INTRODUCTION

BMW Canada Inc., our related companies, including BMW Financial Services Canada (“BMW Group Canada”) is committed to providing products, services and employment in an accessible manner that respects persons with disabilities. This Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (“Plan”) outlines the policies and actions that BMW Group Canada will put in place to improve opportunities for people with disabilities in accordance with the requirements communicated under the Integrated Accessibility Standards, Ontario Regulation 191/11.

BMW Group Canada welcomes feedback in relation to this Plan. Feedback and document requests procedure are available upon request. Such requests can be directed to Accessibility@bmw.ca, by telephone at 1-866-805-5853 or by mail at 50 Ultimate Drive, Richmond Hill, ON L4S 0C8. 

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

BMW Group Canada believes in equal opportunity and is committed to providing a barrier-free environment that allows all people to maintain their independence and dignity. As an organization, we respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) and its associated Regulations and strive to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.

CUSTOMER SERVICE ACCESSIBILITY

The following is in place:

• BMW Group Canada ensures training is provided to all Associates. This training includes an overview of the AODA. BMW Group Canada delivers the training on an ongoing basis and as soon as practicable after hire.

• Persons with disabilities are permitted to use their own assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from BMW Group Canada’s products and/or services;

• Persons accompanied by a service animal are permitted to enter areas of our premises that are open to the public, except in those areas in which the animal is excluded by law;

• Where a person with a disability is accompanied by a support person, both the person with the disability and the support person are provided equal access to BMW Group Canada’s products and/or services;

• If there is a temporary or other disruptions to facilities or services at BMW Group Canada’s premises, persons with disabilities will be advised all of any disruptions including information about the reason for and expected length of the disruption and a description of any alternative facilities and/or services that are available;

• BMW Group Canada welcomes feedback about how it provides goods or services to persons with disabilities. Members of the public may provide feedback in the manner deemed most convenient to them, including in person, by telephone, in writing, or by email;

• If you would like to learn more about out Accessibility policies, provide feedback or request documents, please email us at Accessibility@bmw.ca.      

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, PUBLIC EMERGENCY SAFETY INFORMATION 

The following measures were implemented by BMW Group Canada:

• BMW Group Canada is committed to providing its customers and clients with publicly available emergency response plans and emergency safety information in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.

WORKPLACE EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION

The following measures were implemented by BMW Group Canada:

• For persons with disabilities, an individual workplace emergency response plan detailing all assistance a worker will require during a workplace emergency will be created to assist with various tasks involved in responding to an emergency including:
  • Activating an alarm, or finding out that an alarm is sounding or flashing
  • Locating or following paths to building exists
  • Communicating with emergency responders
  • Moving through crowds in stressful situations
  • Travelling through and our of buildings without using elevators
  • Finding and using designated waiting areas

ACCESSIBILITY POLICY AND MULTI-YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

• BMW Group Canada’s Accessibility Policy outlines BMW Group Canada’s commitment to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner and governs the way that BMW Group Canada will achieve accessibility;

• BMW Group Canada’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan will assist us with our ongoing plan to identify, removing and prevent barriers to accessibility;

• This Policy and Plan will be provided in alternate formats upon request;

• The Policy and Plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

Accessible websites and web content:

BMW Group Canada controlled website(s), and all website content within its direct control, conforms to at least minimum AODA requirements. To the extent possible and within BMW Group Canada’s direct control, future website development and maintenance shall take into consideration and conform with at least WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements or greater as per AODA recommendation.

Feedback, accessible formats and communication supports:

• BMW Group Canada processes for receiving and responding to feedback are accessible, by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports, upon request; and

• Upon request BMW Group Canada provides or arranges for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities, in a timely manner and at no extra cost.

• BMW Group Canada encourages feedback.  If you have any comments or questions, please provide your feedback to Accessibility@bmwgroup.ca

• Requesting persons will be consulted as to the suitability of an accessible format or communication support;

EMPLOYMENT

Accessibility is integrated into BMW Group Canada’s employment-related practices, and BMW Group Canada has implemented the following:

Recruitment

• Notifies all job applicants and the public that accommodation is available during the recruitment process on request;

• Specifies that accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities in recruitment- related materials and during scheduling of interviews and assessments;

• If an applicant requests accommodation, consults with the applicant and arrange for the provision of suitable accommodation that takes into account the applicant’s needs due to disability;

• When making offers of employment, notifies the successful applicant of BMW Group Canada’s policies for accommodating Associates with disabilities; and

• Provides appropriate training to Associates responsible for recruitment, assessment, selection and on-boarding to ensure these planned actions are delivered, and accommodation requests are fulfilled in an effective and timely manner. 

Workplace

• Review and, as necessary, modify existing orientation and on-boarding processes to ensure new Associates are provided information about BMW Group Canada’s accessibility policies as soon as practicable after employment commences;

• Develop a procedure to advise Associates whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of workplace accommodations;

• Develop and integrate procedures for documenting and updating, as required, documented individual accommodation plans, which will provide for the method(s) by which requesting other Associates will be assessed and represented, how they can participate in the plan’s development, and the method by which a copy of the plan will be provided to the Associate in a format that takes his or her accessibility needs into account;

• Provide appropriate training to managers and Associates responsible for supporting the individualized accommodation plan process.

Return to work from disability-related leaves

• Review and, as necessary, modifies and documents existing return to work processes for Associates who have been absent from work due to a disability and require accommodation in order to return to work;  

• Ensures documented individual accommodation plans comprise part of the return to work process;

• Provides support to managers and other Associates responsible for the return to work process for Associates who require accommodation in order to return to work.

Performance management, career development and redeployment

• Reviews and, as necessary, modifies existing performance management, career development and redeployment processes to ensure that the accessibility needs and individual accommodation plans of Associates with disabilities are taken into account;

• Provides support to managers and other Associates responsible for supporting or impacting performance management, career development and advancement, and redeployment processes.

BMW GROUP CANADA PREMISES

Accessibility is integrated into all new or redeveloped BMW Group Canada public spaces in accordance with the criteria established by Ontario’s Integrated Accessibility Standards, including but not limited to the following:

• In our outdoor eating area, at least 20% of the tables (minimum one table) will have knee and toe clearance, have clear ground space around them, and be approachable by a surface that  is level, firm and stable;

• Outdoor sidewalks and walkways, including associated ramps, will have a surface that is firm and stable;

• Off-street parking will include signed parking spaces and access aisles for persons with disabilities, including van accessible spaces;

• Our waiting area’s seating space can accommodate a person using a mobility aid. 

• Procedures on how to deal with temporary disruptions when accessible elements are not in working order.

INTEGRATED ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS TRAINING

• All Associates are trained on the Integrated Accessibility standards set by provincial legislation regarding accessibility as well as aspects of local human rights legislation relating to persons with disabilities through e-learning.

• Training is completed as soon as practicable after hire and ongoing training is provided to our Associates in connection with our policies or procedures governing accessibility standards to persons with disabilities.