Accessibility Policy

Longo’s is committed to treating all people with mutual respect and in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by meeting the accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”) and its regulation(s).

In keeping with our values and organizational requirements in accordance with the AODA, and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (O. Reg. 191/11, s. 4 (1) (2)), this accessibility plan outlines the steps Longo’s has taken, and will continue to take, to remove accessibility barriers, including but not limited to providing the appropriate training, putting in place and enforcing the appropriate policies, amongst other steps Longo's is taking, and will continue to take.

This plan shows how Longo’s will play its role in making Ontario an accessible province for all Ontarians.

This plan will be reviewed and updated at least every five years.

Longo’s will continue to train every person as soon as practicable after being hired, and will provide training in respect of any changes to its policies. Longo’s will maintain records of the training provided, including the dates on which the training was provided, and the number of individuals to whom it was provided.

LONGO’S COMMITMENTS AND PLANS PURSUANT TO THE AODA

Establishment of Accessibility Policies: Longo’s is committed to developing, implementing, and maintaining policies governing how we will achieve accessibility through meeting the requirements under the accessibility standards as set out by the Regulation(s). Longo’s will continue to document such accessibility policies, will tell employees and customers about them, will notify the public about the availability of such policies, and will provide such policies in an accessible format, upon request.

Accessibility Plans: Longo’s is committed to establishing, implementing, maintaining, and documenting a multi-year accessibility plan which outlines our strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet the requirements under the AODA, and its regulation(s). Longo’s will post such a plan on its website, will provide it in an accessible format, upon request, and will review and update such a plan at least every five years.

Training: Longo’s is committed to providing training pursuant to the requirements of Ontario’s accessibility laws, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, as it applies to people with disabilities. Longo’s is committed to ensuring it continues to provide training on the following:

• Accessibility standards, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, as they relate to people with disabilities
• Accessible customer service
• Any accessibility requirements that apply to Longo’s specifically
• The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
• An overview of the requirements of the customer service standards
• Longo’s policy on providing accessible customer service
• How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disability
• How to interact with persons with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a guide dog or other service animal or the assistance of a support person
• How to use equipment or devices available on Longo’s premises or otherwise provided by Longo’s that may help with the provision of goods, services or facilities to a person with a disability
• What to do if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty accessing Longo’s goods, services or facilities

Accessible Self-Service Kiosks: Longo’s is commitment to incorporating accessibility features/considering accessibility for people with disabilities when designing, procuring, or acquiring self-service kiosks, where applicable.  

Accessible Customer Service: Longo’s is committed to providing customer service to people with disabilities, which allows them to access Longo’s goods, services, and/or facilities, including the following:

• communicating in a manner that takes a person’s disability into account and upon request, provide accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities
• allowing assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, etc.
• welcoming service animals and support persons
• providing notice of temporary disruptions
• creating accessible ways for people to provide feedback about how Longo’s provides goods, services and/or facilities to people with disabilities
• upon request, providing documents in an accessible format, such as large print or braille

Longo’s will also continue to review and update its Accessible Customer Service Policies, as appropriate, and will ensure that they are provided in an accessible format, upon request.

Accessible Format and Information/Communication Support: Longo’s is committed to providing accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities, upon request and upon consultation with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the support. Longo’s is also committed to informing the public and its employees that it will make written information and other forms of communication accessible, upon request.

Longo’s will not charge more for accessible formats than it does for other formats.

Accessible Employment Practices: Longo’s is committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain employees with disabilities, including the following:

• making the recruitment process accessible
• informing employees of supports
• offering accessible formats and communication supports for employees
• providing individualized accessible workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary
• documenting individual accommodation plans
• creating a return to work process and plan for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability
• considering the needs of employees with disabilities for performance management, career development and re-deployment processes

Accessible Websites and Web Content: Longo’s is committed to ensuring our website and web content conform, and continue to conform, with the WWW Consortium – web accessibility guidelines –Level A and Level AA.

Accessible Public Spaces: Longo’s is committed to ensuring accessible public spaces in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and its regulation(s), where applicable. Longo’s will meet accessibility laws when building or making major changes to its public spaces. Where applicable, Longo’s will ensure procedures for preventative and emergency maintenance of the accessible elements in public spaces, as required, as well as procedures for dealing with temporary disruptions when accessible elements that are required are not in working order, for example, by posting signs to explain the disruption, and setting up alternative temporary accessible elements. Longo’s will put procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to the accessible parts of its public spaces.

For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact:

Longo’s Human Resources
905-264-4100
Hrdept@longos.com

Our accessibility plan is posted on the following website: www.longos.com/accessibility-policy

Standard and accessible formats of this document are free upon request from:
Longo’s Human Resources
905-264-4100