In order to request this Accessibility Plan in an alternate format, to request the description of our feedback process in an alternate format or to provide feedback to ISM, please contact Manager of IT Risk by any of the following means:
Priority area: Employment
We will work to increase representation across occupational groups and levels by identifying barriers and improving conditions for success, such as prompt accommodations and effective onboarding, retention and career development for persons with disabilities.
Current practices:
- Policies aimed at increasing accessibility:
- Alternative Workplace Arrangements Policy for working from home
- Respectful Workplace Policy
- Health & Safety Policy
- Working Alone or In Isolation Policy
- The Collective Bargaining Agreements for the Unions include clauses concerning fair practices in hiring, not only for designated groups but also for all employees. This language governs how recruitment, selection and hiring processes are conducted for unionized workers
- Duty to Accommodate: ISM responds to all accommodation requests and evaluates each request. This includes requests for ergonomic assessments and equipment to ensure a barrier-free workspace
- ISM has a Frank Talk Program which is a confidential method for employees to raise complaints or concerns. This program can be used to raise concerns related to barriers in the workplace
- ISM provides training opportunities with accessibility aids that accommodate employees who may require additional support by providing visual, hearing impairments and learning aids
- Recruitment Practices
- Job postings on ISM’s Career Page state that requests for reasonable accommodations in the recruitment process can be made by messaging us via our contact page.
- All candidates are assessed based solely on qualifications and merit. Job applicants are strongly encouraged not to provide any information that may be indicative of race, religion, colour, place of origin, ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship, marital status or physical disability, including photos, as part of the application process
- Notifications of job opportunities are made available to all staff via Microsoft Teams notifications, online employee portal, and ISM website
Commitments:
- ISM will use the results of Employment Equity Data & Reporting to identify barriers that may exist in our policies/practices for persons with disabilities. if barriers are identified, ISM will outline measures to remove or mitigate them (ongoing)
- Continue to review our existing practices and policies to remove or mitigate barriers to accessibility
- ISM will continue to ensure that on/off site training is inclusive
- Educate managers on accessibility and how they can provide barrier free hiring and provide accommodation to those who require it (ongoing)
- ISM’s recruitment team will continue to research platforms to post job opportunities that are accessible to individuals with disabilities. (ongoing)
- Employee referrals will continue to be encouraged in ISM’s recruitment processes. This has been a positive experience within our company, reaching people who may not otherwise be aware of our job opportunities. (ongoing)
- Review all recruitment/onboarding materials annually and where necessary, an accessibility statement will be included.
Priority area: The design and delivery of programs and services
ISM recognizes the needs of persons with disabilities and has incorporated these needs into our help desk services which serves a similar function as a traditional call centre, thus our clients should expect to receive accessible service support.
Current practices:
- ISM provides our clients a variety of ways to reach our Service Desk, including telephone, emails and self–service via ServiceNow application
Commitments:
- ISM will train Service Desk agents to provide accessible and barrier free customer service. Accessibility training modules will be embedded in our onboarding and continuous learning program with a focus on emotional intelligence and communication (to begin in 2026)
Priority area: Information and communication technologies (ICT)
ISM provides information and communications technology products, services and digital content that are usable by all, regardless of ability or disability. However, there is always room for improvement by continuing to identify barriers and acting to mitigate or eliminate the effects of any barriers to anyone affected by them.
Current communication practices:
- Workday is used to communicate job availability and hiring status
- Microsoft Teams, including SharePoint, is used to communicate and share information with employees
- ISM’s website is used to communicate information about ISM, our products, services, company information, and links to our career portal (Workday)
ISM has developed the following plans to identify ICT accessibility issues and remove barriers
- Continue to engage employees on accessibility information and communication tools and technology through surveys and consultations
Priority area: Communication, other than ICT
Commitments related to this priority area under the Act are covered under ISM’s ICT priority area.
Priority area: The procurement of goods, services and facilities
ISM obtains goods and services from its parent company which uses electronic purchase orders and base agreements that align with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. ISM will work with its parent company to include the requirements of the ACA into these agreements.
ISM’s facilities are obtained by its parent company. As such, ISM relies on its parent company to ensure compliance with Canadian legislation and ensure accessibility of the built environment.
ISM provides tools such as screen readers, ergonomic workstations, bigger/brighter displays and workspace modifications to remove barriers and support employees.
Priority area: The procurement of goods, services and facilities
ISM obtains goods and services from its parent company which uses electronic purchase orders and base agreements that align with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. ISM will work with its parent company to include the requirements of the ACA into these agreements.
ISM’s facilities are obtained by its parent company. As such, ISM relies on its parent company to ensure compliance with Canadian legislation and ensure accessibility of the built environment.
ISM provides tools such as screen readers, ergonomic workstations, bigger/brighter displays and workspace modifications to remove barriers and support employees.
Priority area: Transportation
In the context of the Accessible Canada Act, transportation refers to the federally regulated transportation network and only applies to entities that must comply under the Canada Transportation Act (CTA). This does not apply to ISM.
Consultations
ISM reviewed and considered all comments and submissions received through its accessibility feedback process in preparing this Accessibility Plan.
CPrinciples
ISM reviewed and considered all comments and submissions received through its accessibility feedback process in preparing this Accessibility Plan.
- all persons must be treated with dignity regardless of their disabilities;
- all persons must have the same opportunity to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have regardless of their disabilities;
- all persons must have barrier-free access to full and equal participation in society, regardless of their disabilities;
- all persons must have meaningful options and be free to make their own choices, with support if they desire, regardless of their disabilities;
- laws, policies, programs, services and structures must take into account the disabilities of persons, the different ways that persons interact with their environments and the multiple and intersecting forms of marginalization and discrimination faced by persons;
- persons with disabilities must be involved in the development and design of laws, policies, programs, services and structures; and
- the development and revision of accessibility standards and the making of regulations must be done with the objective of achieving the highest level of accessibility for persons with disabilities.
