Accessibility for Users with Disabilities
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the Library provides all library services, resources and facilities in ways that are accessible to persons with disabilities. The policy also serves to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
2. SCOPE
This policy applies to all persons who deal with customers or patrons, and to third parties who deal with customers on the Library's behalf such as those providing program services. A person or third party can be an employee, volunteer, Friend of the Library, Board member, student on placement or someone otherwise engaged in the provision of Library services to our customers.3. DEFINITIONS
"AODA" means the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities, 2005."Assistive Device" means a device used to assist persons with disabilities in carrying out activities or in accessing Library services. Assistive devices may include, but are not limited to, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, oxygen tanks, and electronic communication devices.
"Core Service" means reference, referral and readers' services, collections, lending, technology, programming and outreach.
"Disability or Disabilities" means
- any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a service animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
- 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.
"Library Premises" means premises owned and operated, or operated by the Kingston Frontenac Public Library.
"Support Person" means a person who accompanies a person with a disability in order to assist them with communication, mobility, personal care, or medical needs, or with access to goods or services.
4. POLICY STATEMENT
Kingston Frontenac Public Library is committed to providing quality library services that are accessible to all persons who wish to obtain and use Library services.5. GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. Library service is relevant, inclusive and responsive for all, including persons with disabilities. Each member of the community has an equal opportunity to access public library services.2. Library services are provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.
3. Library services to persons with disabilities are integrated with those provided to persons who do not have disabilities, unless an alternative measure is necessary to enable a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from Library services.
6. COMMUNICATIONS WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
When communicating with a person with a disability, the Library will do so in a manner that takes into account the person's disability.7. TEMPORARY SERVICE DISRUPTIONS
The Library will make reasonable effort to provide notice of any planned disruption of Library services to the public, including information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities or service, if any, that may be available. If a disruption is unplanned, the Library will provide notice as soon as possible.8. ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND OTHER MEASURES THAT ASSIST WITH ACCESSIBILITY
A person with a disability may provide their own assistive device for the purpose of obtaining, using Library services. Exceptions may occur in situations where the Library has determined that the assistive device may pose a risk to the health and safety of a person with a disability or the health and safety of others on the premises. In these situations the Library may offer a person with a disability other reasonable measures to assist them in obtaining and using Library services, where the Library has such other measures available.It is the responsibility of the person with a disability to ensure that their assistive device is operated in a safe and controlled manner at all times.
9. SERVICE ANIMALS
A person with a disability may enter Library premises accompanied by a service animal, and may keep the animal with them if the public has access to such premises and the animal is not otherwise excluded by law. If the service animal is excluded by law, the Library will ensure that alternative means are available to enable the person with a disability to obtain or use the Library services.At times it may be difficult to differentiate between a person with a disability using a service animal and an individual being accompanied by a pet. If it is not readily apparent that the animal is a service animal, Library staff may ask the person for confirmation of the animal's status, as outlined above.
It is the responsibility of the person with the disability to ensure that their service animal is kept in control at all times. This will include controlling the behavior of the animal (e.g. barking or growling), cleaning up after the animal (e.g. defecation), and being responsible for any damage the animal may cause to the Library premises.
10. SUPPORT PERSONS
A person with a disability may enter Library premises with a support person, and have access to the support person at all times while on the premises.The Library may require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person while on Library premises in situations where it is necessary to protect the health and safety of the person with the disability or the health and safety of others.
A support person, when assisting a person with a disability to obtain or use Library services, will be permitted to attend at no charge where an admission fee is applicable.
Where an admission fee is charged to gain access to an event, facility, or service, and the revenue from the fee is payable to a third party (e.g. a concert provider), the support person is permitted to attend the event at their own cost.
If a third party uses a Library meeting room to host an event, they are not required to alter their admission fees for support persons but we would strongly encourage them to do so. However, if a third party voluntarily decides to alter admission fees for support persons for their event, the Library will not be responsible for reimbursing them for the value of those admission fees.
11. TRAINING
The Library will ensure that all persons to whom this policy applies receive training as required by the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (Ontario Regulation 429-07). The amount and format of training given will be dependent on a person's interactions with Library users.The content of the training will include:
- a review of the purposes of the AODA;
- the requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service (Ontario Regulation 429/07);
- instruction on Library policies, procedures and practices pertaining to the provision of Library services to persons with disabilities;
- how to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities;
- what to do if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty accessing Library services;
- how to interact with persons with disabilities who use assistive devices or who require the assistance of a support person or service animal; and,
- information about the equipment or devices available on the Library premises that may help with the provision of Library services to persons with disabilities.