provide feedback to O’Neill Associates on customer service performance as it relates to persons with a disability by means of writing, email, fax, feedback on our website, or via telephone. Please contact our Office Administrator at;

O’Neill Associates

301-34 Cumberland St. N
Thunder Bay, ON
P7A 4L3
Phone: 1 (807) 344-5227
Fax: 1 (807) 344-9293
Email: info@oneillassociates.ca

Training for Staff

O’Neill Associates will provide accessible customer service training on the accommodation of persons with a disability to all lawyers, staff, and volunteers, anyone involved in developing policies, and anyone who provides services, or facilities to customers on O’Neill Associates’ behalf. This training will be administered as soon as practicable and on an ongoing basis.

This training will include information on the AODA, O’Neill Associates policies related to customer service, and the requirements of the customer service standard in Ontario Regulation 191/11 Integrated Accessibility Standards. It will be updated as necessary to reflect any changes made to the AODA or to applicable regulations and policies.