Information and Communications Policy

This document is available in an accessible format upon request.

PURPOSE / SCOPE
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and associated regulations establish accessibility standards which Lac-Mac Limited must meet as both an employer and supplier of goods. This policy addresses these standards, in accordance with the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. This policy applies to Lac-Mac Ltd. and employees of Lac-Mac Ltd.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
Lac-Mac Ltd. believes in treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We support the full inclusion of persons with disabilities as set out in both the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Lac-Mac is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the AODA.

DEFINITIONS
Accessible Formats – include but not limited to large print, recorded audio and electronic formats, braille and other formats usable by persons with disabilities.
Communication Supports – include but not limited to captioning, alternative and augmentative communication supports, plain language, sign language and other supports that facilitate effective communications.
Conversion Ready – an electronic or digital format that facilitates conversion into an acceptable format.
Extranet Website – a controlled extension of the intranet, or internal network of an organization to outside users over the Internet.
IASR – Integrated Accessibility Standards, Ontario Regulation
Information – includes data, facts and knowledge that exists in any format, including text, audio, digital or images, and conveys meaning.
Internet Website – a collection of related Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are addressed relative to a common Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and are accessible to the public.
Intranet Website – an organization's internal website that is used to privately and securely share any part of the organization's information or operational systems within the organization and includes extranet websites.
Support Person – in relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies the person with a disability in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs, or with access to goods, services or facilities.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines – refers to the World Wide Web Consortium Recommendation, dated December 2008, entitled "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0."

A. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
General requirements that apply across three standards, Information and Communications, Customer Service and Employment are outlined as follows.

Establishment of Accessibility Policies and Plans
Lac-Mac Ltd will develop, implement and maintain policies governing how it will achieve accessibility through these requirements. Lac-Mac is responsible for including a statement of its commitment to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner in its policies. This should be achieved through documentation in Lac-Mac’s policies and making these documents publicly available, in an accessible format upon request.
Lac-Mac will establish, implement, maintain and document a multi-year accessibility plan outlining its strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet its requirements under the IASR regulation. Lac-Mac will post its accessibility plans on their websites, and provide the plan in an accessible format upon request. Lac-Mac will review and update its accessibility plan once every five years and will establish, review and update its accessibility plans in consultation with persons with disabilities or an advisory committee. Annual status reports will be prepared to report on the progress of steps taken to implement Lac-Mac’s accessibility plan and post this status on its websites. If requested, the report shall be created in an accessible format.

Procuring or Acquiring Goods and Services, or Facilities
Lac-Mac will incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities. The only exception is in cases where it is impracticable to do so.

Training Requirements
Lac-Mac will provide training for its employees and volunteers regarding the IASR and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Training will be provided for individuals who are responsible for developing Lac-Mac’s policies, and all other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of Lac-Mac.

Specific Information & Communication Standards

B. ACCESSIBLE FORMATS AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORTS
Lac-Mac will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner and at no additional cost to the individual. Lac-Mac will take into account the person’s accessibility needs when customizing individual requests.

C. ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE AND WEB CONTENT
All departments governed by Lac-Mac will make its web content conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 at a minimum of Level A. Web content includes any information which resides on an internet or intranet web site.

D. EXCEPTIONS
The Information and Communications Standard does not apply to products and product labels; unconvertible information or communications; or information that the organization does not control directly or indirectly through a contractual relationship. If the organization determines that information or communications are unconvertible, the organization should provide the person requesting information or communication with the following:
a) An explanation as to why the information or communications are unconvertible;
b) A summary of the unconvertible information or communications;
c) Information is regarded as unconvertible if it is not technically feasible to convert the information or communications; or if the technology to convert the information is not readily available.

E. FEEDBACK PROCESS
Ensure these processes are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communications supports, upon request. Lac-Mac should notify the public about the availability of these accessible formats.

Administration
If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or its related procedures please contact the Human Resources Department.

This policy and its related procedures will be reviewed as required in the event of legislative changes.