Accessibility Policy - The GC Burger

THE GC BURGER Accessibility Policy
SUBJECT: Accessibility Policy	Date of Issue: November 2023
APPROVED BY:	Review/Revision Date: May 2024
SCOPE: All Workplace Parties	POLICY NO:

Purpose GC Burger is dedicated to upholding its obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code, ensuring non-discrimination remains at the forefront of its operations. Understanding that compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its standards does not diminish its responsibilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code or any other disability-related legislation, GC Burger reaffirms its commitment to both frameworks. Our pledge extends to delivering exceptional service to all patrons, including those with disabilities, aligning with principles of independence, dignity, integration, and equal opportunity. Assistive devices People with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing our goods, services or facilities. In cases where the assistive device presents a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern or may not be permitted for other reasons, other measures will be used to ensure the person with a disability can access our goods, services or facilities. We will ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices we have on site or that we provide that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods, services or facilities. Communication We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. This may include the following: written media, menus and verbal communication. We will work with the person with a disability to determine what method of communication works for them. Service animals We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public. When we cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask a person to provide documentation (template, letter or form) from a regulated health professional that confirms the person needs the service animal for reasons relating to their disability. A service animal can be easily identified through visual indicators, such as when it wears a harness or a vest, or when it helps the person perform certain tasks. A regulated health professional is defined as a member of one of the following colleges:

College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario
College of Chiropractors of Ontario
College of Nurses of Ontario
College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
College of Optometrists of Ontario
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
College of Psychologists of Ontario
College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario

If service animals are prohibited by another law, we will do the following to ensure people with disabilities can access our goods, services or facilities:

explain why the animal is excluded
discuss with the customer another way of providing goods, services or facilities

The Food Premises Regulation to the HPPA prohibits live birds and animals from entering rooms where food is manufactured, prepared, processed, handled, served, displayed, stored, sold or offered for sale. The HPPA carves out an exception to this prohibition in order to permit service dogs in areas where food is served, sold, or offered for sale. It is important to note that the exception is expressly limited to service dogs. For the purposes of the HPPA, a dog is a service dog if it is readily apparent to an average person that the dog functions as a service dog for a person with a medical disability, or if the person can provide on request a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires a service dog. This definition also encompasses service dogs for people with invisible, intermittent, and/or chronic disabilities In simpler words, the HPPA and Regulation permits service dogs to enter places like the dining area restaurants, but prohibit service dogs from being in areas where food is manufactured or prepared for public consumption. Support persons A support person is an individual who accompanies a Guest with disabilities to help the Guest meet his or her communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or to assist the Guest in accessing goods and/or services. A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises. Billing The GC Burger is committed to providing accessible billing/invoices to all our Guests and third party business partners. The GC Burger will answer any questions Guests may have about the content of the billing and will be responsible for ensuring that the alternative formats are available upon request. Facilities We are committed to ensuring that our premises and related services are welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities. As appropriate, we are willing to provide necessary alterations to our facilities to accommodate people with disabilities. Notice of temporary disruption In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to services or facilities for customers with disabilities The GC Burger will notify customers promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. Training The GC Burger will provide accessible customer service training to:

all employees and volunteers
anyone involved in developing our policies
anyone who provides goods, services or facilities to customers on our behalf.

Training will include:

purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard
The GC Burger’s policies related to the customer service standard
how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
how to use the equipment or devices available on-site or otherwise that may help with providing goods, services or facilities to people with disabilities.
what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing The GC Burger’s goods, services or facilities

Staff will also be informed and/or trained when changes are made to our accessible customer service policies. Feedback process The GC Burger welcomes feedback on how we provide accessible customer service. Customer feedback will help us identify barriers and respond to concerns. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated and can be submitted in the following formats: in person, by telephone, by mail, by email or by website e-submission. Notice of availability of documents The GC Burger will continue to ensure that its Guest feedback process is accessible to Guests with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communications support, upon request. Modifications to this or other policies Any policies of The GC Burger that do not respect and promote the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities will be modified or removed.

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