Customer Service Policy Statement:
Providing Goods and services to People with Disabilities
1. Our Mission
The Mission of The Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited (OSTC) is to ensure all OSTC ferry services are accessible to all customers in accordance with Ontario Regulation 429/07 Accessibility Standards for Customer Service.
2. Our commitment
In fulfilling our mission, The Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited strives at all times to provide its goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are also committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access out goods and services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers.
3. Providing goods and service to people with disabilities
The Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities and we will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following areas:
3.1 Communication
We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability.
We will train staff who communicate with customers on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
3.2 Telephone services
We are committed to providing fully accessible telephone service to our customers. We will train staff to communicate with customers over the telephone in clear and plain language and to speak clearly and slowly.
We will offer to communicate with customers by mail, email or in person at the Terminals and reservation office if telephone communication is not suitable to their communication needs or is not available.
3.3 Assistive devices
We are committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from our goods and services. We will ensure that our staff are trained and familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by customers with disabilities while accessing our goods or services.
We will also ensure that staff know how to use the following assistive devices available on our premises for customers:
Shipboard and shore based elevators
Manual wheelchairs located at the Terminals and aboard ship.
4. Use of service animals and support persons
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and other third parties. We will also ensure that all staff, volunteers and others dealing with the public are properly trained in how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal.
We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to enter OSTC’s premises with his or her support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises.
Fares will not be charged for support persons accompanying a customer with a disability.
5. Notice of temporary disruption
The Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited will provide customers with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
The notice will be placed at all public entrances and service counters on our premises.
6. Training for staff
The Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited will provide training to all employees and volunteers who deal with the public, and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service policies, practices and procedures. Individuals in the following positions will be trained:
Terminal staff
Reservation and office staff
All ships staff dealing with the public
This training will be provided as soon as practical after staff commence their duties.
Training will include the following:
- The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of 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 support person
- How to use the elevators and wheelchairs on the premises
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty on OSTC’s premises
- OSTC’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standard
Applicable staff will be trained on policies, practices and procedures that affect the way services are provided to people with disabilities. Staff will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.
7. Feedback process
The ultimate goal of The Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited is to meet and surpass customer expectations while serving customers with disabilities. Comments on our services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated.
Feedback regarding the way OSTC provides goods and services to people with disabilities can be made in writing, by phone, in person or by email. All feedback will be directed to Manager of Operations and Customer Services. Customers can expect to hear back in five business days.
Complaints will be addressed according to complaint categories already established in our company’s complaint management procedures.
8. Modifications to this or other policies
We are committed to developing customer service policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to this policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities. Any policy of The Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
9. Questions about this policy
This policy exists to achieve service excellence to customers with disabilities. If anyone has a question about the policy, or if the purpose of a policy is not understood, an explanation should be provided by, or referred to Manager of Operations and Customer Services of The Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited.
Click here to Email the Manager of Operations and Customer Services
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