Accessibility Policy

This webpage contains the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service's policy: 6-26 Accessibility. This policy, which was developed in collaboration with the City of Sault Ste. Marie's Accessibility Coordinator, was most recently amended on October 16, 2025. You can download a PDF of this policy by clicking here.

Purpose

To ensure the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service (SSMPS) complies with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), including the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07, the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) under O. Reg. 191/11.

Policy

1. Statement of Commitment

The SSMPS is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive environment for all community members, employees, and visitors. We aim to prevent and remove barriers to accessibility and comply with the AODA and its related standards to achieve accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities.

2. Definitions

AODA: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005

Accessible Formats: may include, but are not limited to, large print, recorded audio and electronic formats, Braille and other formats usable by people with vision loss who use screen reader software.

Assistive Device: A device used to assist people with disabilities in carrying out activities or in accessing the services of persons or organizations covered by the Customer Service Standard. Assistive devices may include walkers, wheelchairs, canes, oxygen tanks, eyeglasses, or hearing aids.

Communication Supports: may include, but are not limited to, captioning, alternative and augmentative communication supports, plain language, sign language and other supports that facilitate effective communications.

Communications: means the interaction between two or more persons or entities, or any combination of them, where information is provided, sent or received.

Conversion Ready: means an electronic or digital format that facilitates conversion into an accessible format.

CSPA: Community Safety and Policing Act

Dignity: means service is provided in a way that allows the person with a disability to maintain self-respect and receive respect from others.

Disability: a disability is broadly defined and may be visible or non-visible, permanent or temporary, and includes physical, mental, and cognitive conditions. It encompasses:

Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation, or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect, or illness. This includes conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, brain injuries, chronic pain, cancer, and other ongoing medical conditions.
Any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical coordination, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impairment, speech impairments, or physical reliance on assistive devices (e.g., wheelchair, walker, cane), service animals, or other supports.
Mental health disabilities, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other psychological conditions.
Developmental disabilities that may affect intellectual or adaptive functioning.
Cognitive disabilities, such as dementia or acquired brain injuries.
Learning disabilities, or difficulties in processing information, understanding or using spoken or written language, symbols, or numbers.
Any condition for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
Note: This definition recognizes that disability is not always immediately apparent and that the experience of disability is shaped by social, attitudinal, and environmental barriers. The SSMPS embraces a social model of disability, which focuses on removing barriers and promoting inclusion and equity.

Information: includes data, facts and knowledge that exists in any format, including text, audio, digital or images, and that conveys meaning; Internet Website means a collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are addressed relative to a common Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and is accessible to the public. Kiosk means an interactive electronic terminal, including a point-of-sale device, intended for public use that allows users to access one or more services or products or both.

MFIPPA: Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Mobility Aid: means a device used to facilitate the transport of a person with a disability, including but not limited to a cane, wheelchair, leg brace, walker, scooter or similar aid.

Nurse: a Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse who is a registered member in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Physician: A physician registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons Ontario.

Service Animal: is an animal that provides support to a person with a disability and is specifically trained—or recognized—to assist with disability-related needs.

Support Person: A person who accompanies a person with a disability to assist them with communication, mobility, personal care, or medical needs or with access to goods or services.

Unconvertible: means a) it is not technically feasible to convert the information or communications; and/or b) the technology to convert the information or communications is not readily available; and

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines: means the World Wide Web Consortium Recommendation, dated December 2008, entitled Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.

3. Scope

This policy applies to all SSMPS members, volunteers, contractors, and any person who provides goods, services, or facilities on behalf of the SSMPS.

4. General

The SSMPS ensures that services are provided in a manner that respects dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity. We accommodate service animals, support persons, and assistive devices, and communicate in ways that consider the individual's disability.

