Accessible Customer Service Policy

Policy

Southland Honda Limited Partnership, carrying on business as Southland Honda, is committed to meeting its obligations under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and its related Regulations, The Human Rights Code (Manitoba), and any other applicable laws related to
accessibility. This policy outlines the roles and responsibilities of Southland Honda and its employees with respect to The Accessibility for Manitobans Act Customer Service Standard Regulation and applies to all employees and agents who represent Southland Honda.

Purpose

This policy has been developed to ensure that Southland Honda strives to provide equal customer service for people with disabilities. This includes identifying, removing, and preventing barriers for people with disabilities in obtaining, using, and benefitting from our services and facilities.

For a person who has a physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory disability, a barrier is anything that interacts with that disability in a way that may hinder the person’s full and effective participation in society on an equal basis.

The following are examples of barriers:

a) A physical barrier;
b) An architectural barrier;
c) An information or communications barrier;
d) An attitudinal barrier;
e) A technological barrier; and
f) A barrier established or perpetuated by an enactment, a policy or practice.

Statements

Communication – Southland Honda will make reasonable efforts to ensure that, when communicating with a person who self-identifies as being disabled by a barrier, the communication isdone in a manner that considers the barrier and that alternative formats are made available upon request.

Southland Honda will make reasonable efforts to ensure that information regarding our services, accessible features, and temporary barriers are available on our website.

Assistive Devices – A person who is disabled by a barrier may use assistive devices when accessing our services or facilities and Southland Honda will reasonably accommodate the use of the assistive devices. The provision and safe use of an assistive device is the sole responsibility of the person using the assistive device.

In cases where an assistive device presents a significant or unavoidable health or safety concern, or may not be permitted for other reasons, we will strive to use other reasonable measures to ensure that the person disabled by a barrier can access our services and facilities.

Support Person – A support person may accompany a person who is disabled by a barrier to our facilities and events.

Service Animals – A person who is disabled by a barrier may be accompanied by a service animal in areas of our facilities that are open to the public. In cases where the presence of a service animal presents a significant or unavoidable health or safety concern, or may not be permitted for other reasons, or may be excluded by law, we will strive to use other measures so that the person disabled by a barrier can access our services and facilities.

The person who is accompanied by a service animal is solely responsible for the care, control, safety, and clean-up of the service animal at all times. If it is not readily apparent, Southland Honda may request verification that the animal is a service animal and is being used in connection with the person’s disability.

Notice of Temporary Disruption - In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to our services or facilities for customers who are disabled by a barrier, Southland Honda will provide prompt notification. A notice will be posted that will include information about the reasons for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. The notice will be posted at our premises, on our website, or by other means that may be appropriate in the circumstances.

Training – Southland Honda will train all staff responsible for providing our goods and services to the public and all staff who are responsible for this policy, as soon as reasonably practical after the person is assigned the applicable duties, on:

• How to interact and communicate with persons disabled by barriers;
• How to interact and communicate with persons disabled by barriers who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a support person or service animal;
• How to use any equipment or assistive devices that may be available to assist persons disabled by barriers;
• What to do if a person disabled by a particular barrier is having difficulty accessing services;
• The Human Rights Code (Manitoba), The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and its Customer Service Standard Regulation; and
• On-going training for changes to Southland Honda’s measures, policies and standards relating to providing barrier free access to its goods and services.

Accessible Customer Service Feedback - Southland Honda welcomes feedback on how we provide accessible customer service. Customers who wish to provide feedback may do so by contacting us:

• By mail to: Southland Honda, 784 Triple E Blvd, Winkler, MB R6W 0M7, Attn: Controller
• By telephone to 204-325-7899
• By email to nadine@southlandhonda.com
• By asking to speak with Southland Honda’s Controller
• Feedback will be forwarded to the appropriate personnel, and the response will be documented and tracked. Customers can expect to hear back within 10 days.

Southland Honda will document any actions resulting from feedback received. Such documentation will be made available, on request.

Southland Honda will make sure our feedback process is accessible to people with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats and communication supports, on request.

Documentation – Southland Honda will display this policy on its website.  They will make the following items available appropriate formats to customers at the dealership, upon request:

• This policy; and
• The process for providing feedback on the accessibility of our services and facilities.

Southland Honda will also display a notice at our premises that the above documents are available upon request. Requests will be handled within a reasonable time and at no cost.