AODA

ACCESSIBILITY PLAN AND POLICIES FOR VINELAND ESTATES WINERY

This 2014-21 accessibility plan outlines the policies and actions that Vineland Estates Winery will put in place to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.

Statement of Commitment
Vineland Estates 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. We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Accessible Emergency Information
Vineland Estates is committed to providing the customers and clients with publicly available emergency information in an accessible way upon request. We will also provide employees with disabilities with individualized emergency response information when necessary.

Training
Vineland Estates will provide training to employees, volunteers and other staff members on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it related to people with volunteers and other staff members.
We will take the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario’s accessible laws by January 1, 2015:

  • All staff will be trained in the customer service standard upon hire, existing staff have already had this training.
  • Staff will further be trained in the other standards as they apply to their position upon hire. Existing staff will be asked to complete training on any additional standards that apply to them by January 2, 2015

Kiosks
Vineland Estates does not currently have any self service kiosks, but will ensure employees consider the needs of people with disabilities should they be designing, procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks in the future.

Information and Communications
Vineland Estates is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. We will consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs.

Vineland Estates has and will continue to take appropriate action as is determined to be needed to make all new websites and content on those sites conform with WCAG 2.0, Level A. We will continue to work with vendors and IT experts to make sure all website and content conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA by January 1, 2021

Vineland Estates has taken steps and will take any further required steps as identified to ensure existing feedback processes and public information are accessible to people with disabilities upon request.

Employment
Vineland Estates is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. We will take the following steps to notify the public and staff that, when requested, Vineland Estates ail accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired:

  • Ensure employment advertisements state our willingness to accommodate people with disabilities
  • Offer alternative forms of advertising, interview processes, locations, etc as required to ensure that people with disabilities are able to participate in all processes and activities as seamlessly as possible as barriers are identified.

Vineland Estates will take the following steps to develop and put in place a process for developing individual accommodation plans and return-to-work policies for employees that have been absent due to a disability:

  • Work with employees and any care providers to assess what accommodations are necessary to ensure their ability to return to work on an individual basis.

We will take the following steps to ensure the accessibility needs of employees with disability needs are taken into account if Vineland Estates is using performance management, career development and redeployment processes:

  • Enter into dialogue with the individual employee to assess how to best accommodate any disabilities
  • Ensure that the person is provided alternative means to participate in these processes where barriers exist

Vineland Estates will commit to preventing and removing other accessibility barriers identified as is possible.

Design of Public Spaces
Vineland Estates will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces. Public spaces include:

  • Recreational trails/beach access routes
  • Outdoor public eating areas like rest stops or picnic areas
  • Outdoor play spaces, like playgrounds in provincial parks and local communities
  • Outdoor path of travel, like sidewalks, ramps, stairs, curb ramps, rest areas and accessible pedestrian signals
  • Accessible off street parking
  • Service-related elements like service counters, fixed queuing lines and waiting areas

Vineland Estates will put the following procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to its accessible parts of its public spaces.

  • Where possible, avoid blocking or disabling any existing accessibility equipment, paths or services
  • When these must be disabled or blocked, provide an alternative means of achieving the same or similar accessibility as can be provided

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

For more information
For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact:

Cindy Stevenson
Human Resources Generalist
p: 905.562.7088 ext 14
e: cbrown@vineland.com