Accessibility Policy
Providing Goods and Services to Persons with Disabilities

Torque is committed to ensuring that we provide a safe, welcoming, barrier-free and accessible environment.  Torque’s accessibility policy is posted on our website in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”).

Torque recognizes the importance of:

  • The principles of independence, dignity, integration and equal opportunity;
  • Providing accessibility for individuals with disabilities;
  • Openly communicating and responding to Customers’ needs in order to provide them with excellent customer service and accessibility; and
  • Complying with the mandatory accessibility standards addressed in the Ontario Regulation 429/08 (“Customer Service Standard”) and Ontario Regulation 191/11 (“Integrated Accessibility Standards”) under the AODA.

 

Application

This Accessibility policy applies to all Torque employees, including but not limited to senior management, managers, supervisors, full-time employees, part-time employees, website support staff, students and apprentices.  While Torque does not directly provide goods or services to the general public, occasionally Torque employees may interact with the general public while performing work for our Clients.  When this occurs, this Accessibility policy will apply.

This policy shall also apply to every employee, agent and contractor involved in the development of such policies, procedures and practices pertaining to accessibility for work performed on behalf of our Clients.

 

Use of Service Animals and Support Persons

Service Animals
We welcome guide dogs or other animals that serve individuals with disabilities in those areas of our premises or external work areas that are open to the general public, and will permit the individual to keep the service animal with him or her, except for those animals that are otherwise excluded by law from the premises or at external work areas.

In the event that a service animal is otherwise excluded by law from the premises or external work areas, we will work with the individual to find ways to provide an alternative method of accessing our goods or services.

Support Persons
We welcome persons who support individuals with disabilities to accompany them onto our premises or external work areas open to the general public.  Torque will ensure that disabled individuals have access to their support persons while on the premises or at external work areas.
Support persons will be asked to follow comply with the Ministry of Labour Health & Safety requirement for a construction jobsite.  We will seek the consent of the disabled individual before confidential information is discussed in front of the support person.

 

Notice of Temporary Disruption 

Torque will make reasonable efforts to provide Customers and employees with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by persons with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, the anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities or services if available.

At external work areas, notices of temporary disruptions will be forwarded to our Customers and if needed caution tape, temporary barriers and signage will be displayed to indicate alternative safe routes.  Notices will be placed at the public entrance of our premises or at external work areas as applicable.

 

Training for Employees

Torque will provide training to employees who deal with Customers and all those who are involved in the development and approval of accessibility policies, practices and procedures. This training will also be provided within 30 days after the commencement of duties.

Training will include the following:

  • The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005;
  • The requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (Ontario Regulation 429/08);
  • The requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards (Ontario Regulation 191/11);
  • How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities, including by telephone, email and alternative methods;
  • 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 interact with and respond to concerns about service animals;
  • What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Torque’s goods or services; and
  • Torque’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the accessibility standard.

Applicable employees will be trained on policies, practices and procedures that affect accessibility.  These employees will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.

Torque will keep a log of the training it provides, including who was trained, on what and when.

 

Feedback process 

Feedback regarding the way Torque provides goods or services to people with disabilities can be made verbally in person or by telephone to (905) 660-3334, or via email at info@torque.ca.  Torque will investigate and respond to all comments relating to such services in a timely, thorough, and objective manner.

 

Modifications to this or other policies

We are committed to developing accessibility policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to this policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities.

Any policy of Torque that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities will be modified or removed.