PortfolioAid’s Accessibility Plan
PortfolioAid is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence.
We believe in integration, and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and by meeting our accessibility requirements under Ontario’s accessibility laws, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act, 2005 (AODA).
This document (the “Accessibility Plan”) outlines PortfolioAid’ strategy for preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting requirements set out in the applicable regulations. This plan is reviewed annually, updated as required and posted on the public website. To request these documents in other accessible formats, please contact us.
Email: accessibility@portfolioaid.com
Phone: 416-479-9710
Accessibility Standards
This section of the plan will list out the accessibility standard objectives and provide a status of compliance.
Part I. General
Establishing an Accessibility Policy
Objective: Develop, implement, and publish accessibility policies that outline how the organization should operate and interact with its employees and its customers as well as how it will achieve accessibility through meeting the applicable requirements under the AODA.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: The “Accessibility Policy” is documented and implemented. It is available online at https://www.portfolioaid.com and contains our policies as they relate to the AODA. This policy is reviewed on an annual basis and updated as required. Status is complete.
Training
Objective: Ensure accessibility training is provided to all personnel and is appropriate to the duties of the employee.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Accessibility training has been conducted for all personnel in the following areas and as it relates to their role and responsibilities:
- The Code and the AODA (including the Human Rights Code as it relates to persons with disabilities)
- The Employment Standard
- Information and Communications Standard
This training includes information on the AODA, its objectives, how to interact with people with various types of disabilities, and various support resources. Status is complete.
Part II. Customer Service
Establishing an Accessibility Policy (regarding Customer Service)
Objective: Develop, implement, and publish accessibility policies on the provision of our products and services to persons with disabilities in a way which maintains respect for dignity and independence, and maintains equal opportunity to obtain, use and benefit from our products and services.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: The “Accessibility Policy” is documented and available online at https://www.portfolioaid.com. The policy ensures that reasonable efforts are made to provide access to our products and services in accordance with the AODA. PortfolioAid continues to evaluate ways to ensure that all accessibility requests can be accommodated as it relates to our products and services.
Training
Objective: Ensure accessibility training is provided to all personnel and is appropriate to the duties of the employee. Training includes how to interact and communicate with individuals who have various type of accessibility needs, including those who use assistive devices, service animals or require a support person.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Accessibility training has been conducted for all personnel on the AODA as well as the Customer Service Standard, which includes information on the requirements of serving individuals with disabilities.
Status for training on the Customer Service Standard is complete and PortfolioAid continues to make efforts to ensure that training related to the provision of our products and services as it relates to people with disabilities is sufficient.
Feedback Protocols
Objective: Establish an accessible process for submitting and responding to feedback, concerns or complaints on our accessibility policies, including how we provide our products and services to people with disabilities.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: A means for submitting accessibility requests and/or concerns has been outlined in our Accessibility Policy and is posted on our website. All inquiries will be responded to in a timely manner and all reasonable efforts will be made to satisfy any accessibility needs.
Status is in progress as we continue to review the need for additional means of submitting accessibility related feedback and requests by persons with accessibility needs.
Temporary Service Disruptions
Objective: Provide notice in the event of any planned or unexpected disruptions in PortfolioAid’s facility and/or services that people with disabilities usually use to obtain, use or benefit from PortfolioAid’s products or services.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: PortfolioAid will provide self-identified persons with disabilities a notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in a facility or service used or visited by clients with disability in the event that the disruption is to impact that individual’s ability to use the space/service otherwise.
Notices will include:
- Information about the reason for the disruption and the anticipated duration of the disruption.
- A description of alternative facilities or services, as available.
Status is complete.
Part III. Employment
Recruitment, Assessment, Selection Process & Onboarding
Objective: Ensure employees and the public are aware that accommodations for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment processes can be made. Ensure that the recruitment process is inclusive to persons with disability and that accommodations can be made upon request. Ensure that successful applicants are aware of our policies for accommodating employees with disabilities
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Appropriate messaging has been added to job postings and career landing pages on our website. Processes are in place to ensure accessibility policies are communicated and requests can be made, received and addressed for accommodation during the recruitment process as well as onboarding. All employees are made aware of our policies and any changes made thereafter. Status is complete.
Accessible Formats & Communications (for employees)
Objective: Ensure there is a means for employees to submit accessibility requests and have a process in place to arrange for accessible formats and communication supports as needed for that employee to perform their job duties.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Processes are implemented to allow for such requests to be submitted and acted upon. The employee will be consulted in determining and delivering on the suitable accessible formats and communication supports. Status is complete.
Workplace Emergency Response Information
Objective: Provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability or their support person as soon as reasonably possible. This information will be reviewed as required.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Policies are in place to ensure that individualized workplace emergency response information will be provided to employees who have self-identified as having a disability and require such information. This information will be provided as soon as reasonably possible. Status is complete.
Documented Individualized Accommodation Plan
Objective: Have a written process for the development of a documented individual accommodation plan for each employee with a disability.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Policies are in place to ensure that individualized accommodation plans will be provided to employees who have self-identified as having a disability and require such information. The employee requesting such information will [participate in the development of the plan. The employee will be assessed on an individual basis and measures will be taken to ensure the individuals privacy will be taken into account. Status is complete.
Return to Work Process
Objective: Have in place a documented return-to-work process for an employee who has been absent from work due to disability and require disability-related accommodation in order to return to work. The process shall outline steps to facilitate the return and take into consideration the employees documented accommodation plan, if applicable.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Policies are in place which document the need to develop a plan, monitor the process and evaluate the return-to-work process. Status is complete.
Performance Management
Objective: Take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as any individual accommodation plans, when initiating performance management processes.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Policies are in place to ensure that accessibility needs and individual accommodation plans are taken into consideration when initiating performance management processes. Status is complete.
Career Development & Advancement
Objective: Take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as any individual accommodation plans, when providing career development and advancement opportunities to employees.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Policies are in place to ensure that accessibility needs and individual accommodation plans are taken into consideration when providing career development and advancement opportunities to employees. Status is complete.
Redeployment
Objective: Take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as any individual accommodation plans, when redeploying individuals with disabilities.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Policies are in place to ensure that accessibility needs and individual accommodation plans are taken into consideration when redeploying individuals with disabilities.
Part IV. Information & Communications
Accessible Formats, Communication Supports & Feedback/Complaints Process
Objective: Be able to provide alternative formats or communication supports for persons with disabilities, upon request, in a timely manner and at the same cost charged to other persons. This includes the ability to provide an accessible means of communication for feedback or complaints
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: As per documented policy, PortfolioAid has published a means for communicating accessibility requests. Upon receiving such request, we will consult with the individual, or their communication support, to determine the most appropriate accessible format and communication support. A designated team has been assigned to receive these requests and to ensure that the request can be addressed in a timely and effective manner. Status is complete.
Accessible Websites and Web Content
Objective: Make our public internet website conform with applicable sections of the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG).
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: As we continue to refresh our existing public facing website, PortfolioAid will take into account the applicable WCAG requirements. PortfolioAid has began identifying existing gaps and put together a plan to oversee the website changes over a multi-year period. Status is in progress.
Part V. Design of Public Spaces
Public Spaces
Objective: For any new construction and renovations, accessibility requirements will be assessed and taken into consideration. Public spaces will be designed in such a way that removes barriers in all public areas.
Actions Taken & Compliance Status: Policies have been implemented to ensure that accessibility requirements are assessed and taken into consideration in any re-location of PortfolioAid’s office or any renovations or redesigns of the office space. Status is complete.