Statement of Commitment

Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) is committed to providing an accessible environment for all stakeholders including our Fundholders, Donors, Volunteers, employees, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, who interact with our organization. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”), and its associated standards and regulations.

WRCF understands that we have a responsibility for ensuring a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for everyone. We are committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their independence. We are committed to ensuring our organization’s compliance by incorporating the requirements of the Act and any other applicable legislation, standards and regulations into our policies, procedures, equipment requirements, training, and best practices. We will review these policies and practices annually, as organizational changes occur, and in anticipation of any compliance deadlines. In addition, we will strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner, provided such accommodation does not cause WRCF undue hardship in the circumstances.

Providing an accessible and barrier-free environment is a shared effort, and as an organization, WRCF is committed to working with all involved parties to make accessibility for all a reality. For more detailed information on our policies, procedures, equipment requirements, training, and best practices, please contact us at info@wrcf.ca.

Providing Services to People with Disabilities
WRCF is committed to excellence in its service to all stakeholders, including people with disabilities, and we will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following areas:

Communication
WRCF is committed to ensuring that communication is accessible. For this reason, we will communicate in clear and plain language and have a variety of communication vehicles available to meet the needs of people with disabilities. We will train staff on how to interact and communicate with persons with disabilities in a manner that takes into account their disability, and respects their dignity and independence.

Public Events
WRCF will take reasonable steps to ensure that our public events are accessible to all stakeholders. We will do this by: (a) publicizing events in an accessible manner (b) selecting accessible meeting spaces (c) letting the public know that we will strive to meet the accommodation needs of all event attendees, upon request.

Web Content
All new web content on WRCF’s website conforms with WCAG 2.0, Level AA. This applies to websites and web content, including web-based applications that WRCF controls directly. WRCF is also actively taking steps to build processes and procedures that ensure WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance for all new PDFs.

Telephone Services
We are committed to providing fully accessible telephone service to our clients and other persons who may contact WRCF by telephone. We will train our employees to communicate with clients over the telephone in clear and plain language and to speak clearly and slowly.

Assistive Devices
We are committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices by ensuring that our employees are trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by people who are interacting with WRCF team members.

Use of Service Animals and Support Persons
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on those parts of our premises that are open to the public or by invitation in the circumstances. We will also ensure that all employees are properly trained in how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.

We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person.

Notice of Temporary Disruption
WRCF will provide stakeholders with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in services at our premises. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. The notice will be placed at the main entrance to our premises.

Training for Employees
WRCF will provide training to all employees who deal with the public, and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of our policies and procedures. Applicable employees will be trained on policies and procedures that affect the way we provide services and information to people with disabilities. Employees will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies and procedures.

As of July 4, 2022

Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns or complaints relating to WRCF’s Accessibility Policy, please contact us at:

Email: info@wrcf.ca

Phone: 519-725-1806

Mail:
KITCHENER (mailing address)
200-2 King Street West
Kitchener, ON N2G 1A3