Accessibility Plan

General

Executive Summary

Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive environment for all staff and visitors. We pride ourselves on providing dignified and safe experiences for all members of the public and are committed to providing an environment that enables full participation and performance. Enabling people with disabilities aligns with our values, specifically:

• We act in the interest of safety and wellness
• We are respectful and inclusive
• We are here for each other, our customers, and suppliers

Creating a barrier-free environment takes time and we are dedicated to removing and preventing barriers for our people, candidates, suppliers, customers and visitors. Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. will build on our current efforts through the development of our initial Accessibility Plan as required under the Accessible Canada Act. This Accessibility Plan will guide our organization in meeting our accessibility commitments and in building an accessible environment for all.

To address the gaps in areas, we consulted with employees who identify as having a disability, roundtable discussions and by also sourcing best practices in our industry.

A summary of initial opportunities include:

• Enhance our entrances so that any physical barriers relating to accessibility are removed
• Create a page on our website dedicated to accessibility
• Open the accessibility dialogue, encouraging people to raise and participate in solving accessibility matters
• Establish a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee

Your Input & Feedback

Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. welcomes feedback relating to our Accessibility Plan. We will carefully review any feedback received to ensure our Accessibility Plan remains current and effective.

Anyone who has an inquiry or feedback is encouraged to reach out to us using one of the contact methods listed below. We will respond to all feedback in a timely manner.

Contact: Manager, Talent & Engagement
Mailing Address: 739 Lagimodiere Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R2J 0T8
Email: hr@arnoldbros.com
Telephone: (204) 257-6666 ext. 311
Website: www.arnoldbros.com

Statement of Commitment

Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. is committed to making our organization and the services we provide accessible. All Canadians have a right to live and work in a barrier-free environment and we are committed to providing an inclusive environment to all.

Reporting Our Plan

As required by the Accessible Canada Act, we will publish a status report every year that measures our progress against our commitments. We will also review and update our Accessibility Plan every three years. Progress Reports and updates to our Accessibility Plan will be shaped by consultation with persons with disabilities and our DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) committee.

Priority 1 - Employment

Arnold Bros. Transport Inc. requires all team members to behave respectfully and inclusively. As such, employment barriers relating to any prohibited grounds of discrimination are removed and people are enabled to fully participate and succeed.

Objective

Strengthen knowledge relating to accessibility for all current and future employees of Arnold Bros. Transport Inc.

Actions

• Source and provide training on accessibility and accommodations through Carrier's edge as part of our onboarding process by August 31, 2023.
• Provide Carrier's Edge Accessibility training to all current staff by no later than December 31, 2023.
• Provide guidance to current staff regarding our Accessibility Policy and how to access more information regarding accessibility and accommodations by August 31, 2023.

Objective

Ensure that accessibility is considered throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Actions

• Update our current Accessibility Policy by August 31, 2023, to require that individuals conducting interviews offer candidates an opportunity to request accommodations so that potential barriers related to the recruitment and selection process are removed.
• Reiterate our commitment to accessibility in all Offers of Employment.

Priority 2 - Built Environment

Persons with disabilities face barriers in everyday life, such as parking lots and entryways and general access through many public and private facilities. At Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd., we act in the interest of safety, wellness and dignity. We are cognizant of barriers to the built environment and strive to identify, mitigate, and remove them whenever possible.

Objective

Eliminate all barriers that persons who are disabled face during emergency evacuations.

Actions

• Immediately work with our Health & Safety Committee to establish a procedure by which persons who require assistance are alerted and safely evacuated during an emergency evacuation by July 1, 2023.

Objective

Ensure that all members of the public can access our facility.

Actions

• Review mobility access to all buildings and identify barriers.
• On an ongoing basis, ensure individual accessibility requirements are accommodated on a case-by-case basis.

Priority 3 - Information and Communication Technologies

Information technology and digital communications will play a key role in our efforts to continually improve our operations and provide accessible services to our customers.

Objective

Increase access to information on our website for persons with disabilities.

Actions

• A page will be added on our website specific to accessibility. The webpage will also include contact information for further discussion relating to accessibility and how to access alternative forms of communication.

Priority 4 - Communication Other Than ICT (Information and Communication Technology)

Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. believes in open and honest communication, and that various forms of communication must be available so that barriers are removed, and meaningful conversation be held.

Objective

Provide equitable access to information for all Arnold Bros. Transport employees, customers, suppliers, and the public.

Actions

• Upon request, provide alternative forms of communication to best serve the recipient.

Priority 5 - Procurement of Goods, Services & Facilities

Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. partners with external parties to ensure exceptional service to our customers. As part of our commitment to inclusivity, we will ensure no barriers are present throughout our procurement processes.

Objective

Increase awareness of accessibility so that Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd.'s procurement practices always take accessibility into consideration.

Actions

• Ensure our procurement team is aware of potential accessibility requirements from external parties and eliminate barriers on a case-by-case basis.

Priority 6 - Design & Delivery of Programs & Services

Arnold Bros. Transport Inc. is committed to providing a workplace free of barriers to inclusion and performance. We believe we are better together and aim to increase voices to the conversation.

Objective

Create a guideline that facilitates policy and decision making consider accessibility.

Actions

• Update and enhance our Accessibility policy.

Objective

Increase feedback regarding our current and future programs and services.

Actions

• Establish a framework to implement a diversity, equity, and inclusion committee to advise Management.
• Ensure that feedback received from external parties through our website is collected and thoughtfully reviewed.

Priority 7 - Transportation

As a leading transportation supplier, Arnold Bros. Transport Inc. owes our ongoing success to the professional fleet of individuals who make up our team. We view our personnel as valued members of our family and are committed to supporting them in all matters of employment and accessibility.

Objective

Have standard procedures in place so that drivers can access assistive equipment.

Actions

• Through improvements to our Accessibility Policy, we will create a procedure by which individuals can access assistive equipment, by August 31, 2023.
• We will publish information pertaining to how drivers can access assistive equipment in the monthly newsletter by August 31, 2023.

Consultations

Arnold Bros. Transport Ltd. strives to create an environment where all individuals can fully participate and welcomes meaningful communication and conversation so that we may continuously improve. While developing our Accessibility Plan, the following consultations were made to gather feedback and input:

• Individual interviews with staff who identify as having a disability so that they may share their experiences, opinions, and suggestions. This included one-on-one interviews with individuals from multiple departments and took place in person and over the phone.
• Focus groups with management and Human Resource personnel who are knowledgeable on topics related to disability and inclusion.

Definitions

Disability:

The Accessible Canada Act defines a disability as "any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment-or a functional limitation- whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, interaction with a barrier, hinders a person's full and equal participation in society."

Barrier:

The Accessible Canada Act defines a barrier as "anything-including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice-that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation."