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Accessibility Policy

Purpose

Helia Capital is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence.

At Helia Capital we believe in integration and accommodation, and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. In order to do so, we will remove and prevent barriers to accessibility while ensuring we are compliant with the requirements under Ontario’s accessibility laws.

We will use reasonable efforts to ensure that our policies, practices, and procedures governing the provision of our services to persons with disabilities are consistent with the following principles:

  • Services are provided in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities;
  • Persons with disabilities are able to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other staff or visitors; and
  • Persons with disabilities have opportunities equal to others to obtain, use, and benefit from Helia Capital’s services.

Definitions

“Disability” means:

  • Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation, or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness;
  • 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.

“Service animal” means:

  • An animal accompanying a person with disabilities where it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability or where the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that he or she requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability. This definition includes guide dogs used by the blind or visually impaired.

“Support person” means:

  • Another person who accompanies him or her to help with communication, mobility, personal care, or medical needs or with access to goods and services.

“Barrier” means:

  • Anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society on an equal basis because of his or her disability. This includes a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy, or a practice.

Application of Policy

This policy applies to all Helia Capital services provided to the public, and all staff and visitors who are accountable for providing accessibility to persons with disability.

Use of Assistive Devices, Service Animals and/or Support Persons

Clients with a disability are permitted, where possible, to use their own Assistive Device when on our premises for the purposes of obtaining, using, or benefiting from our services.

A person with disabilities may be accompanied by a guide dog or other service animal when on Helia Capital’s premises. In the event that service animals are excluded by law from the premises or a part thereof (e.g., an area where food is being prepared), Helia Capital will provide other resources or support to enable the person with disabilities to access the services offered by Helia Capital.

Persons with disabilities may enter Helia Capital’s premises with a support person and have access to the support person while on the premises. In certain circumstances, Helia Capital may require persons with disabilities to be accompanied by a support person when on the premises, but only if a support person is necessary to protect the health and safety of the person with disabilities or the health or safety of others on the premises.

Training for Staff

Helia Capital will train its staff and other individuals who provide services to the public on Helia Capital’s behalf on the provision of its services to persons with disabilities. This policy will also be shared as soon as possible with new hires. Helia Capital’s training includes the following topics:

  • The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard;
  • How to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities;
  • How to interact with persons with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a guide dog, service animal or a support person;
  • How to use or access the equipment or devices available on Helia Capital’s premises or otherwise that may help with the provision of services to persons with disabilities;
  • What to do if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty in accessing Helia Capital’s services; and
  • This policy.

Helia Capital will provide training on an ongoing basis when changes are made to policies, practices and procedures governing the provision of services to persons with disabilities.

Information and Communication

Helia Capital is committed to meeting the communication needs of persons with disabilities. When communicating with a person with a disability, individuals working on behalf of Helia Capital will do so in a manner that considers the person’s disability and will make a reasonable effort to have the person with a disability understand both the content and intent of the communications. When asked, we will provide information and communications materials in accessible formats or with communication supports.

Helia Capital will consult with persons with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs.

Employment

Those seeking employment at Helia Capital will be notified that accommodations may be made for persons with disabilities, upon request, during the recruitment, assessment, and selection processes. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Any company information in an accessible format or with communication supports to people with disabilities, in a manner that considers their disability. This information can include but is not limited to:
    • Company updates and newsletters,
    • Policies and processes,
    • Any information required to perform one’s job (job description, manuals, etc.),
    • Health and safety information, and
    • Performance management policies and processes.
  • Accessible emergency information, including an individual emergency accommodation plan in the case of an evacuation.
  • Develop an individual accommodation plan. Please refer to our Individual Accommodation Plan Process for more information.

Notice of Temporary Disruption

Should any aspects of our facilities that are used by persons of disabilities face an unexpected disruption, a notice will be publicly posted including information about the reason for the disruption, anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services if available.

Design of Public Spaces

Helia Capital will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces. Public spaces include:

  • Parking
  • Waiting areas and meeting rooms

Feedback

Helia Capital welcomes the opportunity for collaboration and feedback related to the achievement of the accessibility requirements and standards outlined in this policy.

As it relates to the provision of Helia Capital’s services, individuals representing Helia Capital will accept verbal feedback and will use sensitivity and diplomacy to address any issues immediately when possible. Feedback may also be conveyed via email to info@heliacapital.com.

Helia Capital is committed to responding to and investigating all complaints of discrimination based on disability. If a complaint is found to have merit, immediate steps will be taken to end the conduct at issue.