AODA Compliant
Join Our Wait List
Due to a significant wait list for some of our child care programs, there may be times when we can not accept any more wait list forms for a particular child care age group. Upon receiving your waitlist application, we will communicate with you through email, if your wait list form has been accepted, or if we are unable to accept it.
We review our waitlist several times a year and follow up with families to see if they are still interested in remaining on the list. For children on a wait list for a school age program, staff will start registering children for the following school year during the Spring. At this time, we are prioritizing full-time 5-day placements in both our child care and school age programs.
Accessibility Standards
Heritage Green Child Care Inc is committed to providing services to children, parents/guardians, the public and staff that are free of barriers and biases. Heritage Green Child Care Inc strives to ensure that key principles of independence, dignity, integration, inclusiveness and equality of opportunity are reflected and valued in the learning and working environments.
In compliance with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07, created under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, the Heritage Green Child Care Inc is committed to providing services (i.e., programs, resources, materials) in a way that is accessible to all customers.
HGCC welcomes feedback on how we provide accessible customer service. Customer feedback will help us identify barriers and respond to concerns.
Customers who wish to provide feedback on the way HGCC provides goods, services or facilities to people with disabilities can provide feedback in the following way(s):
- Onsite or online: customer feedback forms
- Email: hgcc@hgchildcare.com
- Phone: (905) 573-3822
Customers providing feedback will receive acknowledgement of their feedback, along with any resulting actions based on concerns or complaints that were submitted within 2 business days.
HGCC will make sure our feedback process is accessible to people with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats and communication supports, on request.
For more information about our accessibility policies and plans please click on the links below.
IntentThis policy is intended to meet the requirements of Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07 under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and applies to the provision of goods and services to the public or other third parties, not to the goods themselves. Heritage Green Child Care Inc (HGCC) is committed to meeting its current and ongoing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code and AODA respecting non-discrimination. We are committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities. All goods and services provided by Hamilton Wentworth Catholic Child Care Centres shall follow the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. |
ScopeA) This policy applies to the provision of goods and services at any premises owned and or operated by Heritage Green Child Care Inc. B) This policy applies to employees, volunteers, and contractors who deal with the public or other third parties that act on behalf of Hamilton Wentworth Catholic Child Care Centres, including when the provision of goods and services occurs off the premises of Heritage Green Child Care Inc. C) The section of the policy addresses the use of guide dogs, service animals and service dogs only applies to the provision of goods and services that take place at premises owned and operated by Heritage Green Child Care Inc. D) This policy shall also apply to all persons who participate in the development of the H policies, practices and procedures governing the provision of goods and services to members of the public or third parties. |
Assistive DevicesAssistive devices are technical aids, communication devices or other instruments that are 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. People with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing our goods, services or facilities. 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 goods, services or facilities. We will ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices we have on site or that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods, services or facilities. |
CommunicationWe will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. This may include the following:
We will work with the person with a disability to determine what method of communication works for them. |
Service AnimalsWe welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public. When we cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask a person to provide documentation (template, letter or form) from a regulated health professional that confirms the person needs the service animal for reasons relating to their disability. A service animal can be easily identified through visual indicators, such as when it wears a harness or a vest, or when it helps the person perform certain tasks. A regulated health professional is defined as a member of one of the following colleges:
If service animals are prohibited by another law, we will do the following to ensure people with disabilities can access our goods, services or facilities:
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Support PersonsA person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises. In certain cases, HGCC might require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person for the health or safety reasons of:
Before making a decision, HGCC will:
Notice of temporary disruption In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities HWCCCC will notify customers promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the location and reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. The notice will be made publicly available in the following ways:
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TrainingHGCC will provide accessible customer service training to:
Staff will be trained on accessible customer service within 1 month of being hired. Training will include:
Staff will also be trained when changes are made to our accessible customer service policies. |
Feedback ProcessHGCC welcomes feedback on how we provide accessible customer service. Customer feedback will help us identify barriers and respond to concerns. Customers will be notified on how to provide feedback in the following ways:
Customers who wish to provide feedback on the way HGCC provides goods, services or facilities to people with disabilities can provide feedback in the following way(s):
Customers that provide formal feedback will receive acknowledgement of their feedback, along with any resulting actions based on concerns or complaints that were submitted. Customers can expect to hear back within 2 business days. HGCC will make sure our feedback process is accessible to people with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats and communication supports, on request. |
Notice of Availability of DocumentsHGCC will provide this, or any other, document in an accessible format or with communication support, upon request. We will consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the format or communication support. We will provide the accessible format in a timely manner and, at no additional cost. |
Modifications to this or Other PoliciesAny policies of HGCC that do not respect and promote the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities will be modified or removed. |
Heritage Green Child Care Inc is committed to meeting the objectives and requirements of Ontario Regulation 191/11, Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA); and the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities with respect to employment at HGCC.
All employment services provided by HGCC shall follow the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. |
ScopeThis policy applies to all board members, executives, full-time, part-time, occasional and contract employees. |
DefinitionsDISABILITY A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability. A learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language. A mental disorder. An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. ACCESSIBLE FORMATS COMMUNICATION SUPPORTS PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT REDEPLOYMENT |
ProceduresIn accordance with the Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS) of Ontario Regulation 191/11, this policy addresses the following: A) General Requirements |
A) GENERAL REQUIREMENTSGeneral requirements that apply across all of the four (4) standards, Information and Communications, Employment, Transportation and Design of Public Spaces, are outlined as follows: HGCC will develop, implement and maintain policies governing how it will achieve accessibility through these requirements. HGCC policies will include a statement of its commitment to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner. These documents will be made publicly available in an accessible format, upon request. HGCC will establish, implement, maintain a multi-year accessibility plan outlining its strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet its requirements under the IASR. Accessibility plans will be made available in an accessible format, upon request and will be posted on our website. HGCC will review and update its accessibility plan once every five (5) years and will establish, review and update our accessibility plans in consultation with persons with disabilities or an advisory committee. Annual status reports will be prepared that will report on the progress of the steps taken to implement HGCC’s accessibility plan. This status report will be posted on our website. If requested, the report shall be created in an accessible format. PROCURING OR ACQUIRING GOODS AND SERVICES, OR FACILITIES TRAINING REQUIREMENTS RECORDS |
B) RECRUITMENT, ASSESSMENT, AND SELECTIONHGCC’s employment practices will include notification of the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities, as well as supports for employees with disabilities. Applicants will be informed that these accommodations are available, upon requests, for the interview process and other candidate selection methods. Where a request is made, we will consult with the applicant to determine the suitable accommodations. Successful applicants will be made aware HGCC’s policies and supports for accommodating people with disabilities. |
C) ACCESSIBLE FORMATS AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORTS FOR EMPLOYEESIf an employee with a disability requests it, HGCC, will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for the following:
HGCC will consult with the employee making the request to determine the best way to provide accessible formats or communication support. ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES AND WEB CONTENT EXCEPTIONS
UNCONVERTIBLE INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATIONS
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D) WORKPLACE EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATIONWhere employee needs dictate, HGCC will provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability. This information will take into account the unique challenges created by the individual’s disability and the physical nature of the workplace. These plans will be created in consultation with the employee. Emergency Response plans will be reviewed:
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E) DOCUMENTED INDIVIDUAL ACCOMMODATION PLANSHGCC will develop and written process for documenting individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities. The process for the development of these accommodation plans will include specific elements such as:
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F) RETURN TO WORK PLANSHGCC will maintain a documented return to work process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and who require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work. The return to work process outlines the steps we will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the process. |
G) PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & CAREER DEVELOPMENTHGCC’s performance management and career development processes will take into account the accessibility needs of its employees with disabilities. |
H) REDEPLOYMENTHGCC will take into account the accessibility needs of its employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when redeploying individuals with disabilities as an alternative to layoffs. |
I) POLICY REVIEWThis policy on Employment will be reviewed and amended, as required, when additional accessibility related regulations are enacted by the Government of Ontario and/or when changes are made to the legislative framework governing accessibility. |