RI Accessible Customer Service Plan

Effective Date: March 4, 2025
1. Purpose

This policy outlines the ways in which Response Innovations Corp. (RI) is striving to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility and meet the accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act(AODA).
2. Scope

This policy applies to all permanent, temporary, and contracted staff working with RI.
3. Policy Statement

RI 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.
3.1. Providing Services to People with Disabilities

RI is committed to excellence in serving all customers, including people with disabilities.
3.2. Assistive Devices

We will ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with the various assistive devices we have on site or that we provide that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods or services. In cases where the assistive device presents a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern or may not be permitted for other reasons, other measures will be used to ensure the person with a disability can access our services or facilities.  
3.3. Communications

We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take their disability into account. We will work with the person with disabilities to determine what method of communication works for them. 
3.4. Service animals

We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public.
3.5. Support persons

A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises. We will notify customers of this by posting a notice on our website.
3.6. Notice of temporary disruption

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities RI will notify customers promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. The notice will be made publicly available on our website.
3.7. Notice of Availability

RI will notify the public that our documents related to accessible customer service are available upon request by posting a notice on the bulletin board in the kitchen area, and on our website.
4. Training

RI is committed to training all staff in accessible customer service and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities. Training will also be provided to people involved in the development of policies, plans, practices and procedures related to the provision of our goods and services.

RI will train staff on accessibility as it relates to their specific roles. Staff will be required to take the training within 30 days after being hired.

Training will include:
  • An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard

  • RI's plan related to 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 or services to people with disabilities

  • What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing RI's goods and services
Staff will also be trained when changes are made to our accessible customer service plan. Training records will be maintained by the Director, People and Governance.
5. Feedback Procedure

RI welcomes feedback on how we provide services to people with disabilities feedback can be provided in the following ways:
  • Email us at cluzi@responseinnovations.com

  • Write to us at Response Innovations, 137 George St., Toronto, ON M5A 2M6
All feedback, including complaints, will be handled in the following manner:
  • recorded in a log,

  • reviewed by the Health & Safety Committee,

  • reported to the Director, People and Governance,

  • addressed and responded to via email or by mail (where return address information is provided).
6. Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated to align with evolving industry standards, regulatory requirements, and best practices to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness. Furthermore, any policy, practice or procedure of RI that does not respect and promote the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
7. Review log
Reviewed and updated
Mar. 2023
Mar. 2024
Mar. 2025