Accessibility

Keyboard with wheelchair accessibility button.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)
The AODA became law on June 13, 2005. Under this landmark legislation, the provincial government developed standards to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. The vision of the act is to have an accessible Ontario by 2025.

Accessibility Plans
In 2014, Oakville Hydro developed a five-year accessibility plan that outlined the policies and actions that Oakville Hydro would put in place to improve opportunities for people with disabilities. Since then, Oakville Hydro has developed its Accessibility Policy and implemented a number of initiatives aimed at improving accessibility for people with disabilities. Some of the highlights were:

  • accessibility training for all employees
  • implementation of practices to ensure accessible communications
  • an update to our website in 2015 which conforms to level A of the accessibility guidelines established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
  • implementation of practices  to make our workplace more accessible

Going forward, Oakville Hydro will continue to update its website to ensure that it conforms to level AA of the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines by January 1, 2021 as required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. In addition, Oakville Hydro will monitor the success of its accessibility initiatives and look for ways to improve the way in which it interacts with people with disabilities. To view Oakville Hydro’s 2014 to 2019 Accessibility Plan, click here.

Accessibility Policy
Oakville Hydro is committed to treating all individuals in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. Oakville Hydro values integration and equal opportunity and is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. To view Oakville Hydro’s Accessibility Policy, click here.

Accessibility Initiatives
Training
Beginning in 2014, Oakville Hydro’s employees receive annual accessibility training to enable them to recognize and assist people with accessibility needs annually. Any volunteers or contractors working with the public on behalf of Oakville Hydro will also receive accessibility training.

Feedback
Oakville Hydro values the input and feedback that it receives from its customers. Customers with disabilities who wish to provide feedback in another format or find out more about the ways in which Oakville Hydro provides services to persons with disabilities can contact us in one of the following ways:

Accessible Information and Communications
Oakville Hydro is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. When asked, we will provide information about our goods, services and facilities and in accessible formats or with communication supports. Oakville Hydro will consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs.

Accessible Emergency Information
Oakville Hydro is committed to providing the customers and clients with publicly available emergency information in an accessible way upon request. Oakville Hydro also maintains a list of customers that have medical devices that require electricity. 

If you, or someone in your home, needs a medical device that requires electricity please contact us by telephone at 905-825-9400, by email at hydro@oakvillehydro.com or in person at our office at 861 Redwood Square in the Town of Oakville.

Accessible Website
Oakville Hydro’s website conforms to the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level A. The WCAG guidelines cover things such as:

  • writing web content in clear language
  • providing alternate text for images or
  • making sure someone can navigate our website with just a keyboard

Oakville Hydro is committed to improving the level of accessibility of its website and meeting the requirement to increase its level of accessibility to WCAG Level AA by January 1, 2021.

At Oakville Hydro, service animals are always welcome

Accessible Employment
Oakville Hydro has implemented practices and policies to ensure that it accommodates individuals with disabilities during recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired. When needed, we provide customized workplace emergency information to employees who have a disability. If using performance management, career development and redeployment processes, we will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities.

Contact Us
If you have any questions about Oakville Hydro’s accessibility policies, practices or initiatives please contact Human Resources at hr@oakvillehydro.com.