Cuddy Farms Limited 2008

Multi Year Accessibility Plan Summary

Table of Contents:

Message from our President & CEO 2

Introduction 2

Past Achievements to Remove and Prevent Barriers

Customer Service 3

Information and Communications 3

Employment 4

Training 4

Strategies and Actions Planned for Years up to 2021

Customer Service 5

Information and Communications 5

Employment 5

Training 5

For More Information 6

Message from our President & CEO – Statement of Commitment

Cuddy Farms is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders including our clients/customers, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005), and its associated standards and regulations.

Cuddy Farms understands that we have a responsibility for ensuring a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for everyone. We are committed to ensuring our organization’s compliance by incorporating accessibility legislation into our policies, procedures, equipment requirements, training, and best practices. We will review these policies and practices annually, as organizational changes occur, or in anticipation of compliance deadlines. In addition, we will strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.

Providing an accessible and barrier-free environment is a shared effort, and as an organization, Cuddy Farms is committed to working with the necessary parties to make accessibility for all a reality. For more detailed information on our accessibility policies, plans, and training programs, please contact Human Resources.

Introduction

Cuddy Farms strives to meet the needs of its employees and customers with disabilities and is working hard to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. Our organization/business is committed to fulfilling our requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This accessibility plan outlines the steps Cuddy Farms is taking to meet those requirements and to improve opportunities for people with disabilities. Our plan shows how Cuddy Farms will play its role in making Ontario an accessible province for all Ontarians.

Past Achievements to Remove and Prevent Barriers

This document includes a summary of the accessibility initiatives that Cuddy Farms

has implemented to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and to meet requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Customer Service

Cuddy Farms remains in compliance with the Customer Service Standard under in accordance with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07. We make every reasonable effort to ensure that our policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity by:

• ensuring that all customers receive the same value and quality;
• allowing customers with disabilities to do things in their own ways, at their own pace when accessing goods and services as long as this does not present a safety risk;
• using alternative methods when possible to ensure that customers with disabilities have access to the same services, in the same place and in a similar manner;
• taking into account individual needs when providing goods and services; and
• communicating in a manner that takes into account the customer's disability.

Cuddy Farms provides customers with the opportunity to provide feedback on the service provided to customers with disabilities. Information about the feedback process is readily available to all customers and notice of the process is available at our main office public entrance. Feedback forms along with alternate methods of providing feedback such as verbally (in person or by telephone) or written (hand written, delivered, website or email), are available upon request.

For more information about Ontario’s Customer Service Standard, visit ontario.ca/AccessON.

Information and Communications

Cuddy Farms is committed to communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. When asked, we provide information about our organization and its services in accessible formats or with communication supports. Our Statement of Commitment is posted at our main office locations.

Employment

Cuddy Farms notifies employees, potential hires and the public that accommodations can be made during recruitment and hiring. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and inform them that accommodations are available for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

We notify our employees that supports are available for those with disabilities. We have put into place a process to develop individual accommodation plans for employees when required. Where needed, we will also provide customized emergency information to help an employee with a disability during an emergency. Any performance management and career development processes will take into account the accessibility needs of all employees.

Training

We are committed to training our employees in Ontario’s accessibility laws and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities. We will train our employees on accessibility as it relates to their specific roles through different methods as determined by the employees’ needs and abilities. Customer Service training is provided to employees in customer services roles. Understanding Human Rights training is provided to all employees within our organization. Other training is provided as policies are developed, changed or amended.

Strategies and Actions

The following projects and programs are planned between now and 2021 to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and to remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities.

Customer Service

The Cuddy Farms is committed to providing accessible customer service to people with disabilities. This means that we will provide goods and services to people with disabilities with the same high quality and timeliness as others. We will continue to follow our policy and practices and ensure new employees are provided with the appropriate training when hired.

Information and Communications

Cuddy Farms is committed to making our information and communications accessible to people with disabilities. We will continue to communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability and when asked, we will continue to provide information about our organization and its services, in accessible formats or with communication supports.

We will plan to meet internationally-recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA website requirements in accordance with Ontario’s accessibility laws by 2021.

Employment

Cuddy Farms is committed to fair and accessible employment practices and will continue to promote these employment practices by developing, implementing and maintain our accessibility policies. These policies will be reviewed annually and changes will be made as required to reflect current practices of the organization. Accessibility policies will continue to be available to the public when requested.

Training

Cuddy Farms is committed to providing training in the requirements of Ontario’s accessibility laws and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it applies to people with disabilities. We will continue to provide training to new employees when hired and provide training to all employees when policies are developed, changed or amended.

For More Information

For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact Lori Henderson at

[519-245-1592 extension 200 or by email at lorih@cuddy.com.

Cuddy Farms website addresses: www.cuddyfarms.com.

Standard and accessible formats of this document are free on request from the Human Resources department.