Statement of Commitment
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is committed to providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities in a way that is consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity to obtain, use and benefit from the ICTC’s goods and services. For a detailed description of each principle please visit www.AccessOn.ca.
This policy will be updated as new standards are introduced and developed. Changes in how ICTC delivers its services will also prompt a review of this policy in order to consider the impact on people with disabilities. Questions about the policy should be directed to the Director of Operations, who can be reached using the Contact Form.
ICTC provides two other Legal Information documents in addition to this Accessible Customer Service Standard. ICTC Terms & Conditions sets out the terms governing your use of the ICTC web sites. ICTC’s Privacy Statement describes how ICTC collects, uses, and shares personal information.
Canadian Accessibility Standards and Regulations
Ontario’s Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) aims to make Ontario more accessible to people with disabilities. It is about:
- Understanding that customers with disabilities may have different needs, and
- Finding the best way to help them access goods and services.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 is the foundation on which the IASR is built. The AODA allows for enforcement of the IASR through inspections, compliance orders, and administrative penalties.
ICTC’s accessibility practices are compliant with the AODA, the IASR, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and other applicable Canadian federal and provincial accessibility regulations.
This and other ICTC web sites (collectively, the “ICTC web sites”) comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, as published by the W3C Consortium’s Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).
ICTC is committed to equity in employment. ICTC’s employment practices comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code, which states that every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to employment without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, record of offences, marital status, family status, same-sex partnership status or disability. Furthermore, as a federal contractor, ICTC complies with the Federal Contractors Program, which requires organizations to institute employment equity plans in accordance with the federal Employment Equity Act.
Definitions
The following definitions apply to the terms used in this Accessible Customer Service Policy.
Alternate formats: Other ways of publishing information beyond traditional printing. For example:
- Audio format such as cassettes or digital audio format
- Braille used by some people who are blind or deaf-blind
- Videos that may be helpful to people with certain learning disabilities
- Easy-to-read, simplified summaries of materials for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities
- Large print and electronic formats
Assistive Devices: A tool, technology or other mechanism that helps a person with a disability do everyday tasks and activities such as moving, communicating or lifting and maintain their independence at home, at work and in the community (e.g. communication aids, cognition aids, personal mobility aids, medical aids).
Disabilities: As per the Ontario Human Rights Code, “disability” means:
a) 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 coordination, 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;
b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
c) a learning disability or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
d) a mental disorder; or;
e) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. (“Handicap”)
Persons with Disabilities: Individuals who are afflicted with a disability as defined under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Service Animals: Any animal trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
Support Persons: Any person whether a paid professional, volunteer, family member, or friend who accompanies a person with a disability in order to help with communications, personal care, medical needs, or access to goods or services.
Providing Goods and Services to People With Disabilities
Communication: ICTC will communicate with customers and third parties with disabilities in ways that take their disability into account and are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. We will provide alternative formats and will train staff on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
Information required by a person with a disability will, upon request, be provided in a format or method that takes into account the person’s disability (e.g., email, hard copy, large print, verbally, in person, via telephone, via a support person).
Assistive devices: ICTC endeavours to ensure people with disabilities have unencumbered access to use their own assistive devices in obtaining, using, or benefiting from ICTC’s goods and services. Employees will be trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing ICTC’s goods or services. ICTC employees should not operate or otherwise interfere with a person’s personal assistive device, unless invited to do so by the user or their support person.
Use of service animals and support persons: ICTC welcomes people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of its premises that are open to the public and other third parties. Employees should not pet or otherwise distract a person’s service animal.
Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter ICTC’s premises with his or her support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on ICTC’s premises. Where confidentiality is of importance, the support person may be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Forums and Events: ICTC endeavours to hold all customer forums and events in accessible venues. When registering for events, customers requiring any special assistance or accommodation in relation to a disability should indicate to ICTC. ICTC will endeavour to meet accommodation needs. Any support person accompanying a person with a disability to an ICTC sponsored event will not be charged for entrance or registration, but should advise of their attendance in advance wherever possible.
Notice of temporary disruption: ICTC will provide customers with 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. The notice will be placed at all public entrances and reception areas on our premises.
Reduced In-Person Staffing During COVID-19 Pandemic: Like many workplaces, ICTC has reduced in-person staffing and in-person operations at many of its locations in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Accordingly, in-person access to ICTC information and/or services may be reduced for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have a question regarding availability of ICTC’s in-person services, please contact ICTC by one of the contact methods set out below.
Training for Staff
All employees that deal with the public or third parties are expected to demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of a range of communication methods helpful to persons with disabilities and if required, offer to communicate with customers by an alternate method which may include in person, by telephone or email. Therefore, ICTC will provide training on accessible customer service, communicating with people with disabilities and related ICTC policies to all staff and others who deal with the public or other third parties on ICTC’s behalf, or influence the development of ICTC’s customer service policies, practices and procedures. Records will be kept of the training and new hires required to complete the training will do so as part of their orientation. Training will be updated when changes are made to ICTC’s customer service policies, practices and procedures.
Feedback Process
Feedback on how well ICTC is meeting customer expectations is appreciated and can be provided via:
- ICTCs feedback form (download the PDF here)
- Phone to: (613) 237 8551
- Fax to: (613) 230 3490
- Email to: @email
- Writing to:
Director of Operations
Information and Communications Technology Council
275 Slater Street, Suite 802
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9
- In person at: address above with a prescheduled appointment
Feedback should be directed to the Director of Operations. If a response is requested, customers can expect to hear back within 5 business days. Complaints will be addressed in accordance with ICTC’s customer procedures.
This policy will be posted on ICTCs web sites and made available to all parties upon request.
Further Information
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR), Ontario Regulation 191/11
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Accessibility in Ontario: A comprehensive accessibility resource website that includes information and resources supporting the AODA and its accessibility standards.
Contacting ICTC
If you wish to contact ICTC regarding this Accessible Customer Service Policy or ICTC’s accessibility practices, please contact ICTC at:
Information and Communications Technology council (ICTC)
275 Slater Street, Suite 802
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5H9
Phone: 613-237-8551
Fax: 613- 230-3490
E-mail: Please use the Contact Form
Last updated: 2021-07-16
