Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

1. Providing Services to People with Disabilities
2. Statement of Commitment
3. How We Provide Service to People with Disabilities
4. Training for Staff
5. AODA Multi-Year Plan
6. Feedback and Questions

Providing Services to People with Disabilities

The purpose of this document is to describe Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP’s Toronto office’s policies and practices regarding services provided to persons with disabilities.

Statement of Commitment

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (the firm) is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (Ontario) (the AODA) and to fulfilling its obligations thereunder. This commitment includes ensuring that all clients, partners and employees of the firm with disabilities are treated in a manner that respects their dignity and independence. We are dedicated to providing all Davies’ clients with the highest level of service in a timely manner.

While our commitment to this principle is firm, we are also bound by legal and ethical obligations—including client confidentiality—which may at times affect the manner in which clients with disabilities can access our services. In these cases, we endeavour to ensure that due consideration is given to the needs of clients with disabilities and that appropriate alternative arrangements are made.

How We Provide Service to People with Disabilities

To provide excellent service to all clients, we endeavour to communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their specific disability, while ensuring our premises are accessible to such individuals. This includes (without limitation) taking the following measures, where appropriate:

offering to communicate with clients and/or answer questions in person, by e-mail or telephone relay services where telephone communication is not appropriate or available
permitting clients with disabilities to use assistive devices on the firm's premises
ensuring documents prepared by the firm, and to which clients are entitled, are available in accessible formats upon request, including hard copy, large print, e-mail or other appropriate formats
welcoming people who are accompanied by a service animal or a support person in the areas of our premises that are open to the general public, and ensuring that staff are properly trained in how to interact with people who are accompanied by a service animal or a support person
providing employees with disabilities an individualized workplace emergency response plan as soon as practicable, and reviewing the plan when the individual moves to a different location or when their accommodations needs or plans are reviewed
ensuring that all workplace policies respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities
providing clients and employees with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities usually used by people with disabilities, in conjunction with building management

Where known, the above notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities, if available. This notice will be placed at all public entrances.

Staff Training

The firm provides training on the policies and procedures described herein to all firm members, volunteers and service contractors who deal with the public, and to all those who are involved in the development and approval of client service policies, practices and procedures. It is the firm's goal to provide this training within three months of the firm member's start date.

The content of such training will include the following, in varying degrees of detail depending on the level of involvement the individual has with the firm's clients:

the purpose of the AODA and its requirements in regard to customer service standards
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
general information regarding the types of assistive devices that may be used by people with disabilities on the firm's premises
what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing the firm's goods and services
the firm's policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standards under the AODA

Training will be ongoing to adapt to changes made to any policies, practices and procedures.

AODA Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

Under the AODA, the Toronto office of the firm is required to establish a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (the Plan). This plan outlines the firm's strategy to ensure compliance with its current and future obligations under the AODA, in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations (IASR) made under the AODA. Also in accordance with its obligations, the firm will ensure the Plan is available to the public, can be provided in alternate formats upon request and will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years. Set out below are the details of how the firm intends to fulfil its obligations under the AODA over the coming years.

Customer Service Standard Requirements

Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2012
Status: Completed on January 1, 2012

The firm has been in compliance with its obligations under the AODA Customer Service Standard since January 1, 2012 and will continue to ensure ongoing compliance.

The firm is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to all clients, including clients with disabilities. In support of this objective, we endeavour to communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their specific disability, and ensure the firm’s premises are accessible to such individuals. This includes (without limitation) taking the following measures, where appropriate:

offering to communicate with clients and/or answer questions in person, by e-mail or telephone relay services where telephone communication is not appropriate or available
permitting clients with disabilities to use assistive devices on the firm's premises
making documents prepared by the firm, and to which clients are entitled, available in accessible formats upon request, including hard copy, large print, e-mail or other appropriate formats
welcoming people who are accompanied by a service animal or a support person in the areas of our premises that are open to the public, and ensuring that staff are properly trained in how to interact with people who are accompanied by a service animal or a support person
ensuring that all workplace policies respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities
providing clients and employees with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities usually used by people with disabilities, in conjunction with building management (where known, this notice will be placed at all public entrances and will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities, if available)
engaging in preventative and emergency maintenance of our accessible elements in public spaces, including but not limited to reception and waiting areas, as follows: bi-weekly premise inspections, monthly health and safety inspections and responding to deficiencies when reported
creating and maintaining a feedback process to respond to any questions or comments regarding the manner in which we provide services to persons with disabilities, either through a PDF version of our feedback form or through an alternative format obtained by contacting accessibility@dwpv.com or by phone at 416.367.6924
training all firm members who deal with the public, and all those who are involved in the development and approval of client service policies, practices and procedures

Training will be ongoing to adapt to changes made to any policies, practices and procedures. New firm members are trained within three months of their arrival.

The content of such training includes the following, in varying degrees of detail depending on the level of involvement the individual has with the firm's clients:

Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation

Emergency Response Plans

Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2012
Status: Completed on January 1, 2012

Where appropriate in light of the nature of the disability, members of the firm with disabilities are provided with individualized emergency response plans to ensure they are aware of the processes in place to safely evacuate from the premises during an emergency. These plans are reviewed and updated as changes occur to ensure the information remains current and accurate.

Training

Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2015
Status: Completed on January 1, 2015

In compliance with the deadline of January 1, 2015, the firm provided training to employees, volunteers, service contractors and partners on Ontario's accessibility laws (including customer service standards) and on the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the specific duties and responsibilities of the employees and partners.

Information and Communications

Compliance Deadlines: Various
Status: See below

The firm is committed to meeting the communication needs of our clients, employees and partners with disabilities. In keeping with this commitment, the firm completed the following items by the deadlines outlined below:

By January 1, 2016, the firm will ensure that all public information is made available in an accessible format upon request and will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats. (Completed January 1, 2016)
By January 1, 2021, the firm's external website (www.dwpv.com) will conform with WCAG 2.0, Level AA. (Completed 2020)

Employment

Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2016
Status: Completed on January 1, 2016

The firm is committed to fair and accessible employment practices, including ensuring equality of opportunity during both the recruitment and employment process. Steps will be taken to ensure that employees and members of the public are notified of the availability of accommodations throughout the recruitment process. All firm members will be informed of the firm's policies used to support individuals with disabilities, including providing appropriate accommodations, and will ensure that all required information is provided in accessible formats upon request.

The firm will develop and implement a process for creating individual accommodations plans and return to work policies for employees who have been absent due to disability and will ensure that the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities are taken into account throughout any internal processes, including the performance review process.

Design of Public Spaces

Compliance Deadline: January 1, 2025
Status: Ongoing

Currently, Davies does not plan on redeveloping any of its public spaces. However, any future major redesign of public areas will comply with AODA requirements as defined under the Design of Public Spaces Standard, if applicable.

For more information on this Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, or to request a copy of our accessibility compliance reports, or any other information relating to the Toronto office's accessibility policies, please contact accessibility@dwpv.com or Jessica Bujold, Director, Human Resources at 416.367.7496. This document is available in accessible formats, upon request.

Feedback and Questions About This Policy

This policy exists to ensure Davies’ excellent standard of service to all clients, including people with disabilities. If there are any questions about this policy, or if you have any comments or feedback regarding the manner in which we provide these services, please send an e-mail to accessibility@dwpv.com or contact Jessica Bujold, Director, Human Resources at 416.367.7496. A Feedback Form in an accessible format will be provided. If a response is requested, one will be provided within five business days.

To request a copy of our accessibility compliance reports, please send an e-mail to accessibility@dwpv.com or contact Jessica Bujold, Director, Human Resources at 416.367.7496.