People Corporation and its affiliates and subsidiaries actively foster a culture where all people are treated fairly, with dignity, mutual respect and professionalism, and we uphold the principles of diversity, acceptance of differences, and respect for others.
Creating a working environment for our employees, and a service experience for our clients, that respects the dignity and independence of all people, including people with disabilities, is a central part of this commitment.
People with disabilities should have:
People Corporation is committed to meeting all provincial and territorial legislative requirements related to Accessibility, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, 2013 (AMA), the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act (2017), and all relevant Human Rights Codes. Where the requirements differ, the highest standard is adopted regardless of location to ensure compliance.
People Corporation will meet the communication needs of people with disabilities in a manner that is appropriate for them by:
People Corporation is committed to digital accessibility, and to being fully compliant to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level A and AA and complying with the AODA effective communication requirements.
To accomplish this, we have partnered with eSSENTIAL Accessibility to administer our accessibility program and oversee its governance. Their accessibility program evaluates our digital products on an ongoing basis in accordance with best practices and is supported by a diverse team of accessibility professionals, including users of assistive technologies. The platform, moreover, goes beyond minimum compliance requirements by making an assistive Client Experience technology application available to clients who have trouble typing, gesturing, moving a mouse, or reading.
Persons with disabilities are welcome to use their own assistive devices when accessing People Corporation’s services or offices. All representatives are trained on how to support those using assistive devices, as well as on any assistive devices or accessible features we may have available in our offices.
Persons with disabilities are welcome to use their own assistive devices when accessing People Corporation’s services or offices. All representatives are trained on how to support those using assistive devices, as well as on any assistive devices or accessible features we may have available in our offices.
Service animals accompanying a client are allowed entry to all areas of our offices accessible to the public. All representatives receive training on how to support clients accompanied by service animals in an appropriate manner.
If People Corporation’s ability to provide accessibility features in a publicly accessible space is disrupted, such as an elevator being out of service, we will provide notice of that disruption with as much notice as possible. This notice will include the reason, the anticipated duration and whether there are other ways to access our services during the disruption. Notices will typically be placed at all public entrances, at service counters, and we will make every effort to notify clients who have appointments by email or telephone.
When completing major renovations of our existing offices, or selecting new office space, People Corporation will ensure that our locations with client access meet the baseline level of accessibility for public spaces per the relevant provincial legislation.
People Corporation is committed to training all representatives on Accessible Client Service as soon as practicable after being hired to ensure we are a welcoming environment for people with disabilities.
Training includes relevant provincial accessibility laws, including AODA and the AMA, and the aspects of the Human Rights Codes that apply to people with disabilities. We maintain records of policy acknowledgements, and the dates of training, which details how to interact, communicate with, and support our clients with disabilities.
We will also provide role-specific training for those working on digital accessibility or policy development, and train hiring managers to ensure awareness and understanding of our accessibility obligations to current, and future, employees.
This 2021-2026 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (‘Plan’) outlines the actions that People Corporation and its affiliates and subsidiaries will put in place to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility for people with disabilities, per our Accessibility Policy. This plan formalizes existing accessibility efforts and details our future strategies to improve access. The plan will be reviewed and updated at least every two years.
People Corporation is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity, and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner.
We will do this by fulfilling our requirements under all provincial and territorial legislative requirements related to Accessibility, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, 2013 (AMA), and the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act (2017). Although Accessibility legislation has not yet been enacted in all of the provinces we operate in, all People Corporation representatives will be expected to comply with our Accessibility policies.
An Accessibility Committee will be struck to ensure that our Accessibility Plan, policies, and procedures continue to meet the diverse needs of people with disabilities who interact with People Corporation as clients, and as employees. This committee will meet regularly to review progress on our strategies and review proposed training and tools. Committee members will be selected from People Corporation’s workforce to ensure diversity of lived experience, education, and role within the organization.
People Corporation is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. We will continue to, upon request, provide or arrange for information in accessible formats and/or provide communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost. We will:
People Corporation is committed to fair and accessible employment practices.
We will continue to review, and modify as necessary, existing recruitment, assessment and selection procedures to ensure people with disabilities have equitable access within our organization. We will:
When completing major renovations of our existing offices, or selecting new office space, People Corporation will ensure that our locations with client access meet the baseline level of accessibility for public spaces per the relevant provincial legislation. In the event of service disruption we will notify the public of the disruption and how to access our services in an alternative fashion.
People Corporation is committed to training all representatives on Accessibility legislation and the Human Rights Codes as soon as practicable after being hired, in a manner that best suits the duties of the representative.
We maintain records of policy acknowledgements, and the dates of training.
As we improve our Accessibility for all persons with disabilities interacting with People Corporation, additional training materials will be developed as required, and with the approval of our Accessibility Officer and the Accessibility Committee.
As part of our due diligence with potential acquisitions, People Corporation will assess any remediation required to bring the entity’s digital communications and website to the WCAG 2.0 A and AA standard, aligned with our approach. Required remediation with any technology that does not conform to this standard will be completed in as expediated a manner as practicable.