Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA)

Bayfield is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for our employees, customers, job applicants, suppliers, visitors, and other stakeholders who enter our premises or access our information. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), Customer Service Standard, and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation for Information and Communications, Employment, and Transportation, and eventually, for the Built Environment.

Approximately 1.8 million Ontarians lives with a disability, and as the population grows older, this number will also increase. Our organization has made a commitment to accessibility for everyone who uses our services because this makes good business sense, and it is also a legal obligation. Bayfield has an important responsibility for ensuring a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for everyone.

We are committed to ensuring our company’s compliance with accessibility legislation by incorporating policies, procedures, equipment requirements, training for our employees, and best practices. We will review these policies and practices on a regular basis. Our commitment to making our organization accessible to everyone includes the integration of accessibility legislation with our policies, procedures, programs, and training.

We are committed to reviewing and incorporating the following information with our employees:

  • Legislation regarding the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
  • Integrated Accessibility Standards for Information and Communications, Employment, and Transportation
  • Accessible employment practices such as recruitment, assessment, and selection
  • Developing emergency response plans and individual workplace accommodation plans for employees with disabilities
  • Customer service standards
  • Accessible communication supports and information formats (both digital and non-digital)
  • Communicating with people with various forms of disabilities
  • Accessible websites and web content
  • Assistive devices, mobility aids, service animals and support persons
  • Transportation vehicles and equipment requirements
  • Notices of service disruptions (temporary or long-term)
  • Bayfield’s relevant policies and procedures regarding accessibility
  • Reporting procedures
  • Training procedures

Bayfield realizes that providing accessible and barrier-free environments for everyone is a shared effort. As a community, all businesses and services must work together to make accessibility happen. For more detailed information on our accessibility policies, plans, and training programs, please contact info@bayfieldadvisors.com.

As Bayfield’s main office is located in Ontario, we follow the guidelines for our employees who work in this province. For provinces that do have specific disability legislation, we would be guided by that legislation for the province in which the employee resides.

Accessibility

Hiring – Bayfield will notify employees and the public that it will accommodate the needs of people with disabilities in the hiring process through the website and/or job postings.

Workplace Information – Bayfield will provide workplace information in an accessible format if an employee asks for it. This includes any information employees need to perform their jobs (e.g., job descriptions and manuals) and/or general information that is available to all employees at work (e.g., company newsletters, bulletins about company policies and health and safety information).

Talent and Performance Management – Performance management or career development processes will consider the needs of an employee with disabilities when formal or informal performance reviews are held and/or employees are promoted or moved to a new job.

AODA Customer Service Standard

Bayfield is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities. The following policies, procedures and practices are guided by the fundamental principles underlying the Customer Service Standard. We are committed to ensuring that this policy is rigorously observed by all employees and any third party that provides services on our behalf.

The objective of this policy is to provide a framework through which we can achieve service excellence for people with disabilities. We are committed to provide a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment to all individuals who seek access to our goods and services.

Assistive Devices – We will ensure that our staff is trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods or services.

Communication – We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.

Service Animals –We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public.

Support Persons – A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises.

Notice of Temporary Disruption – In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities, Bayfield will notify customers promptly.

This clearly posted 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. The notice will be placed at the location of the disruption and any other means that will reasonably ensure that the notice reaches those persons potentially affected by the temporary disruption in a manner that is accessible to them.

Feedback Process – Customers who wish to provide feedback on the way Bayfield provides goods and services to people with disabilities can use our Feedback Form, send an e-mail or provide verbal feedback.

All feedback will be directed to info@bayfieldadvisors.com. All feedback will be kept in strict confidence and will be used to improve customer service.

The author of the feedback will be provided a response in the format requested (or the most appropriate form if no request was made). Customers can expect to hear back in 10 business days. Complaints will be addressed according to our organization’s regular complaint management procedures.

Training for Staff – Bayfield will provide training to all current employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public or other third parties on their behalf. This training will be provided to staff during their orientation within the first two weeks of their employment.

Training will include:

  • An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard.
  • Our 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.
  • What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing our services.

 

Staff will also be trained when changes are made to our plan.

Notice of Availability of Documents –This policy and any corresponding practices and procedures will be made available to any person on request. It will also be posted on our website and available in the reception area in our work environment.

Format of Documents – Upon request, we will provide this Policy and any other forms created pursuant to the Customer Service Standard in a format that takes into account the disability of the person submitting the request.

Modifications to This or Other Policies – Any policy of Bayfield that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.

Accommodation

Bayfield has an accommodation process in place that provides accommodations for employees with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation because of a disability or a medical need, please contact the Office Manager at info@bayfieldadvisors.com.  We will require relevant documentation from your medical professional to ensure that the appropriate accommodations are put in place.