Purpose

To provide excellence in serving all clients, participants and stakeholders (organizations it works with, donors, and volunteers) including people with disabilities.

Policy

Colchester Food Network is committed to providing services and resources in a way that respects the dignity and independence of all members the community consistently. Colchester Food Network is also committed to giving people with disabilities the equitable opportunity to access its services and resources, allowing the benefits of services, in equitable ways. If a barrier to accessing services and resources cannot be removed, Colchester Food Network will seek alternative ways to access the services and resources.

• Assistive Devices – Colchester Food Network is obligated to create an awareness of the various assistive devices, that may be used by clients, participants and stakeholders with disabilities while accessing services.
• Communication –Colchester Food Network is devoted to communicate with people in ways that take into account their disability.
• Service Animals – Service animals are permitted on the premises. In consideration of other clients, service animals are to be leashed.
• Support Persons –A person with a disability who is supported by a support person is encouraged to have that person accompany them while accessing services.  Support persons that accompany someone with a disability are permitted the same access as the person they are accompanying. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to their support person while receiving services.
• Notice of Temporary Disruption –If any accessible services are interrupted in a way that would limit someone from gaining access to services or resources the general public will be notified of the temporary interruption. Notice will be placed on Colchester Food Network Website and social media website and will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
• Training –To create awareness and ensure compliance, Colchester Food Network will provide the Nova Scotia Disabilities Act for volunteers’ review. Training will include: The link to the Nova Scotia Accessibility (Acthttps://accessible.novascotia.ca/legislation-and-action), how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities, how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person and what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Colchester Food Network.