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AODA Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2026-2030

Effective August 2026. Last reviewed August 2026. Next review no later than August 2031.

Introduction

NatureKast is committed to working towards full compliance with all standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 ("AODA") as they are introduced. In doing so, we affirm our commitment to providing quality services in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.

NatureKast strives to meet the needs of its employees and customers with disabilities and to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility. This Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlines the policies, achievements and actions NatureKast has put in place to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.

This plan outlines the steps NatureKast is taking to meet its requirements and improve opportunities for people with disabilities. It is reviewed and updated at least once every five years. NatureKast provides accessibility training as soon as practicable after a person is hired and whenever changes are made to applicable policies.

We maintain records of the training provided including the dates on which the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided.

Customer Service

The Customer Service Standard under AODA was implemented by NatureKast in 2022.

NatureKast uses reasonable efforts to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with the following principles:

  • Services are provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.
  • The provision of services to persons with disabilities, and others is integrated unless an alternate measure is necessary, whether temporarily or on a permanent basis.
  • Persons with disabilities and their service animals are accommodated in all aspects of service provision unless the animal is otherwise excluded by law.
  • NatureKast employees, when communicating with a person with a disability, will do so in a manner that takes into account the person's disability.

The following measures have been implemented by NatureKast:

  • A member of management and the Human Resources representative are designated to implement and revise applicable practices and procedures. Relevant policies are reviewed regularly and updated as required.
  • When a temporary disruption affects facilities or services used by people with disabilities, notice will be provided as soon as practicable. Depending on the circumstances, notice may be provided on the website, by email, by telephone, in writing or at the affected premises.
  • AODA Customer Service training is provided to employees, management and other persons who participate in developing policies, practices and procedures or who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of NatureKast.
  • AODA training, including accessible customer service, forms part of mandatory onboarding for new employees in Ontario.
  • Completion of training of all employees is tracked and recorded.
  • Feedback regarding the way NatureKast provides goods, services or facilities to people with disabilities is welcomed. Feedback may be provided verbally, by email or in writing. NatureKast will arrange an accessible format or communication support upon request and will consult with the person making the request to determine suitability.
  • All feedback collected from clients, staff or the general public is reviewed and analyzed to identify potential gaps in customer services, and to ensure appropriate actions are taken.

Information and Communications

NatureKast is committed to meeting the information and communication needs of people with disabilities. When requested, NatureKast will consult with the person to determine a suitable accessible format or communication support.

NatureKast has implemented the following measures to support compliance with the Information and Communications Standard:

  • Ensure essential information is available to persons with disabilities in an accessible format or with communication supports upon request.
  • Maintain an accessible feedback process. Feedback may be provided by telephone, email or in writing, and accessible formats or communication supports will be arranged upon request.
  • Review public-facing website content and functionality for accessibility and address identified barriers.
  • Training on the AODA Information and Communication Standards has been provided to staff that are involved in developing or disseminating information internally or externally on behalf of the organization.

Website Information

In accordance with the IASR, NatureKast will provide publicly available emergency procedures, plans and public safety information in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, upon request and as soon as practicable.

NatureKast is working towards conformance with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, as required under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. NatureKast will continue to monitor its website and address accessibility barriers identified through testing or feedback.

NatureKast will continue to:

  • Assess the accessibility of its public website, organization and content.
  • Consult with persons requesting accessible formats or communication supports.
  • Publish accessibility information and the current Multi-Year Accessibility Plan on the NatureKast website.
  • Use qualified external resources when an accessible format cannot reasonably be produced in-house, such as captioning, audio description or other specialized formatting.

Employment Standards

NatureKast is committed to inclusive and accessible employment practices that attract and retain individuals with disabilities. We have taken the following steps to notify the public and employees, that when requested, NatureKast will accommodate people with disabilities throughout all phases of the employment relationship, which are detailed more fully below.

Recruitment

NatureKast is committed to ensuring that recruitment and assessment processes are fair and accessible. Managers involved in hiring receive applicable AODA and Ontario Human Rights Code training.

NatureKast has implemented the following practices:

  • State that accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities during recruitment, interviews and assessments.
  • When making an offer of employment, notify the successful applicant of NatureKast's policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
  • State on job postings that accommodations are available upon request for persons with disabilities.
  • Inform employees of policies used to support employees with disabilities as soon as practicable after hiring.
  • Provide employees with updated information whenever accommodation policies change.
  • Consult with the employee to determine the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

Documented Individual Accommodation Plans

NatureKast maintains a written process for documented individual accommodation plans that includes:

  • Participation of the employee requiring the individual accommodation plan.
  • Requesting outside medical evaluation, to the extent necessary, to determine if accommodation can be achieved and how.
  • Ensuring a high level of privacy is achieved, and that information is only disclosed to individuals as necessary and in order to achieve the accommodation needs of the person with a disability.
  • Providing regular review, updates, and communications with the employee during the accommodation process.
  • Providing an employee with information if a request for accommodation is denied.
  • Providing Individual Accommodation Plans in a format that takes into account the needs of the employee.
  • If required, including individualized workplace emergency response information.

Return to Work

NatureKast maintains a documented return-to-work process for employees who have been absent due to a disability and require disability-related accommodation to return to work.

Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment

NatureKast takes the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, including individual accommodation plans, into account when conducting performance management, providing career development and advancement, or redeploying employees.

NatureKast's applicable policies and practices include:

  • Policies that support addressing the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as taking into account individual accommodation plans when using performance management processes.
  • Policies that support addressing the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as taking into account individual accommodation plans when providing career development and advancement opportunities.
  • Policies that support addressing the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as taking into account individual accommodation plans when redeploying employees with disabilities.

Design of Public Spaces

NatureKast will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when newly constructing or redeveloping public spaces to which the requirements apply. Depending on the project, these may include exterior paths of travel, accessible parking, service counters, fixed queuing guides and fixed waiting areas.

Where applicable, NatureKast will:

  • Incorporate applicable accessibility requirements into the planning and design of newly constructed or redeveloped public spaces.
  • Maintain procedures for preventative and emergency maintenance of accessible elements in public spaces.
  • Maintain procedures for addressing temporary disruptions when accessible elements in public spaces are not in working order.
  • Provide notice of a temporary disruption as soon as practicable, including the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and available alternatives, where applicable.

Training

NatureKast provides training to employees, volunteers, other staff members and persons who develop organizational policies or provide goods, services or facilities on its behalf. Training covers Ontario's accessibility standards and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to persons with disabilities and is appropriate to the person's duties.

NatureKast has implemented the following training practices:

  • Provide training on the requirements of the IASR and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to persons with disabilities.
  • Provide training resources or materials in an accessible format that considers the person's accessibility needs, upon request.
  • Require new employees to complete applicable AODA training as soon as practicable after beginning their duties.
  • Maintain records of training, including the dates training was provided and the number of individuals trained.

Accessibility Review

NatureKast monitors compliance with AODA requirements through periodic reviews of its accessibility policies, practices and identified barriers. The Human Resources Generalist coordinates the review process and brings workplace accessibility matters forward to the appropriate management or Joint Health and Safety Committee representatives, as applicable.

Contact Details

For more information about this plan, to provide accessibility feedback, or to request this document or other publicly available information in an accessible format, please contact:

Human Resources

Email: hr@naturekast.com

Telephone: 1-844-880-6314

The current Multi-Year Accessibility Plan will be publicly available on the NatureKast website.