Accessibility

Graziella Fine Jewellery Accessibility Policy

Graziella Fine Jewellery 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. We believe in integration, and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario’s accessibility laws.

Graziella Fine Jewellery is committed to meeting its current and ongoing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code respecting non-discrimination. 

Graziella Fine Jewellery understands that obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its accessibility standards do not substitute or limit its obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code or obligations to people with disabilities under any other law.

Graziella Fine Jewellery is committed to excellence in serving and providing goods, services or facilities to all customers including people with disabilities.

Our accessible customer service policies are consistent with the principles of independence, dignity, integration, and equality of opportunity for people with disabilities.

Training

We are committed to training all staff and volunteers in accessible customer service, other Ontario’s accessibility standards and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities.

 In addition, we will train:

1. a) all persons who participate in developing the organization’s policies; and
2. b) all other persons who provide goods, services, or facilities on behalf of the organization

Training of our employees and volunteers on accessibility relates to their specific roles.

Training includes:

• purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the Customer Service Standards
• our policies related to the Customer Service Standards
• 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
• how to use the equipment or devices available on-site or otherwise that may help with providing goods, services, or facilities

to people with disabilities. These include:

• what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing our organization’s goods, services or facilities.

We train every person as soon as practicable after being hired and provide training in respect of any changes to the policies.

We maintain copies of all online training completion certificates.

Assistive Devices

People with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing our goods, services, or facilities.

We ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices we have on site or that we provide that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods, services, or facilities.

Communication

We communicate with people with disabilities in ways that consider their disability. This may include the following:

Hearing Impaired- Typing on a screen, hand signals/sign language

Vision Impaired- guide through the store with verbal explanation

We will work with the person with disabilities to determine what method of communication works for them.

Service Animals

We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on all the parts of our premises that are open to the public and third parties regardless of disability or documentation.

Support Persons

Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter our premises with his or her support person.  At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises nor will there be any sort of admission fees. We may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person when on the premises, but only if, after consulting with the person with a disability and considering the available evidence, we determine that, (a) a support person is necessary to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability or the health or safety of others on the premises; and (b) there is no other reasonable way to protect the health or safety of the person with a disability and the health or safety of others on the premises.

Notice of Temporary Disruption

In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities, this organization will notify customers promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

Services/Facilities include:

-Handicap Access Door

-Entrance Ramp

-Handicap Washroom

The notice will be made publicly available in the following ways:

-Signage

-Website notice.

Feedback Process

Graziella Fine jewellery welcomes feedback on how we provide accessible customer service. Customer feedback will help us identify barriers and respond to concerns.

Feedback may be provided in the following ways:

-Google reviews

-In Person

-By Mail or Email

-Telephone Call

All feedback, including complaints, will be handled in the following manner:

Feedback will be directed to the Store Manager. Customers can expect to hear back within 48 hours. Graziella Fine Jewellery ensures our feedback process is accessible to people with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats and communication supports, on request.

Notice of Availability of Documents

Graziella Fine Jewellery notifies the public that documents related to accessible customer service, are available upon request by posting a notice:

-Store Signage

-Website

Graziella Fine Jewellery will provide these documents in an accessible format or with communication support, on request. We will consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the format or communication support. We will provide the accessible format in a timely manner and, at no additional cost. Our Accessibility Compliance Report and Policy can be located on our website at www.graziella.ca

Information and Communications

We have a process for receiving and responding to feedback and the process is accessible to persons with disabilities upon request.

We communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. When asked, we will provide information about our organization and its services, including public safety information, in accessible formats or with communication supports:

1. a) in a timely manner, taking into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability; and
2. b) at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons.

We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support. If the organization determines that information or communications are unconvertible, the organization shall provide the

requestor with:

1. a) an explanation as to why the information or communications are unconvertible; and
2. b) a summary of the unconvertible information or communications.

Employment

We notify employees, job applicants and the public that accommodations can be made during recruitment and hiring. We notify job applicants when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request. We consult with the applicants and provide or arrange for suitable accommodation.

We notify successful applicants of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when making offers of employment. We notify staff that supports are available for those with disabilities as soon as practicable after they begin their employment. We provide updated information to employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodation that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability. We will consult with employees when arranging for the provision of suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the accessibility needs due to disability. We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication supports specifically for:

1. a) information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job; and
2. b) information that is generally available to employees in the workplace

Where needed, we will also provide customized emergency information to help an employee with a disability during an emergency. With the employee’s consent, we will provide workplace emergency information to a designated person who is providing assistance to that employee during an emergency. We will provide the information as soon as practicable after we become aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability.

We will review the individualized workplace emergency response information:

1. a) when the employee moves to a different location in the organization;
2. b) when the employee’s overall accommodations needs or plans are reviewed; and
3. c) when the employer reviews its general emergency response policies.

We have a written process to develop individual accommodation plans for employees.

We have a written process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work.

Our performance management, career development and redeployment processes consider the accessibility needs of all employees.