Accessibility

Cougar Court Childcare is committed to developing and implementing policies, practices, and procedures that provide accessible quality services to employees, clients, and their children. Services will be provided to clients with disabilities in a manner that promotes and respects dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity.

Cougar Court Childcare is dedicated to ensuring all programs and services are accessible to clients and their children in accordance with Ontario Regulation 429.07 Accessibility Standards for Customer Services.

Cougar Court Childcare will endeavor to ensure that the Policy and related practices and procedures are consistent with the following four (4) core principles:

Dignity - Persons with a disability must be treated as valued clients as deserving of service as any other customer.

Cougar Court Childcare provides services to all children and their families including those with disabilities. Every effort will be made to ensure the following:

Accessibility Policy

Equality of Opportunity - Persons with a disability should be given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use and benefit from our services.

The service will be provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.

Integration - Wherever possible, persons with a disability should benefit from our services in the same place and in the same or similar manner as any other customer. In circumstances where integration does not serve the needs of the person with a disability, services will, to the extent possible, be provided in another way that takes into account the person’s individual needs.

Independence – Services must be provided in a way that respects the independence of persons with a disability. To this end, we will always be willing to assist a person with a disability but will not do so without the express permission of the person.

Alternative methods of communication will be provided as requested. Staff will be trained to communicate with clients over the telephone in clear and plain language and to speak clearly and slowly.

The provision of services to clients with disabilities, and other will be integrated unless an alternative measure is necessary, whether temporarily or permanently, to enable clients with a disability to participate in the services offered by Cougar Court Childcare.

Cougar Court Childcare will notify clients if there is a planned or unexpected disruption of a facility or service persons with a disability to access our services. The notice will be posted at the entrance of the applicable premises and as well as being provided verbally, electronically or in person as applicable. The notice will include the following information:

Ensuring written and media information is available using accessible formats. (signs, program information, forms, website etc.)

Staff will be trained on how to interact and communicate with clients with disabilities in a manner that is respectful of a client’s dignity and independence.

Communication

Cougar Court Childcare is committed to communicating with clients with disabilities in different or alternative ways that take into consideration their disability.

Assistive Devices and/or service animals may be used by clients to assist in accessing services at Cougar Court Childcare.

All service animals must have proof of inoculations/vaccinations required under the Child Care and Early Years Act.

Staff and volunteers will be properly trained in how to interact with clients with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal and/or an assistive device.

Staff and volunteers will be trained on how to use equipment or devices that may help with the provision of child care services. (wheelchairs, mobility aids, computers with accessible features, medical devices etc.)

Use of Assistive Devices & Service Animals

The use of such items must be in compliance with the regulations outlined in the Child Care and Early Years Act and (municipal or regional) requirements.

Support persons may be used by clients to assist in accessing services at Cougar Court Childcare.

Cougar Court Childcare may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a Support Person where it is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health or safety of others on the premises.

Cougar Court Childcare will consult with the person with a disability to determine if a support person is required.

Staff and volunteers will be properly trained in how to interact with clients with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person.

Support Persons

Our feedback protocol requires Cougar Court Childcare to respond to all client inquiries within 3 business days in the preferred format regarding possible accommodations/solutions.

Alternative facilities or services, if available.

That a facility or service is unavailable.

The anticipated duration of the disruption.

The reason for the disruption.

Notice of Temporary Disruptions

Cougar Court Childcare welcomes and accepts feedback in a variety of ways including in person, by telephone, in writing or electronically.

Feedback forms are available at the front entrance of the centre.

Feedback Procedure

Cougar Court Childcare will notify clients if there is a planned or unexpected disruption of a facility or service persons with a disability to access our services. The notice will be posted at the entrance of the applicable premises and as well as being provided verbally, electronically or in person as applicable. The notice will include the following information:

AODA requires Organizations to implement a feedback method that allows clients to provide feedback on perceived barriers, including how to ask for assistance.

Support Persons must comply with Cougar Court Childcare policies and have a Vulnerable Sector Check and proof of vaccinations.

