Effective-December 1, 2023
INTRODUCTION
This is the Accessibility Notice and policy (the "Accessibility Notice") for Square Yards Real Estate Inc. (Herein after referred to as "Square Yards"). This Accessibility Notice applies to all of our employees, management, and officers. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in a consistent strengthening of business systems, strategic alliances, and partnerships with clients. But we could not do it without you. We value our employees, and we need to create an environment where you can succeed in your own goals in order to help us succeed in ours. At Square Yards, we believe that all employees have an important contribution to make, both individually and to the team. We are committed to providing an environment where all employees are encouraged to reach their highest potential.
Square Yards is committed to ensuring equal access, participation and opportunities for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence by providing people with disabilities the same opportunity to benefit from the same services and opportunities as others.
Square Yards believe in integrations and are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, as feasible. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and by meeting our accessibility requirements under provincial accessibility laws.
For information on the Terms of Use of the Website please visit our Terms of Use page here. https://www.squareyards.ca.
ACCESSIBILITY POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to outline our responsibilities in providing goods, services and opportunities to people with disabilities.
DEFINITIONS
Assistive Device – a technical aid, communication device or other instrument that is used to maintain or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. Personal assistive devices are typically devices that customers bring with them such as a wheelchair, walker or a personal oxygen tank that might assist in hearing, seeing, communicating, moving, breathing, remembering and/or reading.
Disability – the term disability as defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, refers to:
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 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.
Guide Dog – is a highly-trained working dog that has been trained at one of the facilities listed in Ontario Regulation 58 under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, to provide mobility, safety and increased independence for people who are blind.
Service Animal – as reflected in Ontario Regulation 429/07, 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. If the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability.
Service Dog – as reflected in Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Regulation 562 a dog other than a guide dog for the blind is a service dog if:
1. It is readily apparent to an average person that the dog functions as a service dog for a person with a medical disability; or
2. The person who requires the dog can provide on request a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires a service dog.
Support Person – as reflected in Ontario Regulation 429/07, a support person means, in relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies him or her in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs or access to goods and services.
PROVIDING GOODS AND SERVICES
We will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity to people with disabilities by:
1. Ensuring that all people with disabilities receive the same value and quality;
2. Allowing people with disabilities to do things in their own ways, at their own pace when accessing goods and services as long as this does not present a safety risk;
3. Using alternative methods, when possible, to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the same services, in the same place and in a similar manner;
4. Consider individual needs when providing goods and services; and
5. Communicating in a manner that takes into account, the individual’s disability
COMMUNICATION
We communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. We train employees on how to interact and communicate with people with disabilities and will accommodate accessibility needs as required or requested. We are in the process of making our website compliant with the requirements of WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
We train employees to communicate over the telephone in clear and plain language and to speak clearly and slowly. We are committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from our goods and services. We ensure that our staff is trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by people with disabilities while accessing our goods, services or opportunities.
ASSISTIVE DEVICES
Persons with disabilities may use their own assistive devices as required when accessing goods or services we provide.
In cases where the assistive device presents a safety concern or where accessibility might be an issue, other reasonable measures will be used to ensure the access of goods and services. For example, open flames and oxygen tanks cannot be near one another. Therefore, the accommodation of a person with an oxygen tank may involve ensuring the individual is in a location that would be considered safe for everyone and the business. Or, where elevators are not present and where an individual requires assistive devices for the purposes of mobility, service will be provided in a location that meets the needs of the person with disability.
GUIDE DOGS, SERVICE ANIMALS AND SERVICE DOGS
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a guide dog, service animal or service dog on the parts of our premises that are open to the public unless otherwise excluded by law. We will also ensure that all employees are properly trained in how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal. Every effort will be made to ensure that any offsite event venues are compliant with our commitment regarding service animals.
If a guide dog, service animal or service dog is excluded by law, we will offer alternative methods to enable the person with a disability to access goods and services, when possible (for example, securing the animal in a safe location and offering the guidance of an employee).
If it is not readily apparent that the animal is being used by the individual for reasons relating to his or her disability, we may request verification from the person with a disability. Verification may include:
1. A letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons related to the disability;
2. A valid identification card signed by the Attorney General of Canada; or,
3. A certificate of training from a recognized guide dog or service animal training school.
The individual that is accompanied by a guide dog, service dog and/or service animal is responsible for maintaining care and control of the animal at all times.
SUPPORT PERSONS
We will ensure that both, the person with a disability and accompanying support person are allowed to enter the premises together and that the customer is not prevented from having access to their support person.
If payment to an event is required by a support person for admission to an event we offer, pricing for support persons will be included in the registration process.
In addition, support persons are permitted to attend courses we offer for the purposes of providing assistance to individuals with disabilities. In these circumstances, pricing for support persons will also be included in the registration process. There may be times where seating and availability prevent the person with a disability and support person from sitting beside each other. In these situations, we will make every reasonable attempt to resolve the issue.
DISRUPTION IN SERVICE
We are committed to ensuring that our premises and related services are welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities. As appropriate, we are willing to provide necessary alterations to our facilities to accommodate people with disabilities. Service disruptions may occur due to reasons not within our control or knowledge. We will provide notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
In the event of any temporary disruptions to facilities or services that people with disabilities rely on to access or use our goods or services, reasonable efforts will be made to provide advance notice or post a notice of the disruption.
EMPLOYMENT
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities with respect to recruitment, employment, training, career development and career progression. During the recruitment process, qualified candidates requiring accommodation shall self-identify and request for the appropriate accommodation.
TRAINING
We provide disability related accessibility training to all employees, volunteers, and/or contractors who deal with the public or other third parties that act on our behalf. Training will include the following:
1. The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the integrated standards.
2. 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.
3. How to learn about the use of various assistive devices.
4. What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing our goods and services. Our policies, practices and procedures relating to the integrated standards.
5. Employees will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.
FEEDBACK PROCESS
We will provide customers, clients, and individuals with disabilities, accessing
our service with the opportunity to provide feedback on any service or potential
service.
Feedback regarding all other accessibility matters can be sent to
[email protected] or call +1(8555)249-9922
Individuals that provide formal feedback will receive acknowledgement of
their feedback, along with any resulting actions based on concerns or
complaints that were submitted.
