Accessibility Policy

Canadian Club Toronto is committed to improving accessibility and herewith enacts the following  Accessibility Policy. This document outlines the Club’s policy and procedures for welcoming and  providing accommodation for people with a disability. Canadian Club Toronto may review and  revise this policy from time to time in light of the needs of its members and attendees at its events  as well as its own financial resources.

EMPLOYMENT

Canadian Club Toronto will notify the public and staff that, when requested, it will accommodate  disabilities during recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired. If needed, it  will provide customized workplace emergency information to employees who have a disability. If  using performance management, career development and redeployment processes, it will take into  account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities.

ACCOMMODATION FOR DEAF AND ATTENDEES WITH HEARING LOSS

I. Procedures for Submitting Requests: Deaf people and people with hearing loss seeking accommodation for a Canadian Club event must contact the Canadian Club and indicate the specific accommodation(s) being requested. Requests for such accommodation may  be made either: 

a.By phone to the Events Manager at 416-364-5590; or

b. By email to info@canadianclub.org. All e-mail requests should indicate “Request for  Accommodation” in the subject line.

II. Accommodations Provided: Where requests are made in accordance with this Policy, the  Canadian Club will book a sign language interpreter for the event and/or provide seating accommodation for Canadian Club events.  

a. Booking of Sign Language Interpreter: Upon receiving a request for a sign language interpreter, the Canadian Club will schedule a sign language interpreter through the  Canadian Hearing Society.  The Canadian Hearing Society’s policy is that bookings must be made one month in advance of the date for which the sign language interpreter is required in order to guarantee that a sign language interpreter will be available. Where bookings are made less than one month in advance, Canadian Club Toronto cannot guarantee that it will be able to schedule a sign language interpreter for that event. 

b. Seating for Each Canadian Club Event: Upon receiving a request by e-mail or telephone submitted in accordance with the procedures outlined above, the Canadian Club will attempt to accommodate the request for seating accommodation of the deaf person or person with hearing loss.  

Seating for Canadian Club events is often confirmed and finalized one or two weeks prior to the event itself. Canadian Club Toronto reserves priority seating for each  Canadian Club event to be filled by deaf people or people with hearing loss. Canadian  Club Toronto holds these seats open for up to four days prior to the event itself. Where a request is made after seating arrangement are confirmed and finalized, Canadian  Club Toronto cannot guarantee that it will be able to accommodate the specific request for seating of the deaf person or person with hearing loss. 

III. Where Sign Language Interpreter Unavailable: Canadian Club Toronto will attempt to book a sign language interpreter from the OIS for its events but cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so. Where Canadian Club Toronto is unable to obtain a sign language interpreter  for an event: which a deaf person or person with hearing loss wishes to attend, Canadian  Club Toronto offers the following alternatives: 

a. such person may arrange for his or her own sign language interpreter and Canadian  Club Toronto will cover the costs for such interpreters for an amount up to the rates  charged by the Ontario Interpreting Services (OIS) for sign language interpreters; 

b. Canadian Club Toronto may be able to arrange alternative services such as FM systems  where such request is made in a timely manner; or, 

c. where the foregoing accommodations are not possible or not satisfactory, Canadian  Club Toronto will reimburse the full cost of the person’s ticket to that Canadian Club event. 

IV. Payment for Sign Language Interpreter: Canadian Club Toronto will cover the cost of the sign language interpreter for the scheduled time of the event. Canadian Club events normally run over a two-hour period between 12:00p.m. and 1:45p.m. with registration beginning at 11:45a.m. As the Canadian Club is only able to book its interpreters for two hour increments, Canadian Club Toronto will only cover the cost of ASL interpreters for two hours.  

V. Interpreter Procedure at each Canadian Club Event: Upon arrival at a Canadian Club event,  the sign language interpreter must see the Events Manager or the Executive Director of the  Canadian Club at the Event Registration Desk. The Events Manager or Executive Director  will then provide the sign language interpreter with:  

a. an overview of the event; 

b. information regarding event procedures; 

c. details regarding where he or she may stand or be seated during the course of the  event; and, d. any additional information the sign language interpreter may require.  

During the course of the meal and the speaker’s address, Canadian Club Toronto will position the sign language interpreter in a position where the deaf person or person with hearing loss can view both the speaker and the sign language interpreter, subject to any security requirements. Canadian  Club Toronto requires that the sign language interpreter abide at all times by its directions and the directions of any security personnel at the event. 

