G6 – Accessibility

Approver: President and CEO
Policy Owner: Chief Human Resource Officer
Last Reviewed: New

1.0 Purpose

1.1

Red River College Polytechnic (“RRC Polytech”) is committed to fostering equitable, accessible and inclusive work and learning environments that value the dignity, diversity, independence and integration of individuals of all abilities within our communities.

1.2

The purpose of this policy is to support RRC Polytech’s commitment to accessibility and to provide procedures for students, employees and members of the general public to identify their accessibility requirements and to ensure equal access to programs and services; employment and education; information and communications; and buildings and events (“the Services”).

1.3

RRC Polytech is committed to continuing its work to meet the needs of individuals of all abilities by identifying, preventing and removing barriers to education and employment; actively offering accessibility-related supports and accommodations; providing training to support accessible service delivery; and welcoming and responding to feedback on accessibility.

1.4

In administering and interpreting this policy, RRC Polytech will adhere to the requirements of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and The Human Rights Code.

2.0 Definitions

2.1

“Access” refers to barrier-free access to programs and services; employment and education; information and communications; and buildings and events.

2.2

“Accessibility” means giving people of all abilities opportunities to participate fully in everyday life. Accessibility refers to the ability to access and benefit from a system, service, product or environment.

2.3

“Academic Attendant” means an individual employed by RRC Polytech who has been trained to assist students in academic matters and is competent in upholding academic integrity. Family members of students, or individuals hired by the student or their family, are not eligible to be considered an academic attendant.

2.4

“Accommodations” are arrangements made to allow persons with disabilities to participate or benefit equally, by consulting to remove barriers up to the point of undue hardship, as established in The Human Rights Code.

2.5

“Assistive Devices” refers to devices and technologies that enhance the learning, working, and daily living of persons with disabilities. These include wheelchairs, visual and hearing aids, and communication devices such as screen readers.

2.6

“Barriers”, in relation to this policy, refers to obstacles that limit access and prevent Persons with disabilities from fully participating in society as defined in The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

2.7

“College Community” includes:

Current RRC Polytech employees, students and alumni;
RRC Polytech Students’ Association and its employees;
Members of the RRC Polytech Board of Governors;
Representatives of RRC Polytech partners and agents;
Visitors to RRC Polytech;
Tenants of RRC Polytech;
Persons living in RRC Polytech residence;
Independent contractors engaged to perform services by RRC Polytech on RRC Polytech property;
All others present, or participating, in the Workplace or Learning Environment or participating in RRC Polytech business.

2.8

“Disability” refers to a condition that limits a person’s daily activities. Persons with disabilities may have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impacts which may hinder their participation on an equal basis with others. A disability includes those related to or caused by aging, an injury or other life events that may temporarily or permanently affect mobility, dexterity (use of hands), vision, hearing, communication, understanding or mental health.

2.9

“Educational material” means:

textbooks;
supplementary learning resources, including reference books, workbooks and educational kits;
student records; and
class, lesson, workshop or program
1. descriptions,
2. availability,
3. scheduling, and
4. requirements.

2.10

“Employee” means any individual employed by RRC Polytech including, without limitation full-time, part-time and contract faculty, support staff and administrators of RRC Polytech.

2.11

“Prospective Student” is an individual who has submitted an application to be enrolled as a RRC Polytech Student.

2.12

“Service Animal” as defined in the Human Rights Code, means an animal that has been trained to provide assistance to a person with a disability that relates to that person’s disability.

2.13

“Student” refers to any individual:

who is a current student of the College;
acting as a designated representative on behalf of a current student (includes a parent or legal guardian designated by a student to act on their behalf); or
who has previously been a student.

2.14

“Support Person” means a person who accompanies a person with disabilities to:

support the person obtaining, using or benefiting from a good or service provided by an organization;
assist the person in addressing their communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs. A support person is not permitted to provide academic accommodation during class or related academic activities and may not disrupt class or any related academic activities.

2.15

“Undue hardship” refers to limits of reasonable accommodation beyond which an employer or academic service provider does not have a duty to accommodate. Undue hardship is assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering various factors relating to the situation including, but not limited to, health and safety risks; disruption to collective agreements or other contracts; financial costs; business efficiency; interchangeability of employees and facilities; impact on members of the College Community, as well as impact on learning outcomes.

3.0 Application

3.1

This Policy applies to:

all aspects of RRC Polytech’s operations; and
all members of the College Community.

3.2

All members of the College Community share the responsibility for contributing to an equitable, accessible and inclusive environment.

4.0 Policy

4.1

RRC Polytech will seek to identify, prevent and remove accessibility-related barriers to create an equitable, inclusive and accessible environment and will comply with its obligations under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and its related Standards, and The Human Rights Code.

4.2

To achieve our accessibility commitments, RRC Polytech will:

Inform employees, students and/or members of the public about accessibility policies and practices, and actively offer accessibility-related supports and accommodations to meet individual needs.
Provide training to support the creation and delivery of accessible information, programs, services and events, and keep records of training materials and schedules.
Support the use of assistive devices and allow service animals.
Welcome support persons. Students who require a support person in a classroom or academic setting will need to follow the processes for academic accommodation outlined in Policy A-28, Academic Accommodation.
Develop procedures to provide accessible informational and instructional materials and communication, including web content and applications; and provide information and communications in alternate formats upon request.
Maintain accessibility features of the built environment and provide notice and alternatives if and when accessibility features are temporarily unavailable.
Consider accessibility needs and provide active offer for accommodations, when organizing and hosting events.
Welcome and respond to feedback on accessibility.
Document actions taken to respond to requests or otherwise prepare and keep records required by law.

4.3

In accordance with The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, RRC Polytech will develop an Accessibility Plan that complies with the requirements of the Accessibility Standards, will update the Accessibility Plan every two years and will make the Accessibility Plan available publicly.

4.4

RRC Polytech retains the rights to appoint academic attendants for any student who is eligible for an academic attendant under an academic accommodation plan pursuant to Policy A-28, Academic Accommodation.

5.0 Approvals

5.1

The Chief Human Resource Officer oversees RRC Polytech’s Accessibility Plan and is responsible for:

promoting RRC Polytech’s commitment to accessibility;
overseeing the administration and interpretation of this Policy and the Accessibility Plan with support from Human Resource Services; and
approving the Procedures required to implement the Accessibility Policy and Plan.

5.2

The Accessibility Working Group, Human Resource Services, and Student Support Services, in consultation with other operational areas when appropriate, are jointly responsible for supporting the development, implementation and updates to RRC Polytech’s Accessibility Plan in accordance with the legislated requirements of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

5.3

All Leaders are responsible for ensuring their departments understand how the Accessibility plan relates to their work.

5.4

All members of the College Community are responsible for:

fostering inclusive and accessible work and learning environments;
implementing the Accessibility Plan whenever it applies to an RRC Polytech operation or event which they are part of; and,
collaborating to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessibility.

6.0 Review Period

6.1

This policy must be reviewed every five years.

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