Introduction

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was enacted by the Government of Ontario in 2005. The AODA alongside the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) set out requirements for organizations covered within the Act and Regulation to comply with to create an accessible Ontario for persons with disabilities.

The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP- a 5-year document) is one of the requirements set out for Organizations within Ontario to develop. It establishes initiatives the Organization intends to take to comply with the accessibility standards.

FSRA’s 2020-2025 MYAP outlines the actions, initiatives, and proposed initiatives FSRA has implemented and will put in place in future to provide inclusive and accessible services to all its stakeholders. The MYAP was updated in September 2021.

The 2021 Annual Status Report highlights the progress FSRA has made with respect to accessibility and in line with the initiatives listed in its MYAP. Some areas of progress are summarized below:

Policies

FSRA has developed and implemented several policies to address accessibility and disability accommodation. These Policies are updated within the policy review cycle to address identified gaps and accommodate changes in Legislations, Regulations and Directives.

Employment

FSRA has ensured the inclusion of “availability of accommodation” in its job posting (whether internal or external) and throughout its end-to-end recruitment process. Accommodation requests are prioritized and provided where it would not cause undue hardship to FSRA. This has helped create an equal playing field for all job applicants seeking an employment position within the organization.

Return to Work accommodation for employees who require it have been tailored to suit each specific requirement.

Training

FSRA employees, Management, contractors and third parties (where applicable) are trained on how to identify and relate with persons with disabilities.

These trainings have been used as tools to educate and create awareness on accessibility.

The mandatory trainings on accessibility are expected to be completed within a month by new employees and range from health and safety to trainings on the Human Rights Code.

Managers are trained on how to assist members of their team with disabilities or specific work accommodation needs.

Facilities

FSRA transitioned from its old office building to a new office site and made the following progress with respect to the MYAP initiatives:

  • Constructed single use universal washrooms with wheelchair accessibility, handrails, grab bars and emergency call system
  • Sit-stand workstations
  • Braille signage for meeting rooms, workstations, and floor directory
  • Several rooms with accessible facilities such as wheelchair accessibility and low counters, sink and microwaves
  • Main entry points are equipped with automatic door openers

Communications

FSRA in line with its Workplan (as agreed with the Accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities Division of the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility) has been working on Decommissioning the Old Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario (DICO) websites (FSCO and DICO were the previous Regulators amalgamated to create FSRA).

The Decommissioning of these websites is an extensive project due to the large volumes of information contained on the websites. FSRA has made tremendous progress in the decommissioning process. The DICO website has been decommissioned. Work on decommissioning the FSCO website has begun and projected for completion in March 2022. Some content (such as forms, enforcement actions, guidance etc.) of the FSCO website will remain until they can be transferred to the FSRA website.

Procurement

Accessibility has been incorporated into the Procurement process of FRSA. Vendors are prompted (in the procurement Agreement) and encouraged to ensure accessibility is integrated in their deliverables.

Conclusion

In all, FSRA has made good progress in accessibility compliance in FY2021. FSRA is dedicated to the achieving the initiatives outlined in its Updated MYAP unless made impracticable by circumstances beyond FSRA’s control.

FSRA will constantly seek ways to contribute to the accessibility of Ontarians with disabilities by creating an accessible environment within its organization and complying with its obligations under the AODA and IASR.

This document is available on FSRA’s website and can also be reproduced in an alternative accessible format upon request via email- [email protected] and

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