Training and Records

Documenting Training

A review of the purpose of the Act and requirements of the Standard.
Understanding the OHRC and how the code interacts with the AODA
A review of the policies.
How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities.
How to interact with persons with a disability who use an Assistive Device or require the assistance of a Service Animal or Support Person.
How to use equipment or devices made available on our premises to assist persons with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from our goods and services.
What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing our premises and/or services.
How to work with persons with a disability to find the best solution for them.
As policies are revised, employees, students, and volunteers will be made aware.
Cougar Court Childcare will keep a record of the training which will include the name of the person and the date they were trained.

The above policies and procedures will apply to all services that are delivered by Cougar Court Childcare including services delivered in person, by telephone, electronically, visually, orally or by written materials.

All Accessibility Policies of Cougar Court Childcare are available to our clients. Alternative formats are available upon request.

Content of Training

Timing of Training

Training will be provided prior to commencing employment, and whenever there are changes to policies.

Records of the training provided, including the training protocol, the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom the training is provided shall be maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Act

Accessibility

Dignity - Persons with a disability must be treated as valued clients as deserving of service as any other customer.

Cougar Court Childcare provides services to all children and their families including those with disabilities. Every effort will be made to ensure the following:

Accessibility Policy

Equality of Opportunity - Persons with a disability should be given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use and benefit from our services.

The service will be provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.

Independence – Services must be provided in a way that respects the independence of persons with a disability. To this end, we will always be willing to assist a person with a disability but will not do so without the express permission of the person.

Alternative methods of communication will be provided as requested. Staff will be trained to communicate with clients over the telephone in clear and plain language and to speak clearly and slowly.

The provision of services to clients with disabilities, and other will be integrated unless an alternative measure is necessary, whether temporarily or permanently, to enable clients with a disability to participate in the services offered by Cougar Court Childcare.

Ensuring written and media information is available using accessible formats. (signs, program information, forms, website etc.)

Staff will be trained on how to interact and communicate with clients with disabilities in a manner that is respectful of a client’s dignity and independence.

Communication

Cougar Court Childcare is committed to communicating with clients with disabilities in different or alternative ways that take into consideration their disability.

Assistive Devices and/or service animals may be used by clients to assist in accessing services at Cougar Court Childcare.

All service animals must have proof of inoculations/vaccinations required under the Child Care and Early Years Act.

Staff and volunteers will be properly trained in how to interact with clients with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal and/or an assistive device.

Staff and volunteers will be trained on how to use equipment or devices that may help with the provision of child care services. (wheelchairs, mobility aids, computers with accessible features, medical devices etc.)

Use of Assistive Devices & Service Animals

The use of such items must be in compliance with the regulations outlined in the Child Care and Early Years Act and (municipal or regional) requirements.

Support persons may be used by clients to assist in accessing services at Cougar Court Childcare.

Cougar Court Childcare may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a Support Person where it is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health or safety of others on the premises.

Cougar Court Childcare will consult with the person with a disability to determine if a support person is required.

Staff and volunteers will be properly trained in how to interact with clients with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person.

Support Persons

Our feedback protocol requires Cougar Court Childcare to respond to all client inquiries within 3 business days in the preferred format regarding possible accommodations/solutions.

Alternative facilities or services, if available.

That a facility or service is unavailable.

The anticipated duration of the disruption.

The reason for the disruption.

Notice of Temporary Disruptions

Cougar Court Childcare welcomes and accepts feedback in a variety of ways including in person, by telephone, in writing or electronically.

Feedback forms are available at the front entrance of the centre.

Feedback Procedure

AODA requires Organizations to implement a feedback method that allows clients to provide feedback on perceived barriers, including how to ask for assistance.

Support Persons must comply with Cougar Court Childcare policies and have a Vulnerable Sector Check and proof of vaccinations.

Training and Records

Documenting Training

A review of the purpose of the Act and requirements of the Standard.

Understanding the OHRC and how the code interacts with the AODA

A review of the policies.

How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities.

How to interact with persons with a disability who use an Assistive Device or require the assistance of a Service Animal or Support Person.

How to use equipment or devices made available on our premises to assist persons with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from our goods and services.

What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing our premises and/or services.

How to work with persons with a disability to find the best solution for them.

As policies are revised, employees, students, and volunteers will be made aware.

Cougar Court Childcare will keep a record of the training which will include the name of the person and the date they were trained.

Content of Training

Timing of Training

Training will be provided prior to commencing employment, and whenever there are changes to policies.

Records of the training provided, including the training protocol, the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom the training is provided shall be maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Act