Accessibility Policy
Purpose
Ponacka, a residential summer camp for boys, strives to provide its goods and services to all customers, including people with disabilities. This policy establishes the accessibility standards for customer service for Camp Ponacka, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and Ontario Regulation 429/07. This policy applies to all employees of Camp Ponacka., agents, volunteers, contracted service staff and customers.
Policy Statement
Camp Ponacka is committed to providing exceptional and accessible service to its customers. Goods and services will be provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence to all customers. The provision of services to persons with disabilities will be integrated wherever possible. Persons with disabilities will be given an opportunity equal to that given to others, to obtain, use or benefit from the goods and services provided by and on behalf of Camp Ponacka.
Policy Requirements
Camp Ponacka will carry out our duties and responsibilities in the following areas:
Use of Guide Dogs, Service Animals and Support Persons:
Guide Dogs and Service Animals : If a person with a disability is accompanied by a guide dog or other appropriately qualified service animal, Camp Ponacka will ensure that the person is permitted to be on site with the animal and to keep the animal with him or her unless the animal is otherwise excluded by law. Where a service animal is excluded by law, Camp Ponacka will ensure that other measures are available to enable the person with a disability to obtain, use and benefit from Camp Ponacka’s goods and services. The service animal must be under the care and control of the individual at all times.
Definition of a Guide Dog – dog trained as a guide for a blind person and having the qualifications prescribed by the Blind Persons’ Rights Act R.S.O. 1990, c. B.7, s. 1 (1).
Definition of a Service Animal – is an animal for a person with a disability, if it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his/her disability; or if the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.
Support Persons: a person with a disability may be accompanied by an appropriate support person on our premises. Camp Ponacka will ensure that both persons are permitted on our premises and that the person with a disability is not prevented from having access to the support person.
Camp Ponacka may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by an appropriate support person when on our premise, if such a person is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health or safety of others on site. If an amount is payable by a support person for admission, or otherwise, Camp Ponacka will ensure notice is given in advance about the amount.
Definition of a Support Person – any person whether a paid professional, volunteer, family member or friend who accompanies a person with a disability to aid him or her with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or access to goods and services.
Notice of Temporary Disruption
Camp Ponacka shall provide notice of disruption of services to the public. Any Notice of Disruption will contain the following: reason for the disruption, anticipated duration, alternative facilities or services, if available. Camp Ponacka will provide such notice in at least one of the following methods: notice physically posted at the site of the disruption, notice on our website (www.ponacka.com), notice at the entrance of the Camp office
Accessibility Training
We are committed to training all staff and volunteers in accessible customer service, other Ontario’s accessibility standards and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities.
In addition, we will train:
-all persons who participate in developing the organization’s policies; and
-all other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of the organization
Training of our employees and volunteers on accessibility will be tailored to their specific roles.
Training includes some or all of the following (depending on the staff person’s roles and responsibilities):
• purpose 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 an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
• how to use the equipment or devices available on-site or otherwise that may help with providing goods, services or facilities to people with disabilities.
• our policies related to the Customer Service Standards, Information and Communication Standards, Employment Standards, Design of Public Spaces Standards, and Transportation Standards
• what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing our organization’s goods, services or facilities.
We train every person as soon as practicable after their contract begins and provide training in respect of any changes to the policies. We maintain records of the training provided including the dates on which the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided. All staff will complete the Ontario Human Rights Comission’s eLearning module as part of their training: Working Together: The Code and the AODA.
Recruitment and Hiring
Camp Ponacka strives to ensure our hiring process is accessible. Applications can be made online, by mail, or by phone. Interviews are available online, by phone or in person. Ponacka is committed to employment equity and encourages all qualified candidates to apply. If you require an accommodation at any point during the hiring process, please let us know so that we can work with you to meet your needs. All personal information will be handled with strict confidence.
Employee Accommodations
We are committed to supporting all employees with disabilities in connection to job performance and development. We will provide evaluations and performance feedback in a format that takes into account a person’s disability.
Feedback Process
Camp Ponacka accepts feedback from the public in a variety of methods including: phone, in person, mail and email. All feedback is reviewed by a Director. Complaints are investigated and follow up is provided to the customer if requested.
Notice of availability of documents
Camp Ponacka will provide the public notice of the availability of documents in a timely manner, required by the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, (O. Reg 429/07) upon request. Notice of availability is provided here on our website (www.ponacka.com) and through printed materials in our offices.
Format of documents: If Camp Ponacka is required, by legislation, to provide a copy of a document to a person with a disability, we will take into account the person’s ability to access the information. Ponacka will provide the document or information contained in the document in a format that meets the needs of the individual as agreed upon with the person.
Accessibility Compliance Reports
Accessibility Compliance Reports are available to download here: the 2020 Accessibility Compliance Report and the 2023 Accessibility Compliance Report. To receive an emailed copy of a report please contact us by email at info@ponacka.com
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
Camp Ponacka is committed to meeting the needs of all people and will prevent and remove barriers to accessibility for all individuals. This multi-year plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every 5 years and is posted here, on our website.
2023 – Camp Ponacka will continue to update its website and adhere to WCAG 2.0 Level AA requirements for new content and updates.
2024 and beyond – Camp Ponacka will continue to identify opportunities to prevent and remove barriers in our camp setting and programming. We will adhere to the Design of Public Spaces Standards when any exterior paths of travel, outdoor eating areas, play spaces, parking areas, services, waiting areas or fixed queuing guides are newly constructed or redeveloped. We will continue to assess our programs/site/communication and customer service to identify and address or prevent any additional barriers that arise.
For more information on this accessibility plan and/or to provide feedback please contact us at info@ponacka.com
Accessible formats of this information are available for free upon request by contacting us at info@ponacka.com