Accessibility Policy

1. Purpose & Statement of Organizational Commitment

The Institute of Corporate Directors (the "ICD") is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders, including our members, employees, Board of Directors, job applicants, suppliers, clients, contractors, volunteers and, to the extent applicable, visitors and the public and other third parties who have disabilities and may enter our premises, access our information or use our services or facilities. ICD understands that it has a responsibility to ensure a safe, dignified, and welcoming environment for everyone and is committed to incorporating applicable accessibility legislation into its business and service delivery.

This policy serves to communicate and establish ICD’s approach to accessibility in the workplace, and to ensure compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, its regulations, all other applicable provincial accessibility legislation, and provincial human rights codes. ICD will review these policies, practices, and related procedures annually, in response to legislative changes, as organizational changes occur, or in anticipation of compliance deadlines. In addition, ICD will strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all full-time, part-time, contract, permanent and temporary employees in Ontario. The policy also applies to the Board of Directors, volunteers and any third parties (including contractors and vendors) that ICD engages to provide services to clients and members in Ontario on our behalf.

3. Policy

ICD will make every reasonable effort to ensure that our policies, practices and procedures are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. ICD will carry out our functions and responsibilities in the following areas:

3.1 Information, Alternative Formats and Communications

When communicating with a person with a disability, ICD endeavours to do so in a manner that considers the person's communication needs and will make reasonable efforts to ensure the person with a disability understands the content and intent of our communications.

ICD will make information and communications, including this policy, available in an accessible format or via accessible communication support upon request as soon as practicable. Moreover, our website and all web content will conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA.

3.2 Assistive Devices, Support Persons and Service Animals

We are committed to serving people who may require the use of assistive devices or who are accompanied by a support person or service animal to obtain, use, or benefit from our services and facilities. People with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing ICD’s services or facilities. In cases where the device presents a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern, or is not permitted for other reasons, other measures will be used to ensure the person with a disability can access our services or facilities.

Any person with a disability who a support person accompanies will be allowed to enter ICD’s premises with their support person. At no time will a person with a disability who has a support person accompany them be prevented from having access to their support person while on our premises.

We are also committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on parts of our premises open to the public and to other third parties. Where a service animal is excluded by law from ICD’s premises, ICD will ensure other measures are available to enable the person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from or access ICD’s services and facilities. When we cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask for documentation confirming that the person needs the service animal for a disability-related reason.

In some instances, ICD might require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person for health or safety reasons. Before making this decision, ICD will consult with the person with a disability to understand their needs, consider health or safety reasons based on available evidence, and determine whether there is another reasonable way to protect the person's health or safety or others on the premises.

3.3 Emergency Procedures, Plans or Public Safety Information

ICD will ensure that all publicly available safety and emergency information (e.g., evacuation procedures, floor plans, etc.) is provided in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, upon request.

3.4 Temporary Disruptions

If there is a planned or unexpected disruption to ICD’s services or parts of ICD’s premises or properties that persons with disabilities use, ICD will give notice of the disruption as required. Notices will be posted in the affected areas and in any other areas deemed appropriate. They will include information on the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of any available alternate facilities or services.

3.5 Employment

We will notify employees, potential hires and the public that accommodations for applicants with disabilities can be made during recruitment and hiring.

We will notify employees as soon as practicable after they begin their employment that supports, including accessible communication formats and other communication supports, are available for those with disabilities, and we will put in place a process to develop individual accommodation plans for employees. We will also notify employees of our measures, policies and practices regarding accommodating employees with disabilities due to workplace barriers, and any changes to those measures, policies and practices.

Our performance management, career development and redeployment processes will consider the accessibility needs of all employees, and accommodations for employees with disabilities will be made in consultation with the employee.

4. Training

ICD will provide accessibility training (including training about aspects of human rights legislation that relate to persons with disabilities) to all employees.

Training includes the purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, the policies and procedures in place at ICD, how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities, how to ensure employees have the necessary information to service those with disabilities and what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing ICD’s services or facilities. This training will be provided to employees as part of the ICD onboarding process and will be delivered as soon as practicable.

5. Feedback Process

Should a member, employee, or other individual have feedback on the service provided by ICD to people with disabilities, or if anyone has questions or concerns about this policy or related procedures, please report them immediately via the confidential and anonymous reporting hotline at www.clearviewconnects.com. The reporting hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The reporting hotline allows you to disclose your identity or to remain anonymous; however, maintaining anonymity may limit the ICD’s ability to investigate. Individuals who provide formal feedback will receive acknowledgement, along with any resulting actions based on concerns, complaints or questions submitted.

6. Administration

This policy will be reviewed and approved regularly, at least once every three years, or as required by changes in legislation or organizational practices. ICD expressly reserves the right to change, modify or delete the provisions of this policy without notice.

Effective Date of Policy: November 26, 2025