ACCESS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY POLICY

 

The objective of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is to develop and enforce standards to improve accessibility for people with disabilities across Ontario.

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Dunwin Dental is committed to identifying, preventing, and removing barriers that impede the ability of persons with disabilities to access our dental services. We will endeavour to provide dental services in a way that respects the independence and dignity of all persons and encourages integration and equality of opportunity.

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Disability is defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code as:

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• 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 a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;

 

• A mental disorder; or

 

• An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

 

​Assistive Devices, including technical aids, communication devices, medical aids and other supports, used by persons with disabilities to enable them to carry out the activities of daily living. A barrier means anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of their disability, including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, information or communications barriers, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or practice. Persons with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices as required in accessing dental services provided by Dunwin Dental. It is the responsibility of the person using the assistive device to ensure that the assistive device is operated in a safe and controlled manner at all times. If Dunwin Dental determines that the assistive device may pose a health and safety risk to the person with a disability or to others, Dunwin Dental may prohibit the use of the personal assistive device, in which case we will make every effort to ensure that other measures are made available to enable the person with a disability to access our dental services.

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A Service Animal is an animal used by a person with a disability for reasons relating to his or her disability. Persons with disabilities are permitted to be accompanied by their service animal when accessing dental services provided by Dunwin Dental that are open to the public. It is the responsibility of the person using the service animal to ensure that the service animal is kept in control at all times. If a service animal is excluded from the premises by law, Dunwin Dental will make every effort to ensure that other measures are made available to enable the person with a disability to access dental services provided by us.

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A Support Person is a person who accompanies a person with a disability in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods or services. A support person can be a paid professional, a volunteer, a friend or a family member. Persons with disabilities are permitted to be accompanied by their support person when accessing services provided by Dunwin Dental.

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Where there is a temporary disruption to services, Dunwin Dental will take reasonable steps to notify persons with disabilities who might be affected by the disruption. In particular, we will identify the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length, and information about alternative services.

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Dunwin Dental trains all employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public or third parties on Dunwin Dental’s behalf and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service policies, practices and procedures. Training includes the following:

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• An overview of the AODA, 2005;

 

• 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;

 

• What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Dunwin Dental’s services.

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