Somerville’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

As part of Somerville Merchandising Inc.’s commitment to accessibility, our multi-year accessibility plan outlines our strategy and actions to prevent and remove barriers and to meet the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) under the Accessibilities for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). This multi-year accessibility plan focuses on our initiatives in respect of the AODA’s Accessibility Standards.

The current plan covers a five-year period from 2024-2029. The plan will be reviewed every five (5) years or earlier to maintain compliance.

Commitment

Somerville is committed to providing an accessible environment for all clients, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and visitors who may enter our premises, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and comply with the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and its associated regulations. We strive to provide an accessible and welcoming environment for everyone by identifying and removing barriers in our workplace and ensuring that new barriers are not created. The company ensures that persons with disabilities are provided with equal opportunities. We are committed to meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and integrative manner that respects their dignity and independence.

Information and Communication 

In accordance with the AODA’s Information and Communication Standard, Somerville will:

  • Make Somerville’s internet websites and web content conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, except for exclusions set out in the IASR.
  • Notify the public and provide, on request, accessible formats and support for people with disabilities in a timely manner.
  • Ensure that the processes for receiving and responding to feedback are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communications supports, upon request.

Employment

In accordance with the AODA’s Employment Standards, Somerville is committed to fair and accessible employment practices across all stages of the employment cycle. Somerville will ensure inclusive employment processes for recruitment, retention and development within the organization, including:

  • Notification of the firm’s commitment to accessibility and availability of accommodation at all stages of the recruitment and employment process.
  • When making offers of employment, notifying the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating associates with disabilities.
  • Taking employees’ disabilities and accommodation needs into account in respect of performance management and career development.
  • Ensuring processes are in place to support employee / workplace accommodation requests and when developing return to work plans.
  • Expanding workplace mental health resources for employees.

Policies and Training

In accordance with AODA’s Policies and Training Standards, Somerville has developed a statement of commitment, policy, and multi-year plan that outlines strategies and actions to identify, prevent, and remove barriers for persons with disabilities. As such, Somerville will:

  • Maintain a corporate policy governing how the organization will achieve accessibility.
  • Maintain the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and update as required.
  • Make the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan available to the public on Somerville’s websites and available in accessible formats upon request.

Accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities is a core value for the Company and for that reason, Somerville provides training to employees on Accessibility standards. Training is provided in a way that best suits the duties and needs of employees and every person who deals with the public on behalf of the Company. Somerville has taken the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training needed to meet current standards and legislation:

  • Provides training on the requirements of the accessibility standards and on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities.
  • Provides educational and training resources in an accessible format that takes into account the accessibility needs of a person with a disability.
  • Ensures new employees complete training during the orientation process and within the timelines of any new requirements.
  • Tracks and maintains a database of training records of participant names and dates of completion.

A Workplace Emergency Response Plan will be provided to employees with a disability that require assistance in the event of an emergency.

Design of Public Spaces

Somerville does not have any plans for new construction or significant redevelopment of its offices to which the Design of Public Spaces Standard is applicable. For any future plans to which this Standard would be applicable, Somerville will comply with the required responsibilities.

Somerville will put in place procedures to prevent service disruption to accessible elements of its public spaces. In the event of a temporary service disruption affecting these accessible elements, Somerville will notify the public of such service disruption and any available alternatives. 

Feedback

Receiving feedback from our staff, clients and the public is an important part of our commitment to accessibility. We have developed a feedback process to respond to enquiries and suggestions. We will continue to monitor and respond to feedback promptly. 

For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact us: 

Somerville Merchandising Inc.
5760 Finch Ave E.
Scarborough, ON M1B 5J9
Phone: 416-754-7228

Standard and accessible formats of this document are available free upon request.

All feedback will be reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate individual. If you would like to be contacted regarding your feedback, please include your name and contact information. We will respond to you as promptly as possible.