Guideline and Principles of Inclusion
What's the Difference?
Guideline: Be Kind to Each Other
Principles:
Accommodate people with and without disabilities whenever possible.
Ask questions to understand better rather than make assumptions.
Be present, polite, and patient with one another.
Confront issues, not people.
Do not spread or participate in spreading gossip.
Please don't laugh when someone falls; instead, offer your hand to help them up.
Human rights are meant to unite people. Everyone benefits when all people own and exercise their human rights and shared responsibilities.
Listen, hear, and learn from each other.
Place principles before personalities.
This is how we nurture ComeUnity Solidarity!
Fostering inclusive communities...
Willingness to Accommodate Whenever Possible
The Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services (CF4AASS) is committed to honouring human rights. Our policy is consistent with the principles of independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity for all persons. We stand by our convictions to the point of undue hardship.
Exceptions
The Foundation strives to make written information and other forms of communication accessible upon request. In some cases, we may be unable to do so if or when it is impossible to convert a document to an accessible format, the information comes from another organization, or where we don’t have control of the information due to a contractual relationship that does not allow for modification.
Source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-make-information-accessible#section-2
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act {AODA}
AODA Requirements for Businesses and Non-Profits with 1-19 Workers
The AODA has different requirements for different workplaces, depending on whether they are public or private and how many workers they have.
Sources: AODA and Ministry of Ontario Requirements for Businesses and Non-Profits with 1-19 Workers
https://www.aoda.ca/aoda-requirements-for-businesses-and-non-profits-with-1-19-workers/
https://www.ontario.ca/page/accessibility-rules-businesses-and-non-profits
Since the Foundation has less than 19 employees, we are in the process of creating accessibility policies for employment, volunteering, training, and customer service. We are also creating accessibility goals and approaches to work toward and help achieve the organization's customer service accessibility goals.
What is the new Accessible Canada Act (ACA)?
The ACA aims to achieve a barrier-free Canada by identifying, addressing and preventing barriers. It defines a barrier as anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or functional limitation.
The ACA is federal legislation that applies to federally regulated organizations like banks, transportation, TV, radio, and fisheries. The Foundation does not come under ACA federal jurisdiction.
Resource:
For more information, please check out ARCH Disability Law’s Fact Sheet:
https://archdisabilitylaw.ca