This policy has been drafted to address how Elexicon Energy achieves accessibility through meeting the regulation’s requirements. It provides the overall strategic direction that the company will follow to provide accessibility support to Ontarians with disabilities.

This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, and to any individual or organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or other third parties on behalf of Elexicon Energy, in accordance with the legislation.

This policy is available in alternative formats or with communication supports upon request.

The following policies are related to the Accessibility Standards Policy:

• Employee Accommodation Procedures
• Attendance Management Procedure
• Early and Safe Return to Work Plan

Elexicon’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlines a phased-in strategy to prevent and remove barriers and addresses the current and future requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005. Elexicon will monitor the progress and implementation of the plan, post the information to the company’s website and will provide it in alternative formats upon request. The plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five (5) years.

The company is not required under legislation to ensure it uses accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities, other than self service kiosks. Elexicon will however take into consideration accessibility criteria and features as much as possible when procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities to show its commitment to accessibility.

Elexicon will ensure that appropriate training is provided on the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in this regulation and in the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities to; all employees, volunteers, persons who participate in developing policies, and all other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of Elexicon Energy. Training will be provided as soon as practicable.

If any changes are made to this policy or the requirements, training will be provided to include those changes. Elexicon will maintain a record of the training providing, including dates when training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided.

When communicating with a person with a disability, Elexicon will do so in a manner that takes into account the person’s disability.

Elexicon is aware that the operation of its services and facilities is important to the public and has procedures for preventative and emergency maintenance of accessible elements and for dealing with temporary disruptions when accessible elements are not in working order. However, temporary disruptions in the company’s services and facilities may occur due to reasons that may or may not be within control or knowledge of the company.

The company will make reasonable effort to provide notice of the disruption to the public, including information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if any, that may be available. Elexicon will make reasonable effort to provide prior notice of planned disruption if possible, recognizing that in some circumstances such as in the situation of unplanned temporary disruption, advance notice will not be possible. In such cases, the company will provide notice as soon as possible. When temporary disruptions occur to Elexicon’s services or facilities, we will provide notice by posting the information in visible places, or on the company’s website or by any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances as soon as reasonably possible.

A person with a disability may provide their own assistive device for the purpose of obtaining, using and benefiting from Elexicon’s goods and services. Exceptions may occur in situations where Elexicon has determined that the assistive device may pose a risk to the health and safety of a person with a disability or the health and safety of others on the premises. In these situations and others, we may offer a person with a disability other reasonable measures to assist them in obtaining, using and benefiting from the company’s goods and services, where Elexicon has such other measures available. It should be noted that it is the responsibility of the person with a disability to ensure that their assistive device is operated in a safe and controlled manner at all times.

Persons with a disability may enter premises owned and/or operated by Elexicon Energy accompanied by a service animal and keep the animal with them if the public has access to such premises and the animal is not otherwise excluded by law. If a service animal is excluded by law, the company will ensure that alternate means are available to enable the person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from Elexicon’s goods and services.

If it is not readily apparent that the animal is a service animal, we may ask the person with a disability for a letter from any regulated health professional confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to their disability. Elexicon may also, or instead, ask for a valid identification card signed by the Attorney General of Canada or a certificate of training from a recognized guide dog or service animal training school. It should be noted that it is the responsibility of the person with a disability to ensure that their service animal is kept under their care and control at all times.

A person with a disability may enter premises owned and/or operated by Elexicon Energy with a support person and have access to the support person while on the premises. We may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person while on company premises in situations where it is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health and safety of others on the premises. A support person, when assisting a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from the company’s goods and services, will be permitted to attend at no charge where an admission fee is applicable.

Elexicon Energy is committed to providing high quality goods and services to all of its customers. Feedback from customers is welcomed as it may identify areas that require change and encourage continuous service improvements. Elexicon has in place a process for receiving and responding to feedback and shall ensure that the process is accessible to individuals with disabilities, including through communication supports and accessible formats. Feedback can also be provided on this Policy and the feedback process itself.

Please submit your inquiries by email to: cutomerAODA@elexiconenergy.com

Information about the feedback process will be readily available to customers and notice of the process will be posted on our website and/or in other appropriate locations.

Elexicon Energy recognizes and accepts that it is obligated to provide or arrange for accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities by following the four bullets listed below:

• Upon request, in a timely manner that takes into account the persons’ accessibility needs due to a disability;
• At a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons;
• Consult with the person making the request and determine suitability of an accessible format or communication support;
• Notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.

If Elexicon Energy prepares emergency procedures, plans or public safety information and makes the information available to the public, the company will provide the information in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.

Elexicon Energy shall ensure that their internet website and web content, within its control, conforms to World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, wherever practicable.

Elexicon will notify job applicants, employees and the public about the availability of accommodations for applicants with disabilities, including in the following circumstances:

• On its application forms, including on-line application forms
• During the recruitment process when job applicants are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process;
• During the assessment stage when individuals are being interviewed and/or tested;
• If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, Elexicon will consult with the applicant and provide or arrange for the provision of a suitable accommodation that takes into account the applicant’s disability;
• Notify successful applicants of the policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.

Elexicon Energy will inform all employees of its policies used to support its employees with disabilities, including but not limited to, policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability:

1. As required to new employees as soon as practicable after they begin their employment;
2. Whenever there is a change to existing policies on the precision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability.

In addition, and where an employee with a disability requests it, Elexicon will consult with the employee to provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports with respect to:

1. Information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job;
2. Information that is generally available to employees in the workplace; and
3. Consult with the employee making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

Elexicon Energy shall prepare a documented individual accommodation plan(s) for employees with disabilities.

The following twelve principles will be taken into account in the development of the IAP

1. Employees are entitled and expected to participate in the IAP by identifying their needs, and working collaboratively with Elexicon’s Human Resources department and Health, Safety & Environment department in the development of the IAP, including but not limited to responding to requests for information;
2. Assessments will be done on an individual basis, taking into account the employee’s specific restrictions, limitations and/or needs;
3. As above, employees may be expected to self-identify their needs, and may also be required to provide supporting medical documentation from a physician or other healthcare provider;
4. Elexicon may request an evaluation by outside medical or other expert, at the company’s expense, to assist with determining accommodation and how to achieve accommodation;
5. Elexicon will make all reasonable efforts to provide any required accommodations in a timely manner;
6. Employees may request the participation of a representative or support person from the workplace to assist in the development of the IAP;
7. Elexicon will take all reasonable steps protect the privacy of the employee’s personal information, including limiting the collection, use, disclosure, and access to the employee’s information to what is reasonably necessary, and/or upon the employee’s consent;
8. The IAP will be reviewed and updated on an as required basis, including but not limited to when the employee’s restrictions, limitations, or needs change, when the employee’s job duties change, or if there are changes to the employee’s work location or other conditions of employment. Employees are encouraged to let Elexicon know as soon as possible if they believe the IAP requires updating or amendment. Elexicon may, but is not require to, institute periodic reviews or updates of the IAP with the employee where circumstances warrant and not less than once every two years;
9. In the event that an employee’s request for an IAP is denied, Elexicon will provide the reasons for denial to the employee;
10. IAP’s will be provided in format that takes into account the employee’s accessibility needs, determined in consultation with the employee;
11. Any information regarding accessible formats and communication supports will be provided and information regarding accessible formats and communication supports will be included in the IAP;
12. The IAP will include individualized workplace emergency response information if applicable, as well as the identification of any other accommodation that is to be provided.

Elexicon’s People and Culture department and Health, Safety & Environment department will jointly coordinate the development of all individual accommodation plans.

Elexicon Energy has established and will maintain a documented return to work process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodation in order to return to work. Such processes must be documented and will take to facilitate the return to work and include an IAP.

Elexicon Energy will take into account the accommodation needs and/or IAP of employees at all stages of the employment relationship, including but not limited to, when using the performance management process, during discipline, providing career development, promotion and advancement and during redeployment.

Elexicon Energy will provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disclosed disability. Elexicon has and will ask employees for information about the disability supports that may be required in the event of an emergency. We will work with each employee who responds to its request for information in order to develop an individualized workplace emergency response plan. New employees will be asked whether they require assistance in the event of an emergency, in which case an individualized workplace emergency response plan will also be prepared in consultation with that employee.

If the employee who receives an individual workplace emergency response information requires assistance, and with the employee’s consent, the company will provide the workplace emergency information to the person designated by Elexicon to provide assistance to the employee.

Individualized workplace emergency response information will be provided as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability, and will be reviewed promptly if and as required when the employee moves to a different location in the organization, when overall accommodations needs or plans are reviewed and when the company reviews its general emergency response policies.