Accessibility for ODA

Janie and Jack's Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan


Introduction

  • This 2014-2021 Accessibility Plan outlines the policies and actions that Janie and Jack will put in place to improve opportunities for persons with disabilities in its store locations in Ontario, Canada. This Plan outlines how Janie and Jack intends to meet the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation made under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (the "AODA").
  • Janie and Jack is dedicated to providing goods, services and employment in an accessible manner and is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the reasonable accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the AODA.
  • This Plan is a fluid document that will be revised at least once every five years to reflect changes in Janie and Jack’s accessibility strategies. Janie and Jack welcomes feedback regarding this Plan, in whichever format is most convenient to the person giving feedback. If the Plan states that a document or information is available upon request, such requests should be made by phoning Janie and Jack’s Customer Service number at 1 (877) 449-8800 or by sending an e-mail to customer_service@janieandjack.com.

Individualized Emergency Preparedness Plan

Janie and Jack will develop individualized emergency preparedness plans as required and as soon as practicable, for employees who Janie and Jack is aware require assistance in emergency situations.

Training

Janie and Jack will provide training to employees, volunteers and other staff members on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to persons with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of employees, volunteers and other staff members.

Janie and Jack will ensure that employees are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario’s accessibility laws by January 1, 2015. Janie and Jack will maintain records to confirm that each employee, volunteer and staff member has read and completed the training materials.

The training will cover the objectives of the AODA and how to interact, communicate and support persons with disabilities in light of their disability. After January 1, 2015, the training will be conducted as needed, in order to inform individuals of changes to Janie and Jack’s procedures and policies in delivering goods or services to persons with disabilities. If newly hired, the individual will receive training as soon as practicable. The training delivered will instruct employees, volunteers and other staff members on the following:

  • Persons with disabilities may use their own assistive devices when visiting Janie and Jack.
  • Persons accompanied by a guide dog or service animal are permitted to enter our premises with the animal, except in areas in which the animal is excluded by law.
  • When a person with a disability is accompanied by a support person, both the person with the disability and the support person are permitted to enter together and have equal access to Janie and Jack’s premises.
  • Janie and Jack will provide notice to the public of any temporary disruptions to facilities or services offered by Janie and Jack and used by persons with disabilities. This notice will include the reason for the disruption, the anticipated length of the disruption and a description of any alternative facilities and/or services that are available.
  • The Plan is available by calling Janie and Jack customer service at 1 (877) 449-8800.

Point-of-Sale Devices and Service Counters

Janie and Jack will consider the accessibility of electronic terminals when designing, procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks including point-of-sale devices. Janie and Jack will consider the various needs of persons with disabilities prior to making any decisions regarding the purchase, implementation and use of self-service kiosks.

By January 1, 2017, Janie and Jack will ensure that when constructing new service counters (or replacing existing service counters), there will be at least one service counter that reasonably accommodates a mobility aid. This service counter will be clearly identified and will:

  • Be at a height such that it is usable seated in a mobility aid;
  • Have sufficient knee clearance for a person seated in a mobility aid; and
  • Have sufficient floor space in front of the counter to accommodate a mobility aid.

If applicable, by January 1, 2017, when constructing new fixed queuing guides, Janie and Jack will ensure that the fixed queuing guides have sufficient width and floor area to allow for the passage of mobility assistive devices and are cane detectable. Janie and Jack will have procedures for preventative and emergency maintenance of accessible elements and for dealing with temporary disruptions when accessible elements are not in working order.

Accessible Websites and Web Content

  • Janie and Jack is committed to meeting the communication needs of persons with disabilities. By January 1, 2016, Janie and Jack will, upon request, consult with persons with a disability in order to provide and arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports.
  • Janie and Jack will take steps to ensure that all new websites and website content conform with the Worldwide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) at Level A.
  • By January 1, 2021, Janie and Jack's internet websites and web content will conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

Feedback, Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

  • Janie and Jack encourages feedback regarding the manner in which it provides goods, services and facilities to people with disabilities. Janie and Jack will accept feedback in person at retail locations, by phoning our Customer Service number at 1-877-449-8800, by emailing us at customer_service@janieandjack.com or by writing to us at Janie and Jack, 225 Bush Street, 13th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.
  • Feedback will be provided to our human resources department for further consideration. We endeavor to respond to feedback as appropriate and within 14 business days of receiving it. Further documentation regarding our feedback process is available upon request.
  • Upon request, feedback may also be provided, and responded to, using accessible formats and communication supports. Requesting persons will be consulted as to the suitability of an accessible format or communication support. Janie and Jack will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate these requests.
Employment

Janie and Jack is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. By January 1, 2016, accessibility will be integrated into Janie and Jack's employment-related practices throughout the employment life cycle, as set out in more detail in this section. Janie and Jack will take the following steps to notify the public and staff that, when requested, they will provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes, and after individuals are hired.

Recruitment

By January 1, 2016:

  • Existing recruitment, assessment and selection processes, material and procedures will be reviewed and modified by Human Resource staff as is necessary.
  • The public and any job applicants will be notified that Janie and Jack will provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities upon request. The fact that reasonable accommodation is available will be specified in recruitment-related materials.
  • In the event an applicant requests some form of accommodation, Janie and Jack will consult with the applicant and ensure that reasonable accommodations are made that take into consideration the applicants disability needs.
Offers of Employment

By January 1, 2016:

  • When Janie and Jack is making an offer of employment, it will notify the successful candidate of the policies in place to provide reasonable accommodation to employees, and that Janie and Jack will provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities, upon request.
  • In the event a successful applicant requests some form of accommodation, Janie and Jack will consult with that applicant to determine what reasonable accommodations are available that take into consideration the successful applicant’s disability needs.
Workplace

Janie and Jack will develop and update individualized emergency preparedness plans as soon as practicable, for employees who Janie and Jack is aware require assistance in emergency situations.

By January 1, 2016:

  • Existing orientation and on-boarding procedures will be reviewed and modified to reflect Janie and Jacks accessibility policies. This ensures that when employees begin employment, they are aware of the accommodation policies in place for persons with disabilities.
  • A procedure will be established to inform colleagues of any changes made to accommodation policies in place at Janie and Jack.
Return to Work from Disability-Related Leaves

By January 1, 2016:

  • Janie and Jack will modify and review existing return to work procedures for persons that have been absent from work because of a disability and are now in need of accommodation upon returning to the workplace. When a person with a disability returns to work, Janie and Jack will work with that person to create an individual plan that provides reasonable accommodation.
  • Training will be put in place for managers and their colleagues who oversee the return to work process for persons who require accommodation.
Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment

By January 1, 2016:

  • Janie and Jack will modify and review career development, performance management and redeployment processes, as applicable, to take into consideration individual accommodation plans and the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities.
  • Training will be put in place for managers and their colleagues who oversee career development, performance management and redeployment procedures.

For More Information

For more information on this Plan, please contact: Janie and Jack's Customer Service department: