Accessibility Policy
Sargent Farms strives to provide services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.
Statement of Commitment
Sargent Farms is committed to continuing to eliminate barriers and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities to afford equal opportunities and the provision of integrated programs and services where possible, in a manner that respects dignity and independence.
Sargent Farms is committed to incorporating accessibility design, criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services, or facilities, except where it is not practicable to do so.
To fulfill the accessibility policy and to ensure compliance with the accessibility legislation, the following standards are set in place for implementation within the scope of this policy:
- Accessible Customer Service
- Accessible Information and Communications
- Accessible Employment
- Accessible Meetings/Training
All documents required by the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, including Sargent Farms' Accessible Customer Service Standard, notices of temporary disruptions, training records, and written feedback process are available in a suitable accessible format upon request, subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
When providing documents to a person with a disability, Sargent Farms will endeavor to provide the document, or the information contained in the document, in a format that takes the person's disability into account.
Accessible Customer Service Standard
Communication with Persons with Disabilities
When communicating with a person with a disability, Sargent Farms will do so in a manner that considers the person's disability. Sargent Farms is committed to providing training in customer service to all current and future retail employees. This training will include how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
Notice of Disruption in Services
In the event of a service disruption, Sargent Farms will take reasonable steps to report such disruption in a timely fashion through appropriate information channels. Such channels may include, but are not limited to, Sargent Farms website, physical postings and/or communication via email or phone call to affected individuals. The required information necessary for any communication of a temporary disruption may include:
• The time, date, and location of the disruption.
• Information about the reason for the disruption.
• Anticipated duration of the disruption; and
• Descriptions of alternative facilities or services, if any.
Assistive Devices
Personal assistive devices are permitted in all Sargent Farms’ facilities except when subject to operator and/or employee safety. It should be noted that the provision, use and safety of personal assistive devices is the responsibility of the person with a disability.
Service Animals
Persons with a disability who are accompanied by a service animal may access premises owned and operated by Sargent Farms provided the public has access to such premises and the animal is not otherwise excluded by law. If a service animal is excluded by law, Sargent Farms will ensure that alternate assistive means are available within a reasonable time and location to provide persons with a disability access to Sargent Farms’ services.
There may be rare circumstances where, for reasons of the health and safety of another person, allowing a person with a disability to enter a premises accompanied by a service animal needs to be considered. An example of such a situation may include where a person is allergic to animals and adversely affected if they are near a service animal.
Sargent Farms welcomes customers who are accompanied by a support person, when the support person has been hired or chosen by the person with a disability to accompany them in order to assist in accessing product for sale or for the purpose of providing support with mobility, personal assistance and/or communication.
Individuals who are accompanied by a support person are encouraged to inform relevant Sargent Farms of their participation.
Feedback
Feedback about the delivery of services to persons with disabilities is welcomed, as it may identify areas that require change and assist in continuous service improvement. Such feedback may be by telephone, in person, in writing or by email. Sargent Farms will make their best efforts to provide a response in the same format in which the feedback was received.
Where possible, feedback will be addressed immediately. Some feedback may, however, require more effort to address and may need to be reviewed before any action is taken. Sargent Farms will respond within twenty-one working days.
Upon receipt, a designated Sargent Farms representative will review the feedback and complete an investigation into any concerns or complaints. Corrective action will be taken as deemed necessary. Customers that provide feedback identifying concerns or complaints regarding the provision of services or goods to persons with disabilities, will receive acknowledgement of receipt of their feedback along with a summary of any action taken by Sargent Farms in response.
Information about Sargent Farms’ feedback process will be made available to all customers upon request.
Please note that Sargent Farms will provide documents in suitable accessible format, if requested.