The Accessible Canada Act sets out seven areas to be reviewed to identify and remove barriers, and prevent
new barriers with a goal of ensuring policies, programs, practices, and services are accessible to everyone.
These areas include:- employment
- the built environment
- information and communication technologies (ICT)
- communication, other than ICT
- the procurement of goods, services, and facilities
- the design and delivery of programs and services
- transportation
Vianet has consulted with employees and customers regarding the identification, removal, and prevention of
barriers in these areas. The findings of the consultations as well as actions to improve accessibility are
set out below:
2.1 Employment
Vianet has a long-standing focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion because we know being an equal
opportunity employer will make our company a better place to work. We are committed to creating accessible
environments for our staff, and customers.
A request for an accessibility accommodation can be made at any stage of application and employment. We
encourage candidates and staff to make their accessibility needs known so that we can provide equitable
opportunities.
Staff consultation identified that prospective, new, and existing employees are not fully and/or
continuously informed of the ways in which Vianet can provide accessibility accommodations for people with
disabilities.
Promotion of Vianet as an equal opportunity employer could be improved in our advertising for employment
opportunities.
Action:
Vianet will continue to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to recruitment, promotion, and retention in
support of a representative and inclusive workforce.
We will review our employment documentation and processes and make changes where necessary to be more
inclusive.
We will include a statement on our careers page encouraging people with disabilities to apply.
We will provide information about how job applicants can request and receive accessibility accommodations
during the hiring process, in our job postings.
Vianet will ensure that employees with disabilities have the accessibility accommodation they need to do
their jobs.
2.2 The Built Environment
Vianet has office locations throughout Ontario. With the shift to working from home during the pandemic, our
offices were closed and remain closed. In person interaction with the public is by appointment outside of a
designated office location.
Some of Vianet’s office locations hold lease agreements with property owners. We are limited in our power to
achieve one hundred percent accessibility under a lease agreement. Locations that are owned by Vianet will
be continuously monitored for accessibility barriers.
Vianet has employees that are working in various office locations. Some of the employees at Vianet are
working from home.
Many employees we consulted described working from home as a helpful accommodation.
We received feedback that lighting, and noise can sometimes present barriers in an office location. For
example, lighting may be too intense, ambient noise may be too loud or distracting making it hard for some
people to focus.
Action:
We will review/identify and remove barriers in the built environment where possible. We will be mindful of
lighting and noise in an office environment and make appropriate accommodations where needed.
As tenants in many of our locations, we have limited control over the built environment. Sharing
accessibility concerns with our property owners will be an important step in helping to make all office
spaces accessible.
2.3 Information And Communication Technologies (ICT)
Vianet is committed to making accessible communications a priority.
We want everyone to clearly understand the information we share and have easy access to information in
formats that work for them.
We do this by giving people the choice to communicate with us in the way that best meets their accessibility
needs. In turn, we will reply by using their preferred method. The communication methods offered on our
website are email, telephone, online help, message relay service, and mail.
Our inhouse design and programming team works diligently to create an environment that is both user friendly
and adaptable. In examining our internal and external web platforms, from typography and readability to
content layout, colour and images, we understand that there is always room for improvement.
Action:
We will continue to consult with our design and programming team to determine how we can best enhance
existing tools and consider accessibility first when designing new ones in order to provide accommodation to
those who require it to navigate our internal and external web platforms.
Feedback from our web platform users regarding accessibility, will be reviewed and actioned upon as we
receive it.
2.4 Communication, Other Than ICT
Our consultation with our employees revealed that our front-line staff are operating with a helpful
awareness that customer service and communication with customers must be continuously adapted to meet
individual customer’s needs.
A review of our current hiring practices identified that we need to provide more awareness in our print
information regarding hiring persons with disabilities.
Consultations with employees revealed that our internal documents could be made more accessible by applying
document standards and plain and inclusive language.
Action:
Vianet will continue to review current documentation and adopt plain language and accessible formats where
necessary.
Vianet will ensure all hiring communication identifies Vianet as an equal opportunity employer and
communicate how job applicants can request and receive accessibility accommodations.
2.5 The Procurement Of Goods, Services, And Facilities
Vianet purchases various goods, services and facilities that support our services and our operations. We are
dedicated to considering accessibility requirements when purchasing goods, services, and facilities from
external vendors.
Action:
When procuring goods, services, and facilities, Vianet will consider accessibility at the beginning of the
process to ensure that they do not present a barrier to anyone who uses them.
2.6 The Design And Delivery Of Programs And Services
Vianet provides internet, phone, and television service across Ontario. Customers establish these services
by contacting a Vianet Representative to determine the service(s) that best fits their needs.
Customers may contact us about these services through the communication methods offered on our website.
These methods include phone, email, online help, message relay service, and mail.
Our television service provides closed captioning to display the audio portion of a television program as
text on the TV screen.
We also offer an AMI audio Channel. AMI-audio is an accessible television channel which offers a variety of
audio content for people who are blind, partially sighted or otherwise print restricted.
Action:
Vianet will continue to review the design and delivery of programs and services to ensure they are
accessible to everyone.
2.7 Transportation
This area under the Accessible Canada Act is not applicable to Vianet as we do not offer transportation.