5. Accessibility Standards Compliance

The SSMPS strives to comply with the following AODA standards. The AODA does not replace any existing laws, legislation, or procedures of the SSMPS but complements the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and policy 5-01 Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, and Progressive Discipline, while complying with requirements of hiring SSMPS members under the CSPA:

Customer Service Standard
Information and Communications Standard (e.g., accessible formats, website WCAG 2.1 compliance)
Employment Standard (accommodation in hiring and employment)
Transportation Standard (if applicable)
Design of Public Spaces Standard

All members will make reasonable efforts to ensure:

Services will be provided in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.
The provision or services to people with disabilities, and others, will be integrated unless an alternate measure is necessary, whether temporarily or permanently, to enable a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from the services.
People with disabilities will be given an opportunity equal to that given to others, to obtain, use and benefit from the services the SSMPS provides.
That communication occurs in a way that considers a person's disability.
Service animals who are assisting people with disabilities will be permitted in areas of SSMPS facilities that are open to the public.
People with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person will be permitted to be accompanied by that support person in SSMPS facilities that are open to the public and, at the discretion of the officer in charge, temporary detention.
If public access is disrupted to SSMPS facilities, notice will be provided as soon as possible.
The SSMPS will allow persons with disabilities to use their own personal assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from services the SSMPS provides in the absence of any security or safety concerns.

6. Accessibility Measures

Measures provided by the SSMPS to assist people with a disability to access services include but are not limited to:

Elevators.
Automatic door openers.
Wheelchair access.
TTY (Text Telephone -is a special device that lets people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired use the telephone to communicate, by allowing them to type messages instead of talking and listening.)
Communication via written and or typed notes.
Documents in larger font sizes.
Documents in audio format.
Assistance to complete forms.
Interpreters (hearing impaired, communication barrier).
Website which allows for the option to increase font size and/or use a screen reader.
Services are available via telephone, e-mail, facsimile, and or the internet.

Information on how to access or use these measures is available through the Inspector - Support Services. Likewise, any problems with these measures should be reported as soon as practicable to the Inspector - Support Services.

7. Service Animals

An animal is considered a service animal under the AODA if:

It is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to their disability (e.g., the animal is wearing a vest or harness); or
The person provides documentation from one of the following regulated health professionals confirming the animal is required for disability-related reasons:
- A regulated health professional (e.g., physician, nurse, psychologist, optometrist, audiologist, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, mental health therapist)

Examples of service animals include (but are not limited to):

Guide dogs for individuals who are blind or visually impaired
- Hearing alert animals for those who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Seizure response or alert animals
- Mobility or stability support animals
- Psychiatric service animals for individuals living with PTSD or anxiety
- Autism support animals

Equity and Inclusion Consideration:

SSMPS recognizes and respects that not all service animals may be traditionally trained or certified. As per AODA and human rights principles, individuals with disabilities have the right to be accompanied by their service animal in areas open to the public, unless otherwise excluded by law (e.g., sterile hospital environments).

Service animals must always be under the care and control of their handler. If an animal is disruptive or presents a safety concern, alternate accommodations will be explored to ensure the individual can access services equitably.

8. Support Persons

If a person with a disability is accompanied by a support person, members shall, absent any security or safety concerns:

Provide, within reason, accommodation for that support person.
Direct all communication to the person directly, not to the support person, unless directed to do so.
Obtain approval from the person with a disability prior to releasing confidential information or requesting confidential information while the support person is present.

9. Communication

Members shall, when dealing with people with a disability:

Demonstrate patience, optimism, and a willingness to find a way to communicate.
Not make assumptions about the type of disability(s) a person may have because many disabilities have similar characteristics.
If necessary, use plain language and speak in short sentences.

10. Personal Assistive Devices

People with a disability who have their own assistive devices shall be allowed to use them to obtain, use or benefit from SSMPS services without any security or safety concerns.

If a person with a disability is unable to access SSMPS services using their own personal assistive device, members shall:

Determine if service is inaccessible, based on the individual's requirements.
Assess service delivery and potential service options to meet the needs of the individual.
Notify the person with the disability of alternative service and how they can access the service, temporarily or on a permanent basis.
Report the situation to the Inspector - Support Services for remedy where possible.

11. Feedback

All members who receive feedback about the way services are provided to people with disabilities, shall provide the applicable contact information and direct the person to contact the Inspector - Support Services by telephone, e-mail or the SSMPS website at www.saultpolice.ca.

