Accessibility

 

Purpose

Polaris Realty (Canada) Limited is committed to providing excellent service to all our clients including tenants, prospective tenants, members of the public and third parties. The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework through which Polaris Realty can achieve service excellence for people with disabilities in accordance with various legislation including but not limited to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c. 11 (the “AODA”) and Ontario Regulation 429/07 (the “Customer Service Standard”).

Scope

Working closely with the building owners, Polaris Realty is committed to providing a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment to all individuals who seek access to the buildings we manage and the services we provide. All employees are expected to comply with the spirit and intent of this policy when providing services to our customers or otherwise representing or conducting business on behalf of Polaris Realty.

Definitions

Barrier

As defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, a barrier is anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of his or her disability, including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or practice.

Disability

For the purpose of this policy, the term “disability” includes:

1. any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device.
2. a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability.
3. a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language.
4. a mental disorder; or
5. an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Employee

For the purposes of this policy, the term “employee” refers to any person regarding whom Polaris Realty pays wages or a salary, has control over their assigned work and has a right to control the details of their work. This includes, but is not limited to full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract employees.

Service Animal

For the purposes of this policy, an animal is a service animal for a person with a disability if:

1. it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability; or
2. the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.

Support Person

For the purposes of this policy, a “support person” is a person who accompanies a person with a disability in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods or services.

Policy Statement

Polaris Realty (Canada) Limited is committed to providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities in a manner consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity.

Communication

When communicating with persons with a disability, Polaris Realty employees will take into account the particular individual’s needs and circumstances. All communication will be provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.

Assistive Devices

Persons with disabilities will be permitted to obtain, use or benefit from goods or services through the use of their own assistive devices. In the event a person with a disability is hindered from accessing any goods or services offered, we will use our best efforts to deliver the same service in another way.

Telephone Services

We are committed to providing accessible telephone service to our customers. If telephone communication provides a barrier to a person with a disability, we will offer to communicate by e-mail or fax.

Billing

We are committed to providing accessible invoices and we will provide our invoices in an alternative accessible format upon request. We will answer any questions customers may have about the content of invoices in person, by telephone or e-mail.

Service Animals

We welcome persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal. If a service animal is excluded by law, we will suggest appropriate alternatives and provide assistance to ensure that the person is able to access, obtain, use or benefit from our services where possible.

Support Persons

We welcome persons 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 access any of our services and facilities with his or her Support Person.

Notice of Temporary Disruptions

We are aware that persons with disabilities rely on certain services and facilities we provide. Temporary disruptions in services and facilities will occur from time to time. We will provide notice when there is a temporary disruption in those services or facilities that people with disabilities usually rely upon. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and, if applicable, a description of alternative facilities or services that may be available. Notice of service disruptions will be provided as soon as practical after we become aware of the disruption, or in advance in the case of planned disruptions.

Notice will be provided by a variety of methods, depending on the circumstances, and may include postings in conspicuous places such as in the entrances, lobbies and elevator banks of our managed buildings.

Training for Staff

Polaris Realty will ensure that all employees, agents and third parties who interact with customers on its behalf receive AODA Customer Service Standard Training. Training shall be provided on an ongoing basis whenever changes are made to this Policy to ensure that this Policy is properly implemented at all times. An electronic record of the training will be kept in an online database.

Training will include the following:

• An overview of the purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the Customer Service Standard;
• Training on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;
• Training on how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person;
• Training on how to use equipment or assistive devices available or otherwise provided by Polaris Realty that may help with the provision of goods or services to a person with a disability;
• Training on what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing our services;

Feedback

We welcome questions and feedback about how we deliver services to people with disabilities. Customers can submit feedback and questions in person, or in writing or by any other means, to the Corporate Head Office:

Polaris Realty (Canada) Limited
Attn: Human Resources 
Suite 101, 2700 Matheson Blvd E Mississauga, ON L4W 4V9
Telephone: (905) 238-5009 Fax: (905) 238-5054

If the feedback raises serious concerns with respect to the delivery of services to persons with disabilities, we will provide a response to the concerns in a timely manner. The author of the feedback will be provided a response in the format requested (or the most appropriate format where no request was made) outlining corrective actions we will or will have taken. We will make our best efforts to respond to feedback within ten (10) business days.

This Policy and any corresponding practices and procedures will be made available to any person on request. We will post notice of the availability of these documents on our website.

Upon request, we will provide this Policy and any other forms created pursuant to the Customer Service Standard in a format that takes into account the disability of the person submitting the request.

Modifications to this or other policies

We are committed to developing customer service policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. All Polaris Realty policies and procedures will be developed or updated in such a manner as to respect and promote the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.