Accessible Client Service Plan
Purpose
Providing Goods and Services to people with disabilities
OMS Montessori is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities.
Personal Assistive Devices
We will ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our services.
Customers with assistive devices may use their personal assistive devices on OMS Montessori’s premises and use any other measure OMS Montessori offers to help access OMS Montessori’s goods and services.
Communication
We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.
Service animals
Customers with disabilities may be accompanied by their service animal in those areas of OMS Montessori’s premises that are open to the public, unless the animal is excluded by another law. If the service animal is excluded by another law, OMS Montessori will have an alternative method to provide goods and services.
Support persons
Customers with disabilities may be accompanied by a support person in all premises which are open to the public. A support person can be a personal support worker, a volunteer, a family member or a friend. A support person might help the customer with a variety of things from communicating to helping with mobility, personal care or medical needs.
Notice of temporary disruption
Disruption of services for customers with disabilities may occur due to reasons beyond OMS Montessori’s control. If this is to occur, OMS Montessori will use the proper channels to ensure our customers with disabilities are notified in a timely manner; whether by posting a notice at a conspicuous place on OMS Montessori premises, on our website or by another reasonable method. The notice will include the reason, the expected duration and any alternative method available to access OMS Montessori’s goods and services.
Training for staff
OMS Montessori will provide training to all full time staff employees, and to part time employees and volunteers who are in contact with customers with disabilities. Individuals in the following positions will be trained: administrative staff, teaching staff, assistants and custodial staff.
This training will be offered to staff by January 2012, and within one month of a new employee joining the school.
Training will include:
- An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard
- OMS Montessori’s accessible customer service plan.
- How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
- How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
- How to use any assistive equipment OMS Montessori may have or come to have. What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing OMS Montessori’s goods and services
Staff will also be trained when changes are made to our accessible customer service plan.
Feedback process
Our feedback process permits customers with disabilities a place to provide their recommendations in person, by telephone, fax, in writing or electronically via out website. Customers can expect to hear back within seven days. Complaints will be addressed according to our organization’s regular complaint management procedures.
Modifications to this or other policies
Any policy of OMS Montessori that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.