2024-2029 SIU Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

Read how the initiatives in this plan help with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) become a more inclusive and accessible employer and service provider.

Statement of Commitment

The Special Investigations Unit is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence.

We believe in integration, and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and by meeting our accessibility requirements under Ontario’s accessibility laws.

Joseph Martino
Director of the Special Investigations Unit

Introduction

In 2005, Ontario became the first jurisdiction in Canada to pass a law establishing a goal and timeframe for accessibility. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, (AODA) sets out a process for developing and enforcing standards to make Ontario more accessible and inclusive by 2025.

Under the act’s Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and other organizations across Ontario are required to develop and publish multi-year accessibility plans, update those plans at least every five years and report on them annually.

The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP) outlines how the SIU is responding to and going beyond our legislated obligations to identify, prevent and remove barriers for persons with disabilities.

Guiding principles: impactful, measurable, and actionable

The 2024-2029 SIU MYAP was designed to be impactful, measurable, and actionable.

The plan supports the commitment of the SIU to demonstrate leadership for accessibility in Ontario. The goal is to ensure accessibility for SIU employees and the public that is served through programs, services, and facilities.

The goal of accessibility is also reflected in strategic initiatives to prepare the SIU to respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow, as well as SIU leadership commitments to build an equitable, accessible, and anti-racist public service.

Past accomplishments

The SIU has been hard at work at advancing accessibility across the organization and across Ontario for many years.

Examples of progress achieved under this include:

  • Improving employment opportunities for persons with disabilities by:
    • building awareness about accommodating employees with disabilities through agency training
  • Serving the people of Ontario better by:
    • complying with website requirements (or WCAG 2.0 AA standards) and frequent audits.
    • notifying the public about the availability of accessible formats and communications supports on its website.
    • providing notice on planned or unplanned service disruptions, estimated duration, and alternative services available
    • designating an accessibility lead [1]
  • Eliminating physical barriers in our building by:
    • maintaining full accessibility of the facilities, including doors, washrooms, parking [2], and furnishing
    • continuing to improve accessibility features in the work place

2024-2029 MYAP intiatives

The multi-year initiatives set out in this plan continue the work on foundational work and incorporate new ideas to address persistent barriers to accessibility.

The initiatives fall under five key areas stemming from legislative obligations:

  • Inclusive employment
  • Equitable customer service
  • Digitally-inclusive communications
  • Barrier-free facility
  • Accessibility Training

Addressing each of these key areas will help make the SIU more accessible for employees, who will in turn be able to deliver more accessible services to the public.

Inclusive employment

The Employment Standards under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation set out accessibility requirements that the agency must follow to support the recruitment and accommodation of employees.

Key outcome: Candidates and SIU employees with disabilities have the support to join, work effectively, experience career growth, and have opportunities for learning, development, and progression.

Initiatives:

  • Streamline and integrate employment accommodations in the SIU.
  • Expand mental health resources and services, including persons with disabilities.

Equitable customer service

The Customer Service Standards under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation require the agency to provide accessible public services for persons with disabilities and to ensure that policies and procedures are in place to support this requirement.

Key outcome: Clients of all abilities receive seamless, dignified, and equitable access to barrier-free services from well-equipped front-line SIU employees.

Initiatives:

  • Develop and implement strategies to support SIU front-line employees in providing accessible customer service to affected persons or witnesses.
  • Renew and enhance mandatory SIU training on AODA accessibility standards and develop a supplementary role-based module on accessible customer service.

Digitally-inclusive communications

The Information and Communication Standards under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation require the agency to communicate and provide information in ways that are accessible to persons with disabilities.

Key outcomes: Members of the public and SIU employees of all abilities are provided with equitable access to SIU digital information and services that meet accessibility requirements.

Initiatives:

  • Develop an SIU Digital Accessibility Standard to provide clear guidance on digital accessibility requirements.

Barrier-free government facilities

The Design of Public Space Standards under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation apply to newly constructed or redeveloped public spaces covered under the standards. The initiatives below go above and beyond the standards to demonstrate the agency’s commitment to designing and building facilities and spaces that are accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Key outcome: Members of the public and SIU employees of all abilities feel welcome in SIU facilities that incorporate inclusive design practices and technologies.

Initiatives:

  • Ensure full accessibility of the facilities, including doors, washrooms, parking, and furnishing.

Accessibility Training

Under the general requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, the agency is required to train all employees and volunteers on the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in the AODA and on the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Key outcome: Employees and volunteers of the SIU will foster to a more inclusive environment, ensure better service to employees, affected persons, and witnesses, and have increased awareness.

Initiatives:

  • Coordinate training on accessible customer service (and on work relevant to staff duties) and the Human Rights Code.
  • Maintain training records.

Accounting and reporting

A desired outcome of improved accessibility is a stronger sense of belonging, dignity, self-worth, and independence for persons with disabilities, which can be hard to qualify.

That is why the 2024-2029 SIU MYAP includes setting qualitative and quantitative measures to help identify when commitments have been reached.

The SIU will submit compliance reports to the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario.

Conclusion

There is still much work to be done. As an inclusive employer and service provider, the SIU is committed to creating meaningful and lasting change for persons with disabilities.

A more accessible Ontario is more inclusive for everyone.

Contact Us

For more information on this plan or to request an alternative format, please contact the SIU Accessibility Office at siu.inquiries@ontario.ca

Other

The Special Investigations Unit

The Special Investigations Unit is a civilian law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over municipal, regional and provincial police officers, as well as special constables employed by the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service. The SIU Director may cause a criminal investigation to be conducted into any incident in which any of the following occurs, if the incident may have resulted from criminal conduct by an official:
  • The death of a person.
  • The serious injury of a person.
  • The discharge of a firearm at a person.
  • The sexual assault of a person, as reported by the person.

OPS Digital Accessibility Standard (ODAS)

On September 1, 2024, the OPS Digital Accessibility Standard came into effect to provide high-quality and equal access to digital tools for those with disabilities. The standard strives to identify, remove and prevent barriers for those with disabilities when they interact with digital products and services.

All OPS staff are required to create accessible digital products, regardless of platform, when they are approved for public release or to communicate official government business. The standard applies to all OPS websites, web applications, mobile applications and relevant digital files, including Word and PowerPoint.