General
Executive Summary
First Class Training Centre Inc. is committed to building a culture of inclusivity and accessibility. Not only is this part of our company culture but opening access to all is imperative to our continued growth and competitiveness as an employer in the trucking sector. We will contribute to a barrier-free Canada for everyone by building an accessibility framework that will support employees and the public we serve have the best experience possible with our services, products and facilities.
We know creating a barrier-free environment takes time and we are dedicated to the ongoing identification, removal and prevention of barriers. First Class Training Centre Inc. 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 accessibility-confident culture. To address gaps in these areas, it is important to recognize and understand the needs of those with disabilities. For this reason, this plan was developed in consultation with employees and roundtable discussions and by researching best practices in our industry.
A summary of initial opportunities include:
- Improving the attraction of persons with disabilities to jobs in our company and the trucking sector.
- Expanding the range and options for accommodation, especially for drivers.
- Being better prepared to provide information in accessible formats when requested.
- Improving the knowledge of our IT team and leveraging the capabilities of accessibility features in current and future IT equipment, programs and systems.
- Initiating processes where there is a more thorough review and a “through an accessibility lens” approach to the assessment of facilities, procurement procedures, company programs, new initiatives and on-going services.
Your Input and Feedback
First Class Training Centre Inc. welcomes feedback on our Accessibility. This feedback is valuable to us as it helps us break down accessibility barriers and build on our commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
If you have an inquiry or feedback, please use one of the contact methods below. We will respond to all feedback in a timely manner. If you require support while providing feedback let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Contact: Jim Campbell, President
Mailing Address: 485 Lucas Ave, Centreport MB R4B 0A7
Email: jim.campbell@fcdriver.com
Telephone: (204)-632-5302
Website: www.fcdriver.com
Statement of Commitment
At First Class Training Centre Inc. we are committed to making our organization and the services we provide accessible to all, including persons with disabilities. All Canadians have the right to benefit from our services equally and those who work with us have the right to perform their jobs free of barriers.
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.
Employment
Barrier 1:
First Class Training Centre Inc ensures that candidates and employees with disabilities and those who experience barriers are supported throughout the entire employment lifecycle.
Actions:
• Enhance the careers section of our website to increase visibility to Canadians with disabilities of the various jobs available in the trucking sector, highlighting our commitment to their inclusion in our workforce.
• Educate hiring managers on accessibility and how they can ensure a barrier-free hiring, selection and accommodation process.
• Benchmark current recruitment, selection and onboarding practices against leading accessibility practices in other trucking companies and different industries.
Barrier #2:
There is a need to expand our understanding of the range and variety of accommodation options available to persons with disabilities interested in becoming truck drivers.
Actions:
• Develop a framework that helps managers understand their responsibilities in the accommodation process and guides them in supporting their employees and implementing suitable workplace adjustments.
Built Environment
First Class Training Centre Inc ensures that workspaces and the work environment are accessible for all.
Barrier #3:
Some spaces within the office and truck yard may limit the mobility of employees and visitors with disabilities.
Actions:
• Have installed automated door openers in the Company’s primary pathways.
•Ensure the public can access our facility.
• Have future meetings to address additional proposed design changes to the built environment and assign priority for completion.
Barrier #4:
Safety signage in our buildings and truck yard is not accessible for people with low vision.
Actions:
• Improve illumination of current yard signs regarding safety and direction indicators.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Information technology will play a key role in going forward to continually improve our Operations and provide accessible services to our customers.
Barrier #5:
We do not have an IT team and the employees are not well versed in accessibility technology and do not know how to assist persons with disabilities in the workplace.
Actions:
• Deliver and promote end-user training on using accessibility features on all available programs.
• Develop and promote guidance and training documents for persons with disabilities (e.g., making items larger on a screen, activating reader on MS Word, activating closed captioning on MS Teams, etc.).
• Look at computer systems used by the company to measure accessibility capabilities.
Communication Other Than ICT
First Class Training Centre Inc. believes in open and honest communication and realize that various forms of communication must be available so that barriers are removed.
Barrier #6:
The Company does not have a consistent process to ensure alternate formats of communication that it issues to employees and general public are available and provided in a timely manner.
Actions:
• Identify service providers and develop contracts or agreements to create alternate formats, where appropriate and when needed.
• When asked, we commit to providing these alternate formats as soon as possible and within time frames listed in the Accessible Canada Regulations:
• large print
• audio format
Procurement of Goods, Services and Facilities
First Class Training Centre Inc. is continually committed to ensuring our customers have received exceptional service.
Barrier #6:
First Class Training Centre Inc.’s procurement procedures and practices do not take into consideration accessibility requirements.
Actions:
• Update the procurement procedures to include accessibility checks when customers are using our services.
Design and Delivery of Programs and Services
First Class Training Centre Inc. will be designing internal and external programs and services.
Barrier #7:
Currently there is no standard approach for ensuring all programs, processes and services have taken accessibility into account
Actions:
• Develop and promote guidelines on how to apply the accessibility lens when reviewing company policies, programs and services.
Transportation
Our training vehicles are regulated by the provincial government and we must take into consideration barriers to operation and provide accommodation to the employee operating the vehicles as needed.
Barrier #8:
First Class Training Centre Inc. is currently limited in the options that it provides for students that experience challenges and concerns
Actions:
Need to set up a plan to help students that experience challenges and concerns.
Consultations:
To align with First Class Training Centre Inc. ’s commitment to make our workplace environment accessible to all, we have developed our Accessibility Plan in consultation with our employees, including those with disabilities.
Definitions
Accessibility:
Refers to the needs of persons with disabilities being intentionally and thoughtfully considered when products, services and facilities are built or modified so they can be used and enjoyed by all.
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.”
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