AODA Policy

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

Guest Services Accessibility Policy

The following policies have been established as part of Redberry Restaurants’ commitment to accessibility and consideration of our obligations under the Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA), and the Accessible Saskatchewan Act.  While the policies apply specifically in respect to our operations in Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, we are committed to and apply the same principles contained in these policies to our operations across Canada.

Statement of Commitment

Redberry Restaurants strives at all times to provide its good and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. Redberry Restaurants is also committed to giving persons with disabilities the same opportunity to access and benefit from its good and services, in the same place and in a similar way as other guests.

Purpose

The following accessibility plan outlines how Redberry will meet the commitment identified above in our organization and restaurants.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Policy, the following definitions shall apply:

• “Accessible formats” include but are not limited to large print, recorded audio and electronic formats, braille, and other formats usable by persons with disabilities.

• “Assistive device” means any device which a person with a disability uses to perform a particular task, or to aid that person in activities of daily living.

• “Disability” means the temporary, prolonged, or permanent reduction or absence of the ability to perform certain commonplace activities or roles sometimes referred to as activities of daily living.

• “Guide dog” as defined in section 1 of the Blind Persons’ Rights Act.

• “Service animal” means an animal used by a person with a disability for reasons relating to his or her disability.

• “Support person” means any person who accompanies a person with a disability to assist with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to services.

Use of Assistive Devices

Persons with disabilities will be permitted to obtain, use or benefit from Redberry’s goods and services through the use of their own assistive devices. It is the responsibility of the person with a disability to ensure that his or her assistive device is operated in a safe and controlled manner at all times. 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 Redberry’s goods, services or facilities.

Use of Guide Dogs & Service Animals

Redberry is committed to welcoming persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a guide dog or other service animal on the parts of its premises that are open to the public and other third parties, as long as the service animal remains under the control of the person requiring its service, and their presence is not otherwise excluded by law. If it is not readily apparent whether an animal accompanying an individual is a service animal, Redberry may choose to request a letter from a physician, nurse practitioner or accredited service animal training institution confirming the animal’s status. Redberry will also ensure that all partners, employees, staff and others who deal with the public are properly trained in how to interact with persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.

Support Persons

Redberry is committed to welcoming persons with a disability who is accompanied by a support person. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on all publicly accessible Redberry premises. Redberry is also committed to providing access to its premises to the support persons of persons with disabilities.

Emergency Information and Procedures

Redberry is committed to providing customers and clients with publicly available emergency information in an accessible way upon request. We will also provide individualized workplace emergency response information to members of Redberry with disabilities when we are made aware of the need for accommodation.

Accessibility Training

Redberry will continue to make best efforts to ensure training required by the AODA and AMA is given to all employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public, including third parties and all those who are involved in the development and approval of guest service policies, practices and procedures are trained on the provision of goods and services to persons with disabilities. Redberry has and will continue to:

• Provide training to each person according to his or her needs and duties and as soon as possible after he or she is assigned to the applicable duties.

• Provide training on an ongoing basis in connection with changes to policies, practices and procedures governing the provision of goods or services to persons with disabilities. A record of the dates on which training is provided and the names of the individuals to whom it is provided will be kept.

Information and Communications

Redberry is committed to making our information and communications accessible to people with disabilities. Redberry will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner that takes into account that person’s accessibility needs due to disability. We may consult with people with disabilities to determine information and communication needs.

Self-service kiosks

Redberry is committed to incorporating accessibility features/ considering accessibility for people with disabilities when designing, procuring, or acquiring self-service kiosks.

Recruitment and Employment

Redberry is committed to promoting fair and accessible employment practices. Redberry has and will continue to:

• Inform employees of accessibility policies and support

• Notify prospective employees and job applicants that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes used during the recruitment process

• Provide or arrange for a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s needs due to disability if requested during the recruitment process

• Offer accessible formats and communication supports for employees

• Provide individualized accessible workplace emergency response information to employees who require it

• Offer the Redberry Return to Work program for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability

• Consider the needs of employees with disabilities in performance management and career development processes

Design of Public Spaces

Redberry will adhere to the Design of Public Spaces Standard when building or making major modifications to public spaces. We will also put reasonable procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to accessible parts of these public spaces and to deal with temporary disruptions when accessible elements required under these Standards are not in working order.

In the event of a service disruption, Redberry will notify the public of the service disruption and alternatives available, as soon as practicable.

Accessible Formats

Redberry is committed to meeting the communication needs of individuals with disabilities. Redberry will take reasonable steps to ensure that all publicly available information controlled by Redberry is provided in an accessible way upon request. Redberry will also consult with the person making the request to determine their information and communication needs. Redberry will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.

Websites

Redberry will take reasonable steps to ensure that all websites controlled by Redberry meet internationally-recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA website requirements in accordance with Ontario and Manitoba’s accessibility laws.

If you use an assistive technology and have difficulty accessing our website content, contact us at hr@redberry.ca. Please identify the web page that you could not access, as well as the nature of your accessibility problem, and we will reach out to determine if we can provide the information in another format.

We welcome and encourage feedback on how to improve our site’s accessibility for visitors using assistive technologies.

Availability of Documents

A copy of this Policy shall be made available on the Redberry’s intranet and external website.

Accessible formats of this document are also available for free upon request.

Contact Information

For more information about this accessibility policy and plan, please contact us by:

Email to hr@redberry.ca

Or by mail or in person at:

Redberry Restaurants
5520 Explorer Drive, Suite 200
Mississauga, ON
L4W 5L1

Attention:
HR Department

Members of Redberry are welcome to contact Human Resources, if they have any questions or would like to make a request under this accessibility policy and plan.

Feedback Process

Redberry is committed to establishing and maintaining a process for receiving and responding to feedback about how its services are provided to persons with disabilities.

Feedback regarding the way Redberry provides goods and services to persons with disabilities can be made by e-mail to hr@redberry.ca or by phone to 1-800-535-3850 ext. 5. All feedback will be directed to the HR Department. Complaints will be addressed as soon as practicable after receiving a complaint.