Accessibility

Accessibility Policy - UNDER REVIEW

Purpose

This policy is intended to provide the overarching framework to guide the review and development of other Ottawa Police Service policies, standards, procedures and guidelines to comply with the standards developed under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, S.O. 2005, c.11 (the AODA).

The Ottawa Police Service respects the principles, dignity, independence, integration and equality of opportunity for all persons. The Ottawa Police Service further strives to identify, prevent and remove barriers while providing services that are accessible to all persons in accordance with the standards identified in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), the associated regulations, the Ontario Human Rights Code and in accordance with the Ottawa Police Services Board AODA Policy.

Application

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 the Ottawa Police Service, in accordance with the legislation and the Ottawa Police Services Board AODA Policy.

Members shall obtain information pertaining to specific Accessibility Policy requirements by accessing the Ottawa Police Services Board AODA Policy.

The Ottawa Police Service is committed to meeting the accessibility needs of people with disabilities in a reasonable, timely and proactive manner and will use all reasonable efforts to provide equitable access to programs, services, goods and facilities provided by the Ottawa Police Service. This shall be done on an ongoing basis and in a way that respects a person's dignity and independence in accordance with requirements, policies, practices and procedures developed to meet the needs of  the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (ASCS) O. Reg 429/07 and the Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS) O. Reg. 191/11, related to the following:

1. General Standards, applicable to: Accessibility Plans and Policies, Accessible Formats and Communication Supports, Kiosks, Training, Feedback and Documentation;
2. Customer Service Standards, applicable to: Assistive Devices;
3. Service Animals, Support Persons, Admission Fees, Communications;
4. Notice of Service Disruption.
5. Information and Communications Standards, applicable to: Communication, Terminology, Accessible Websites and Web Content, and Emergency Procedures, Plans and Information.
6. Employment Standards, applicable to: Recruitment, Selection and Hiring, Employee Supports, Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees, Workplace Emergency Response Information, Documented Individual Accommodation Plans, Return to Work Process, Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment.
7. Built Environment Standards, applicable to: Design of Public Spaces Standards.

Principles

Ottawa Police Service services, goods and facilities are to be available to people with disabilities in a manner that:

• Is free from discrimination
• Offers accessible formats and communication supports
• Seeks to provide integrated services
• Provides an opportunity equitable to others to obtain, use and benefit from the goods or services
• Takes into consideration a person's disability

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) strives to provide web services that are accessible to all persons. This website is built with accessibility in mind.

Our website is designed to align with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), with ongoing efforts to improve and expand accessibility and the user experience of assistive devices and adaptive technologies over time. We align with WCAG 2.1 AA while actively working toward WCAG 2.2 alignment, and we regularly evolve our platform based on accessibility best practices, user feedback, and emerging standards. We also continue to monitor the development of WCAG 3.0 to help ensure our platform remains forward-looking and responsive to the future of accessibility.

You can modify your operating system and browser to make this website more accessible. 

To increase the text size, use the minus and plus icons at the top right of each page. You can also hold down the CTRL button and scroll using your mouse to zoom into the page.

We work with community members and experts to assist us in meeting WCAG standards to the best of our knowledge. Staff undergoes special training to learn how to produce accessible documents and content for the web. If you have found any inaccessible information or that which can be improved upon, we welcome your feedback to us by email  accessibility@ottawapolice.ca

We also provide our policy and related documents to persons with disabilities in mutually agreed upon alternative formats upon request. 

For more information, or to request a document in an alternative format, please contact us.

Except as otherwise provided by the AODA, the Ottawa Police Service shall, upon request, and in consultation with the person making the request, provide or make arrangements to provide accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities. Accessible formats and communication supports shall be provided in a timely manner, taking into account the person's accessibility needs and at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons, in accordance with the Accessible Formats and Communication Supports Procedure.

This applies to all materials and communications produced by the Ottawa Police Service for release to the public, whether produced in-house or on behalf of the Ottawa Police Service (i.e. consultant reports). It does not apply to unconvertible information and information that the Police Service does not control directly or indirectly through a contractual agreement.

If it is determined that information is unconvertible, the OPS shall provide the person requesting the information or communication with: 

1. A written explanation as to why the information or communications are unconvertible; and,
2. A summary of the unconvertible information or communication.

Request for OPS Documentation in an Accessible Format or with Communication Supports

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) Accessibility Standard for Customer Service (ASCS) and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) requires that all OPS employees, agents, volunteers or otherwise, providing goods and services to members of the public on behalf of the Ottawa Police Service, as well as those who develop policies, practices and procedures governing the provision of goods or services to members of the public or other third parties receive accessibility training.

Third Party Contractor Accessibility Training

1. In accordance with the requirements of Section 6 of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service and Section 7 of the Integrated Accessibility Standard, third party contractors shall complete training about the provision of goods and services provided to people with disabilities.
2. The training shall include a review of the purpose of the AODA, requirements of the Customer Service Regulation, requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Regulation and a review on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities.

Training Confirmation

1. Third Party Contractors must confirm completion of the required training by completing the Ottawa Police Service AODA Contractor Compliance form.

Access an e-learning course:

The training requirements can be fulfilled by completing the following e-learning training.

1. Training modules on the "Integrated Accessibility Standards"
2. Ontario Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities