Nutri-Lawn is committed to maintaining an accessible environment for persons with disabilities in the delivery of its services and in its employment practices. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa adheres to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 , which provides for accessibility standards that remove barriers for people with disabilities and different abilities.

Disabilities may differ in severity, may be visible as well as non-visible, and have effects, which may come and go.

A "disability", means:

b) 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 guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,

c) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,

d) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language

e) a mental disorder, or

f) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

It is important to understand that clients with disabilities may have different needs and may incur barriers in key areas of daily living. The company is committed to resolving any barriers to its client service.

The following are explanations of some of terminology:

Accessible formats – formats that are an alternative to standard print and are accessible to people with disabilities. Accessible formats may include large print, Braille, and audio electronic formats such as DVDs, CDs,

Communication supports – supports that individuals with disabilities may need to access information. Some examples include plain language formats, sign language, as well as reading out loud, captioning, or using written notes to communicate.

Mobility aid – refers to devices used to facilitate the transport, in a seated posture, of people with disabilities.

Mobility assistive device – refers to a cane, walker, or similar aid.

Obligated organization – refers to the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations, as well as the large and small organizations to which the standards of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation apply.

Large organization (private and not-for-profit) with 50+ employees – refers to a private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services, or facilities to the public, or to other organizations, and has 50 employees or more in Ontario.

Nutri-Lawn Ottawa is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities. Nutri-Lawn will use reasonable efforts to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures governing the provision of its services to persons with disabilities are consistent with the following measures:

Assistive devices Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will ensure that employees are trained and familiar with various assistive devices we have on site or that we will provide devices that may be used by clients with disabilities while accessing our goods or services.

Communication - Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.

Service animals - Nutri-Lawn Ottawa welcomes people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public.

Support persons - A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises.

Notice of temporary disruption - In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for clients with disabilities, Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will notify clients promptly, where appropriate. This notification will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will notify its clients through any or all of the following methods: company web site, company voice message, or visibly posted signage on company premises.

Training - Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will provide accessible customer service training to employees, contractors, sub-contractors and others who deal with the public or other third parties on our behalf. Training will be done on a regular basis with any changes to the policies, practices and procedures on providing goods and 43 Nutri-Lawn Ottawa Employee Handbook Feb 2025 services. New employees will be trained as soon as practicable after the employee has been assigned their duties. Training will also be provided to people involved in the development of policies, plans, practices and procedures related to the provision of our goods and services. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa uses the training materials that are available at: http://accessforward.ca.

Feedback process - Clients who wish to provide feedback on the way Nutri-Lawn Ottawa provides goods and services to people with disabilities can e-mail us with their feedback. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will respond to feedback within 10 business days.

Documentation - As required by the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act , Nutri-Lawn Ottawa maintains a written copy of our accessible client service plan and makes that plan available to clients upon request by posting a notice on our website.

Any policy, practice or procedure of the company that does not respect and promote the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities will be modified or removed.

The Integrated Accessibility Standard integrates four standards under one regulation, the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, and includes: Information and Communications, Employment, Transportation and Design of Public Spaces. This regulation is now law and the requirements currently in regulation are being phased in between 2011 and 2021. The standards that will apply to Nutri-Lawn Ottawa are Information and Communications Standard, and Employment Standard.

Information and Communications Standard - Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will provide accessible formats and communications supports as quickly as possible and at no additional cost when a person with a disability asks for them. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will make feedback processes accessible by providing accessible formats and communications supports when requested. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will make public emergency information accessible when requested.

Employment Standard - Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will notify its employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for job applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will let job applicants know, when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process, that recruitment and hiring processes will be modified to accommodate their disabilities, if requested. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when making an offer of employment.

Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will build the accessibility needs of employees into their human resources practices.

• Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will inform its employees of its policies used to support its employees with disabilities, including, but not limited to, policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
• Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will provide the information required to new employees as soon as practicable after they begin their employment.
• Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will provide updated information to its employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
• Where an employee with a disability so requests it, Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will consult with the employee to provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for
  a) information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job; and
  b) information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.
• Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will consult with the employee making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will help employees stay safe in an emergency by providing them with individualized emergency response information if necessary and provided the employee informs the company of the need for accommodation. Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will also provide assistance to employees who have a disability as part of a workplace emergency response if the employee requires assistance and provides consent.

Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will provide the information required as soon as practicable after the company becomes aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability.

Nutri-Lawn Ottawa will review the individualized workplace emergency response information

a) When the employee’s overall accommodations, needS, or plans are reviewed; and

b) When the employer reviews its general emergency response policies.