ACCESSIBILITY

“Where Extraordinary People achieve Exceptional Results” ACCESSIBILITY POLICIES AND MULTI-YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLAN 2011-2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Accessibility Policies and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

1. Statement of Commitment 
2. Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Overview 
3. Accessible Emergency Information and Workplace Emergency Response 
4. Training 
5. Kiosks 
6. Information and Communications 
7. Accessible Websites and Web Content 
8. Feedback Process 
9. Employment 
10. Individual Associate Accommodation Plan and Return to Work Policy 
11. Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment 
12. Other Accessibility Barriers 
13. Design of Public Spaces 
14. Feedback Process and Request for Information 
15. Definitions 
16. Accessibility Policies and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Revision History

SmartCentres’ Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for 2011-2021 outlines the policies and initiatives that will be implemented to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.

1. STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

SmartCentres is committed to providing equitable access and high-quality facilities and/or services by meeting the needs of our diverse and valued Associates and customers. To this end, SmartCentres will ensure that it is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005, which aims to remove barriers that impact individuals with a disability. Through compliance, SmartCentres will endeavour to provide all individuals with equal access to our facilities and/or services while allowing individuals with a disability to maintain their independence, dignity, and integration.

2. MULTI-YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLAN OVERVIEW

SmartCentres has developed a strong foundation of accessibility planning in order to remove barriers and ensure real and effective change for people with disabilities, and is eager to carry this commitment forward with the implementation of our Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.

Our Multi-Year Accessibility Plan provides the opportunity to demonstrate our current achievements and establish an implementation framework and future priority initiatives. Objectives identified within the Plan are both long term and short-term; many are ongoing actions or could require implementation over several years. Regular monitoring is necessary to ensure that initiatives are included in the Plan and that progress is identified. The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan’s progress will be reviewed and reported annually and a comprehensive review will be conducted every five years (2019).

3. ACCESSIBLE EMERGENCY INFORMATION AND WORKPLACE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

SmartCentres is committed to providing our customers and our Associates with publicly available emergency information in accessible formats upon request.

Upon request, Human Resources and Corporate Services will work together with the Associates to develop an individualized emergency response information/plan that will meet their needs in an emergency situation.

4. TRAINING

SmartCentres will provide training to all Ontario Associates on the Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to persons with disabilities. Training will be tailored to Associate’s responsibilities and duties and it will be provided in a format that best suits the Associate. The training will also be provided to every Ontario Associate who participates in developing SmartCentres’ policies.

SmartCentres will take the following steps to ensure Associates are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario’s accessible laws by January 1, 2015.

5. KIOSKS

SmartCentres does not currently own or operate any kiosks at this time. However, if this should change, SmartCentres will take every step necessary to ensure that available kiosks meet the requirements as outlined by AODA, 2005.

6. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

SmartCentres is committed to meeting the communication needs of persons with disabilities. We will consult with persons with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs and accommodate where possible. SmartCentres will take the following steps to ensure that all publicly available information in Ontario is made accessible upon request by 2016.

7. ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES AND WEB CONTENT

SmartCentres will take the following steps to make our websites and content conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA Standards, by January 1, 2021.

8. FEEDBACK PROCESS

SmartCentres will take the following steps to ensure that our existing feedback process is accessible to persons with disabilities upon request by January 1, 2015.

9. EMPLOYMENT

SmartCentres is committed to fair and accessible employment practices.

By January 2016, SmartCentres will take the following steps to notify the public and our Associates that we will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment process and when candidates are hired.

10. INDIVIDUAL ASSOCIATE ACCOMMODATION PLAN AND RETURN TO WORK POLICY

SmartCentres has established and implemented a Return to Work Policy and Procedure for developing individual accommodation plans for Associates that have been absent due to a disability.

11. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND REDEPLOYMENT

By January 2016, we will take the following steps to ensure the accessibility needs of our Associates with disabilities are taken into account for our performance management, career development and redeployment processes.

12. OTHER ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS

13. DESIGN OF PUBLIC SPACES

By January 2017, SmartCentres will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces in Ontario. Public spaces include:

• Outdoor public eating areas
• Outdoor play spaces
• Outdoor paths of travel, like sidewalks, ramps, stairs, curb ramps, rest areas and accessible pedestrian signals
• Accessible to off street parking
• Any other space that the SmartCentres deems necessary

SmartCentres will put procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to its accessible parts of its public spaces.

In the event of a service disruption to the accessible parts of public spaces, we will notify the public of the service disruption and alternatives available.

14. FEEDBACK PROCESS AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Any individual who requires additional information regarding SmartCentres’ Accessibility Policies and/or our Multi-Year Accessibility Plan can do so in person, by e-mail, or in writing or by any other means, as required. Accessible formats of our Accessibility Policies and our Multi-Year Accessibility Plan will be made available free upon request. SmartCentres commits to responding to all requests for information in a timely manner.

Please direct any Accessibility related enquiries to:

Fernando C. Vescio, SVP, Human Resources and Corporate Services
700 Applewood Crescent
Vaughan, Ontario, L4K 5X3

Email:  [email protected]
Phone:  905-326-6400 x 7211
Fax:  905-760-6207

15. DEFINITIONS

Associate: employees of SmartCentres
Customer: a member of the public
Disability: defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, refers to the following:

• 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;
• A condition of mental impairment or other remedial appliance or device;
• A learning disability, or dysfunction in one of more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
• A mental disorder; or
• an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

16. ACCESSIBILITY POLICIES AND MULTI-YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLAN REVISION HISTORY