Customer service policy on providing goods and service to people with disabilities
1 POLICY
1.01 The mission of Cliplight Manufacturing Co. is to provide a barrier free environment to customers with disabilities.
1.02 Our commitment in fulfilling our mission is to strive at all times to provide our goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are also committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our goods and services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers.
1.03 Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure that:
a) Persons with disabilities are provided equal opportunity to obtain, use and benefit from the goods and services offered by Cliplight Manufacturing Co;
b) Goods and services are provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities;
c) The goods and services provided to persons with disabilities are integrated with the provision to others unless an alternative measure is necessary to allow a person with a disability to benefit; the alternative measure may be temporary or permanent;
d) Communications with a person with a disability are conducted in a manner that takes the person’s disability into account;
e) Persons with disabilities may use assistive devices, service animals and support persons as is necessary to access Cliplight Manufacturing Co. goods and services unless superseded by other legislation.
2 PURPOSE
2.01 This policy and its procedures address the accessibility requirements of Regulation 429/07 Accessibility Standards for Customer Service under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
3 SCOPE
3.01 This policy applies to all employees and facilities of Cliplight Manufacturing Co. in Ontario.
4 RESPONSIBILITY
4.01 It is the responsibility of the managers and/or immediate supervisors and/or department heads to ensure that all employees follow the guidelines set out in this policy.
4.02 Each manager and/or immediate supervisor and/or department head is responsible to ensure all employees are trained under Accessibility Standards for Customer Service and this policy, practices and procedure.
5 DEFINITIONS
5.01 “Assistive Devices” are auxiliary aids such as communication aids, cognition aids, personal mobility aids and medical aids (e.g., canes, crutches, wheelchairs or hearing aids).
5.02 “Disability”, as per the Ontario Human Rights Code, means:
a) Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical coordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
b) A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
c) A learning disability or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
d) A mental disorder; or
e) An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.
5.03 “Employees” means every person who deals with members of the public or other third parties on behalf of Cliplight Manufacturing Co., whether the person does so as an employee, agent, or otherwise.
5.04 “Persons with Disabilities” are individuals who have a disability as defined under the Ontario Human Rights Code (and above).
5.05 “Service Animals” are animals individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
5.06 “Support Persons” are any persons, whether a paid professional, volunteer, family member, or friend, who accompany a person with a disability in order to help with communications, personal care or medical needs, or with access to goods or services.
6 REFERENCES and RELATED STATEMENTS of POLICY and PROCEDURE
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07
7 PROCEDURES
See individual policies providing details
Providing goods and services to people with disabilities
Cliplight Manufacturing Co. is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities and we will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following areas:
7.01 Communication
a) We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.
b) We will train staff who communicate with customers on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
7.02 Telephone services
a) We are committed to providing fully accessible telephone service to our customers. We will train staff to communicate with customers over the telephone in clear and plain language and to speak clearly and slowly.
b) We will offer to communicate with customers by email, relay services, mail, website, large print, if telephone communication is not suitable to their communication needs or is not available.
7.03 Assistive devices
a) We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from our goods and services. We will ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices we may offer that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods or services.
b) At this time Cliplight Manufacturing Co. does not offer assistive devices on the premises. If we do offer assistive devices in the future, we will ensure that staff know how to use the following assistive devices available on our premises for customers.
7.04 Billing
a) We are committed to providing accessible invoices to all of our customers. For this reason, invoices will be provided in the following formats upon request: hard copy, large print, email, fax, in which provider will provide invoices.
b) We will answer any questions customers may have about the content of the invoice in person, by telephone or email.
7.05 Use of service animals and support persons
a) We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and other third parties.
b) We will also ensure that all staff and others dealing with the public are properly trained in how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.
c) We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter Cliplight Manufacturing Co.’s premises with his or her support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises.
d) Fees will not be charged for support persons for admission to Cliplight Manufacturing Co.’s premises. Customers will be informed of this by a notice that will be posted in Cliplight Manufacturing Co.’s premises.
7.06 Notice of temporary disruption
a) Cliplight Manufacturing Co. will provide customers with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facility or services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
b) The notice will be placed at all public entrances and service counters on our premises.
7.07 Training for staff
a) Cliplight Manufacturing Co.’s will provide training to all employees and others who deal with the public or other third parties on their behalf, and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service policies, practices and procedures. Individuals in the following positions will be trained:
Customer service representatives, sales associates on payroll, managers, supervisors and any staff who interact with customers, directors, policy makers. Note that independent sales representatives who manage their own company and are not dedicated sales staff are notified to comply with this standard.
b) This training will be provided within 60 days after staff commence their duties.
c) Training will include the following:
- The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the requirements of the customer service standard
- 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 the equipment or devices available on provider’s premises or otherwise that may help with the provision of goods or services to people with disabilities
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Cliplight Manufacturing Co.’s goods and services
d) Applicable staff will be trained on policies, practices and procedures that affect the way goods and services are provided to people with disabilities. Staff will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.
7.08 Feedback process
a) The ultimate goal of Cliplight Manufacturing Co. is to meet and surpass customer expectations while serving customers with disabilities. Comments on our services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.
b) Feedback regarding the way Cliplight Manufacturing Co. provides goods and services to people with disabilities can be made by email, verbally, website, mail, and telephone. All feedback will be directed to our Customer Service department. Customers can expect to hear back in ten working days.
c) Complaints will be addressed according to complaint categories already established in our company’s complaint management procedures.
d) Upon receipt, the Customer Service Representative will investigate the matter with the appropriate personnel and contact the customer in ten business days. Depending on the nature of the feedback, further communication may be continued.
7.09 Modifications to this or other policies
a) We are committed to developing customer service policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to this policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities.
b) Any policy of Cliplight Manufacturing Co. that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
7.10 Questions about this policy:
a) This policy exists to achieve service excellence to customers with disabilities. If anyone has a question about the policy, or if the purpose of a policy is not understood, an explanation should be provided by, or referred to, the Manager of the department.
b) A copy of this policy is available upon request by contacting the department for Customer Service. In addition, a copy of this policy is available on the company’s website.
c) The Policy document will be provided in a format that takes into account the person’s disability.