Feedback will be acknowledged and addressed. Alternate formats and communication supports will be provided upon request.

When members receive an official public complaint about a barrier or lack of accessibility to a disabled person, they shall follow SSMPS policy on Public Complaints.

12. Training

All members, volunteers and contractors will receive training on AODA requirements, interaction with people with disabilities, and use of assistive devices. Training is documented and updated regularly.

The Inspector – Corporate Development and Emergency Management who oversees training shall ensure that:

A training plan is developed to instruct every member of the SSMPS on the provision of SSMPS services to people with disabilities including but not limited to:
- Review of the AODA and the requirements of the AODA.
- Recommended practices for interaction with people with several types of disabilities and those who use service animals, a support person, and/or an assistive device.
- How to use equipment or devices available on our premises or that we otherwise provide that may be of service to a person with a disability.
- How to assist if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty accessing our services.
All AODA training is documented in accordance with the Act outlining:
- Dates the training was provided.
- The number of individuals/names of members who received the training.
A document was prepared describing the training, including a summary of the training requirements of this policy and when it will be provided.

Additionally, all volunteers, contractors, agents or other third parties who deal with the members of the public on behalf of the SSMPS and any person who may be involved in the development of policy or procedures on the provision of good and services shall receive training on the provision of good and services to persons with disabilities.

The names of the individuals trained shall be recorded for administrative purposes subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

13. Service Disruption

Temporary disruptions in accessing SSMPS facilities and services may occur due to reasons that may or may not be within the SSMPS’ control or knowledge, for example elevators or TTY communications.

The Inspector - Support Services will ensure that reasonable effort is made to provide notice of the disruption to the public, including information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if any, which may be available, likewise they will ensure that reasonable effort is made to provide prior notice of planned disruption. In both cases notification shall be made as soon as possible.

When temporary disruptions occur to the SSMPS’s services or facilities, the SSMPS will provide notice by posting the information in visible places within SSMPS facilities and online platforms, or by any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances as soon as reasonably possible.

14. Availability and Format of Documents

This policy and related accessibility documents will be posted on the SSMPS website. Documents will be made available in accessible formats upon request, at no cost to the individual, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

When alternative formats have been requested, the member who is to provide the information for the request will work with the customer to try to agree upon the format to be used for the document or information, subject to the feasibility requirements of this procedure. Alternative formats may include, but not be limited to, audio CD or file, larger print, or the attendance of a Canadian Hearing Society translator.

When a request for alternate format is received, the member receiving the request will forward the request to the supervisor responsible. A determination will be made by the supervisor and divisional commander as to the feasibility of the request. If feasible, the request will be processed, if not, the individual will be contacted to provide a feasible solution.

The period for conversion to alternate formats will vary depending on the media chosen, the size, complexity, quality of source documents, and number of documents converted, and number of agencies involved in the process. Every effort will be made to provide documents in a timely manner.

Conversion shall be processed internally whenever possible. The cost of conversion, including materials and distribution, will be covered by the SSMPS, not assessed to the person making the request. Converted documents shall, when applicable, adhere to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind's Clear Print Standards.

15. Sign Language Interpreters

Members shall be aware that there are services available should they require an (sign) interpreter in the course of their duties. Assistance in this matter can be accessed through the Canadian Hearing Society by calling 705-946-4320, 1-866-518-0000 or texting 1-416-712-6637.

Members who require an interpreter for official documents, statement taking or when charges may be laid should be using the services of a qualified Interpreter who is registered with the Canadian Hearing Service.

Case law exists which supports that when sign language interpreters are necessary for effective communications, the failure to deliver them constitutes a denial of the Charter of Rights. (Regina versus Eldridge)

16. Persons with a Disability in Custody

Members shall refer to policy 1-02 Prisoner Care and Control regarding persons with disabilities in custody.

17. Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

The SSMPS will develop, maintain, and post a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlining its strategy to prevent and remove barriers. This plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years.

Supplementary Information

Governing Authorities

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) 2005
Blind Persons Rights Act
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Customer Service Standard – Regulation 429/07
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Ontario Human Rights Commission