Accessibility

The Condominium Authority of Ontario encourages all persons to access and benefit from our services and participate in our work. We will strive to remove barriers and make our services, environment and culture respectful of the individual needs of people with different abilities.

The Condo Authority primarily offers information and communications to the public through its website. Through its online services, which has been designed to accommodate different communication needs, it will strive to meet the 4 pillars of accessibility as defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Examples include:

• Providing text alternatives for all image content presented on a web page
• Providing audio playback for all educational modules
• Providing a mechanism to stop or pause an audio recording in all educational modules
• Providing functionality that is fully responsive to any screen size
• Making all functionality available on a keyboard

On an ongoing basis, the Condo Authority is committed to improving upon the methods used to provide accommodations for those who need it. It is also committed to ensuring that all persons interacting with its services can obtain, use and benefit fairly and equitably from its programs and resources. For example, if a person is not able to provide publicly-sought after feedback using Condo Authority’s online services, we will provide a telephone agent so the feedback can be provided using a telephone.

For those who seek employment or would like to participate on the CAO Board of Directors or other advisory groups, the Condo Authority will use best efforts to make the appropriate accommodations. For example, when choosing a location to host a public event, the Condo Authority will only select facilities that have met the accessibility requirements defined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Assistive devices and measures are supports made available to improve access to services for persons with disabilities. Examples include wheel chair access, real-time captioning services, sign language interpreters as well as Telephone Teletypes to communicate with persons who are deaf or have difficulty hearing.

The Condo Authority will accommodate people with disabilities who use assistive devices or require additional measures when attending public hearings or participating in meetings. If a prospective employee or board member needs an assistive device or additional measure, the Condo Authority will make the required modifications to its environment to accommodate these requests.

The Condo Authority is committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal to the areas where the Condo Authority hosts meetings and other stakeholder events.

The Condo Authority is committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter Condo Authority ’s premises with his or her support person.

The Condo Authority is committed to creating an environment that is respectful to all members of the public who seek access to its services. Procedures have been created to guide employees, board members and other third-party agents on how to:

• Interact and communicate with people with different disability related needs
• Interact with those who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
• Assist a person with a disability who is having difficulty accessing Condo Authority ’s services
• Provide safe evacuation for people with disabilities during an emergency

All staff, volunteers and board members and any 3rd party contractor employed by the Condo Authority will receive accessibility training on how to meet the needs and experiences of persons with disabilities. The following topics will be covered:

• An overview of the Human Rights Code as it relates to persons with disabilities
• An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard
• How to apply Condo Authority’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standard
• How to follow Condo Authority’s emergency management plan for protecting people with disabilities

Further training will be provided when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.

Upon request, Condo Authority will consult with the person making the request to provide publications and/or processes for receiving and responding to feedback in accessible formats and with communication supports, dependent upon document specifications.

Every effort will be made to ensure that the accessible formats and communication supports provided take into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability, and are provided at a cost no more than the regular cost charged to other persons.

The Condo Authority is committed to ensuring that its policies, practices and procedures promotes the dignity and independence of all persons with disabilities. Changes will not be made to this policy before considering the impact on persons with disabilities. All policies respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.