ACCOMMODATION FOR BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED ATTENDEES

Canadian Club Toronto offers the assistance of volunteers to blind and partially sighted attendees  and upon request, the Canadian Club may also provide visually impaired attendees with a Braille  copy of the program for the event, subject to the conditions outlined below.   I. Procedure for Submitting Requests: Visually impaired individuals who wish to request either  a volunteer to assist them at a Canadian Club event or a Braille copy of the event’s program  may do so by:  a. By phone to the Events Manager at 416-364-5590; or b. By email to info@canadianclub.org. All e-mail requests should indicate “Request for  Accommodation” in the subject line line in order to ensure that the request is processed  as soon as possible.  II. Volunteer Requests:  a. Notice Required: Where sufficient notice of the request is given, Canadian Club Toronto  will, on request, attempt to secure a volunteer to assist the visually impaired individual at  the event. Canadian Club Toronto cannot guarantee that it will be able to secure a  volunteer to assist all visually impaired attendees.  b. Confirmation of Securing Volunteers: Canadian Club Toronto will contact the visually  impaired attendee within two days prior to the event to inform him or her of whether they  have been able to secure a volunteer.  III. Requests for Pamphlets in Braille: Where a blind and partially sighted attendee makes a  request more than two weeks prior to the event in accordance with the procedures outlined  above, Canadian Club Toronto will provide a Braille copy of the program for the event.

ACCOMMODATION FOR ATTENDEES REQUIRING SUPPORT PEOPLE OR ANIMALS

I. Support Animals: Individuals with disabilities who require the assistance of a guide dog or  other support animal are permitted to attend the premises with the support animal and to  keep the animal with them unless the animal is otherwise excluded from the premises by  law.  II. Support People: Individuals with disabilities who require the assistance of a support person  to attend a Canadian Club event may attend the event with their support person. The  Canadian Club will waive the fee and arrange to allow the support person to sit near the  individual with the disability. Canadian Club Toronto requests that those attending Canadian  Club events with a support person contact:  a. The Events Manager by telephone at 416-364-5590; or b. By email to info@canadianclub.org to advise of this request so that the Canadian Club  may ensure that he or she is able to sit as close to his or her support person as  possible. All e-mail requests must indicate “Request for Accommodation” in the subject  line in order to ensure that the request is processed as soon as possible.

ACCOMMODATION FOR ATTENDEES WITH PHYSICAL ACCESS DISABILITIES

While the Canadian Club books its events in facilities which are accessible to those with physical  access disabilities, the Canadian Club has limited control over the facilities in which the events take  place. Canadian Club Toronto will provide such accommodation to those with physical access  disabilities as is possible in the circumstances.  I. Procedure for Accommodation Requests: Requests for specific accommodation at  Canadian Club events may be made directly to the Events Manager: a. by telephone at 416-364-5590; or b. by email to info@canadianclub.org. All e-mail requests must indicate “Request for  Accommodation” in the subject line to ensure that the request is processed as soon as possible. II. Accommodation Available: Where sufficient notice is given, Canadian Club Toronto will: a. notify the hotel or facility in which the event is taking place of the required accommodation, b. arrange seating plans to provide for easy access into and out of the room in which the event is held; or, c. arrange for a volunteer to assist the individual with the physical access disability.

VENUES

Canadian Club Toronto will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when  building or making major modifications to public spaces and will make every effort to use venues  that comply with the letter and spirit of its obligations to people with disabilities.

SERVICE DISRUPTION

If there is a problem with facilities, equipment or services that people with disabilities rely on,  Canadian Club Toronto will provide notice to the public. The way the Canadian Club provides the  notice will be determined by the nature of the problem. The Canadian Club will always try to make  alternative arrangements to provide service where possible.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

Canadian Club Toronto is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. When asked, it will provide information and communications materials in accessible formats or with communication supports. This includes publicly available information about its goods, services and facilities, as well as publicly available emergency information. The Canadian  Club welcomes feedback and will consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Complaints can be made in person, by telephone at 416 364 5590 or by e-mail at  info@canadianclub.org. Complaints will be referred accordingly, either to the Executive Director or President of The Board.

THREE-YEAR REVIEW

This Accessibility Policy shall be reviewed by The Board at least every three years or as required by a change in legislation.