Accessibility Policy

Our AODA Commitment

The Leo Baeck Day School supports the full inclusion of persons with disabilities as set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005. 

Statement of Commitment

Leo Baeck is committed to recognizing the dignity and independence of all students, staff, volunteers, donors, and visitors, and seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities have genuine, open, access to all Leo Baeck services, facilities and events. It is the responsibility of each staff member and/or volunteer, to play a part in creating an equitable and inclusive environment, in the identification of barriers, and in the accommodation processes, whether on-site at Leo Baeck, or at some other event location. 

Standards of Accessibility

i) Training

We are committed to training staff and volunteers in Ontario’s accessibility laws and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities. We will train our employees and volunteers on accessibility as it relates to their specific roles.

ii) Accessibility Policies

The Leo Baeck Day School is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario’s accessibility laws.

iii) Accessibility Plans

The Leo Baeck Day School has created a plan to meet the needs of its staff, volunteers, donors and visitors with disabilities and is working to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility.

Information and Communication Standard

We are committed to excellence in serving all individuals in the community, and will consult with people with disabilities to ascertain their needs in accessing information that has been communicated to the public by email or through our website.

Educational and Training Resources 

The Leo Baeck Day School will provide educational and training resources or material in an accessible format. We will also provide student records and information on program requirements, availability and descriptions in an accessible format to persons with disabilities. 

We will provide training to educators with accessibility aware training related to accessible program, course delivery and instruction. A record of the training, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided will be kept by the Leo Baeck Day School. 

Employment Standard

The Leo Baeck Day School will inform all staff and potential staff that accommodations can be made during recruitment and hiring.

i) Recruitment

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair and accessible to all. That all job postings are available in accessible formats upon request.

ii) Documented Individual Accommodation Plans

The Leo Baeck Day School has a documented individual accommodation plan in place for employees with disabilities. This plan records the necessary information for on-site accommodations to best enable the employee a barrier free workplace.

iii) Workplace Emergency Response Information

We are committed to ensuring that all employees with disabilities are provided with the necessary assistance to vacate the premises in the event of an emergency. This plan includes input from the employee and will incorporate assistance of co-workers if necessary.

iv) Return to Work

The Leo Baeck Day School is committed to assisting the injured, or disabled employee in developing, implementing and executing a return to work plan that provides a safe workplace environment.

Customer Service

i) Communication

-We will ask the users of our services to provide direction on communication methods that take into account their disability.

-We will train staff and volunteers who communicate with users of our services on how to interact and communicate appropriately with people with various types of disabilities.

ii) Telephone Services

-We will train staff and volunteers to communicate over the telephone in clear and plain language.

-We will offer to communicate with users and donors through email, in person, and by regular mail if telephone communication is not suitable, or is not available.

iii) Assistive Devices

-We will ensure that our staff and volunteers are trained and familiar with any assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our services.

–If there is a physical, technological or other type of barrier that prevents the use of an Assistive Device, we will make efforts to provide an alternative means of assistance to assist a customer with a disability.

iv) Billing

We are committed to providing accessible printed communication materials including invoices to the general public and all our donors. Upon request, printed materials will be provided in hard copy, large print, or email formats. We will answer any questions people may have about the content of the printed materials in person, by telephone or by email.

v) Service Animals and Support Persons

We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accommodated by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to the public, or to any of our events which may be held in off-site premises. We will ensure that all staff, volunteers and others dealing with the public are properly trained in how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal, and how to deal with others who may object to the service animal.

We are 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 Leo Baeck’s premises or an event of Leo Baeck which is held at an off-site location, with the support person and at no time will such a person be prevented from having access to the support person.

There may be instances where safety is an issue and Leo Baeck will insist on the presence of a support person. 

Leo Baeck will notify the public and donors when there is a fee for a program, service or event. Fees for support persons may or may not be charged depending on the nature of the event. For clarity, should Leo Baeck insist on the presence of a support person, Leo Baeck shall waive payment of the fee.

vi) Notice of Temporary Disruption

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities Leo Baeck will notify customers promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, it’s anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

vii) Training for Staff

Leo Baeck will provide training to all employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public, and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service policies, practices, and procedures. This training will be provided as soon as is practical after staff commence their duties. Training will also be provided when changes are made to these policies, practices, and procedures. Records of the training provided, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided will be kept by Leo Baeck.

• Training will include the following:
  • The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of 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 assistive technologies or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
  • What to do if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty accessing Leo Baeck’s services
  • Leo Baeck’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standard

viii) Feedback Process

The ultimate goal of Leo Baeck is to meet and surpass expectations while serving people with disabilities. Comments on our services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcomed and appreciated.

Feedback can be made by email, verbally, regular mail, or by telephone. Feedback can be directed to the Director of Operations. Customers can expect to hear back within a reasonable time.

Modifications to this or other policies:

Leo Baeck is committed to developing customer service policies that respect and promote the dignity, independence, integration and equality of opportunity of people with disabilities.  Therefore, no changes will be made to this Policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities.

Any Policy of Leo Baeck that does not respect and promote these principles will be modified or removed.

Questions about this Policy:

This Policy exists to achieve service excellence to people with disabilities who access the services/events of Leo Baeck. If anyone has a question about the Policy, or if the purpose of the Policy is not understood, an explanation will be provided by the Director of Operations.

View our full Accessibility Plan.