Chatham Outreach For Hunger
Accessibility Policy
Chatham Outreach For Hunger is committed to excellence in serving all individuals (clients, donors, volunteers, etc.) including people with disabilities.
At Chatham Outreach For Hunger, we strive to provide services and resources in a way that respects the dignity and independence of all members of our community at all times. We are also committed to providing people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our services and resources, and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place, and in a similar way as other users. If a barrier to accessing our services and resources cannot be removed, we will seek alternative ways to provide the services and resources.
This policy complies with applicable legislative requirements regarding accessibility including meeting the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and its Customer Service Standards. Chatham Outreach For Hunger commits to include accessibility in our planning processes.
Assistive Devices – We will ensure that our staff is trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by individuals with disabilities while accessing our goods or services.
Persons with disabilities will be permitted to obtain or use services or resources through the use of their own assistive devices. If an assistive device may pose a risk to health and safety of the individual or others on the premises, Chatham Outreach For Hunger will accommodate the individual by providing an alternative where possible.
Communication – We will communicate with people in ways that take into account their disability. We offer a number of methods of communication, which will promptly be provided to individuals as requested.
Please feel free to ask us if there is a specific communication method you require and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Service Animals – We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals.
Support Persons – A person with a disability who is supported by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them while accessing our services. Support persons that accompany someone with a disability are permitted the same access as the person they are accompanying. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to their support person while receiving Chatham Outreach For Hunger services.
Notice of Temporary Disruption – If any services to accommodate disabled individuals are interrupted in a way that would limit them from gaining access to Chatham Outreach For Hunger’s services or resources, individuals will be notified. Notice of the temporary interruption will be placed on Chatham Outreach For Hunger’s website, social media or another conspicuous location on the premises and include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
Training – To create awareness and ensure compliance, Chatham Outreach For Hunger will provide accessibility training to employees, volunteers, and others who work with our clients. Training will include:
- An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the
requirements of the customer service standard - Chatham Outreach For Hunger’s plan related to the customer service standard
- 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 - How to use any equipment that may help with providing goods or services to people
with disabilities - What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Chatham
Outreach For Hunger’s information/meetings - Staff will also be provided with updated training when changes are made to
Chatham Outreach For Hunger’s accessibility policies, practices, and procedures.
Notice of Availability – Chatham Outreach For Hunger will ensure that information in this accessibility plan is available to individuals upon request and on its website.
Provide accessible invoices and receipts to all of our stakeholders – Chatham Outreach For Hunger will ensure to answer questions individuals may have about the content of their invoices, tax receipts and business receipts in person, or by telephone or e-mail.
Any policy of Chatham Outreach For Hunger that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
Questions or Feedback – Individuals who wish to provide feedback on the way Chatham Outreach For Hunger conducts its work with people with disabilities can be made to:
Chatham Outreach For Hunger
10 Wellington Street West
Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5L3
[email protected]
(519) 351-8381
Alternative methods of communication, including meeting in person, are also available on request.
All feedback including complaints will be handled within five (5) business days by the appropriate staff person, depending on the nature of the feedback. If you would like to be contacted regarding your feedback, please include your name and contact information. We will do our best to respond to you as promptly as possible.