Our Accessibility Policy

Accessible Patient Service Plan:

Providing Goods & Services to People with Disabilities

St. Lawrence Optometry clinic is committed to excellence in serving all patients including people with disabilities.

Assistive Devices

We will ensure that our team is trained and familiar with various assistive devices we have on site or that we provide that may be used by patients with disabilities while accessing our goods and services.

Communication

We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.

Service Animals

We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on parts of the 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 patients with disabilities, St. Lawrence Optometry will notify patients promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and the description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

Training

St. Lawrence Optometry will provide training to team members, volunteers and others who deal with the public or other third parties on our behalf. 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. Individuals in the following positions will be trained: Doctors of Optometry, Office Managers, Lab Technicians, Administrative Assistants, Optometric Assistants and any other positions that we may employ in the future.

Training will include:

An overview of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard.
St. Lawrence Optometry’s plan related to the patient 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 support person.
What to do if a person with disability is having difficulty in accessing St. Lawrence Optometry’s goods and services.
Staff will also be trained when changes are made to the accessible patient service plan.

Feedback Plan

Patients who wish to provide feedback on the way St. Lawrence Optometry provides goods and services to people with disabilities can provide feedback via email, phone or verbally with a team member. All feedback, including complaints, will be shared with the entire Leadership Team. In the event that the feedback or complaint is directed towards a specific team member, the feedback or complaint will be shared with them as well. Patients can expect to hear back in 2 business days from the time we receive the feedback or complaint.

Notice of Availability

St. Lawrence Optometry will notify the public that our policies are available upon request by posting a notice on our website.

Modifications to This or Other Policies

Any policy of St. Lawrence Optometry that does not respect and promote dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.