PURPOSE

Prism Property Management (“Prism”) endeavours to provide its products in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities and is committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity as others to access and benefit from its products. The purpose of this policy is to:

• ensure that Prism meets the objectives and requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Prism will use all reasonable efforts to ensure that its policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the following principles:

• that Prism’s products and services are provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities;
• where reasonably possible, that Prism operates its business such that persons with disabilities will benefit from its services and products in the same or similar way as others, and that where integration is not possible, alternative measures will be used to enable a persons with disabilities to obtain, use or benefit from Prism’s services; and
• that persons with disabilities are given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use or benefit from Prism’s services and products.

COMMUNICATION

Prism staff will communicate with persons with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. This means that staff will communicate and interact with them in a manner that enables persons with disabilities to use and receive Prism products, services, and facilities. Furthermore, Prism will train staff to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities.

NOTICE OF TEMPORARY DISRUPTIONS IN SERVICES OF FACILITIES

Prism is aware that the operation of its services and facilities is important to our clientele. On occasion, disruptions in Prism’s services and facilities may occur due to reasons that may or may not be within Prism’s control or knowledge. Prism will make reasonable efforts to provide notice to its clientele of any disruption in its services and/or facilities, including: information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative services and/or facilities, if any, that may be available. Prism will make reasonable efforts to provide prior notice of any planned disruptions in its services and/or facilities, if possible, recognizing that in some circumstances, including an unplanned temporary disruption, advance notice will not be possible. In such cases, Prism will provide notice as soon as reasonably possible. When temporary disruptions occur to Prism’s services and/or facilities, Prism will provide notice by posting the information in visible places, or on the company’s website (www.prismpm.ca), or by any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances as soon as reasonably possible.

ASSISTED DEVICES AND MEASURES THAT ASSIST WITH ACCESSIBILITY

A person with a disability may provide his or her own assistive device for the purpose of obtaining, using and benefiting from Prism’s services and facilities. Exceptions may occur in situations where Prism has determined that the assistive device may pose a risk to the health and safety of a person with a disability or the health and safety of others on its premises. In these situations and others, Prism may offer a person with disability other reasonable measures to assist him or her in obtaining, using and benefiting from Prism’s services and facilities, where Prism has such other measures available. It is the responsibility of the person with the disability to ensure that his or her assistive device is operated in a safe and controlled manner at all times.

SUPPORT PERSONS

A person with a disability may enter Prism’s own business offices and those parts of Prism-managed or owned buildings that are open to the public with a support person and have access to the support person while on the premises. Prism may require a person with disability to be accompanied by a support person while on such premises in situations where it is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health and safety of others on the premises.

SERVICE ANIMALS

A person with a disability may enter Prism’s own business offices and those parts of Prism-managed or owned buildings that are open to the public accompanied by a service animal and keep the animal with them. If a service animal is excluded by law, Prism will ensure that alternate means are available to enable the person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from Prism’s services and facilities. If it is not readily apparent that an animal is a service animal, Prism may ask the person with a disability for confirmation that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to his or her disability. It is the responsibility of the person with disability to ensure that his or her service animal is kept under control at all times. If an employee or any other person on Prism premises has a severe allergy to animals, which could result in health and safety concerns, Prism will make reasonable efforts in the circumstances to meet the needs of all individuals.

FEEDBACK

Prism is committed to providing high quality services and products to all members of the public it serves. Feedback from the public is appreciated as it may identify areas that require change and encourage continuous service improvements, including improvements in the manner in which Prism provides services to persons with disabilities. Feedback may be provided in person, by telephone, or by writing. All feedback should be directed by email to info@prismpm.ca.

TRAINING

Prism will provide training to its employees about the provision of Prism’s services to persons with disabilities. Training will include:

• the purpose and application of this policy;
• a review of the purposes and requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act;
• a review of the purposes and requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Regulation;
• how to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities;
• what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing Prism’s services and/or public facilities;
• instruction on Prism’s policies, procedures and practices pertaining to the provision of services to persons with disabilities; and
• how to use equipment or devices available on Prism’s premises, or that is otherwise provided by Prism, to assist with the provision of Prism’s services to persons with disabilities.

Training will be provided as soon as practicable to current and new Prism staff members and whenever changes are made to Prism’s policies, procedures and practices governing the provision of its services to persons with disabilities. Prism will maintain records of all training conducted pursuant to this policy. These records will include the number of individuals trained and the dates on which the training occurred.

AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARD

All documents required by the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Regulation, including this policy and the Accessibility Plan, are available upon request. When providing a document to a person with a disability, Prism will provide the document, or the information contained in the document, in a format that properly takes the person’s disability into account. Where required, documents required by the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Regulation, including this policy, will be posted on Prism’s website (www.prismpm.ca).

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this policy, “disability” is defined and means:

• 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 co-ordination, 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;
• a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
• a learning disability or dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding symbols of spoken language;
• a mental disorder; and
• an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

“support person” is defined and means, in relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies him or her in order to assist them with communication, mobility, personal care, or medical needs or with access to goods and services. “service animal” is defined and means any animal used by a person with a disability where it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability or where a person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to his or her disability. A service animal includes a dog trained as a guide for a blind person and having the qualifications prescribed by the regulations to the Blind Persons Rights Act.

CONTACT FOR CLARIFICATION OR QUESTIONS

Any questions about this policy should be directed to Prism’s Accessibility Officer.