Background

Customer Service Excellence is a strategic priority of the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, including providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities.  The Town strives to provide services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities, and gives them the same opportunity to benefit from our services as other customers.

The Province of Ontario has enacted legislation governing the provision of services to persons with disabilities, Ontario Regulation 429/07, Accessibility Standards for Customer Service.  Please read on to see how the Town is supporting this legislation.

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is provincial legislation that aims to achieve full accessibility throughout the Province by the year 2025.  This legislation requires both public and private sectors to adhere to Accessibility Standards in 5 key areas:

1. Customer Service
2. Information and Communication
3. Transportation
4. Employment
5. Built Environment

All policies, practices and procedures developed from the standards must be consistent with the AODA's core principles:

• Integration
• Independence
• Equal Opportunity
• Dignity

The 5 standards are being established in stages by regulation, developed by provincial committees comprised of people with disabilities, representatives of the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and the Government of Ontario.

Accessibility Standards for Customer Service
Ontario Regulation 429/07, Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, is the first regulation to come into force and takes effect for public sector organizations on January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2012 for private sector organizations.  The Town must demonstrate compliance in the following areas:

• Policies and procedures on providing goods or services to people with disabilities
• Communication with persons with a disability in a manner that takes into account their disability
• Policies relating to people with disabilities using assistive devices, service animals and support persons to access services
• Staff training in the legislation
• Customer feedback regarding the provision of customer service to persons with disabilities
• Notice of service disruptions when facilities or services that people with disabilities rely on are temporarily disrupted
  
  

To view the Town Accessible Customer Service Policy and Accessible Customer Service Guidelines, please click the following links:

• Town Accessible Customer Service Policy
• Town Accessible Customer Service Guidelines

Annual Accessibility Planning

Under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA), all municipalities have an obligation to prepare an annual accessibility plan.  The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville whole-heartedly supports the spirit of the Act, which is to work towards the prevention, identification and removal of barriers that restrict opportunities for people with disabilities.  To this end, the Town has prepared seven (7) annual Accessibility Plans.The 2010 Accessibility Plan describes barrier removal initiatives accomplished in 2009, and outlines measures in 2010 for improving access for all citizens to Town facilities and services.

For more information, please click this link to see the 2010 Town Accessibility Plan: 

• 2010 Accessibility Plan

Accessibility Advisory Committee
The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Accessibility Advisory Committee advises Council on accessibility planning and related standards to prevent and reduce barriers experienced by persons with disabilities. For more information and a list of the Committee members, please click here:

• Accessibility Advisory Committee

Customer Feedback
We invite your comments relating to the provision of customer service to residents with disabilities.  You may use the following feedback form:

• Feedback form 

Resources and Information for Municipal Contractors – Accessible Customer Service Training

Businesses that the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has contracted to provide goods or services to customers on behalf of the Town must ensure that their employees are trained in providing accessible customer service. Click below for more information and resources:

• Resources and Information for Municipal Contractors

More Information
For more information, contact the Town’s Manager of Human Resources, Gary Sumner, 905-640-1910, ext. 267 or by e-mail at: gary.sumner@townofws.com