ACCESSIBILITY & PRIVACY

Accessibility Policy

Safari Niagara is committed to the provision of goods and services to people with disabilities in a manner consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity. Furthermore, such goods and services will be provided in accordance with the spirit and intent of all applicable legislation including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC), the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Ontario Building Code Act.

For the purposes of this policy, the following terms are defined as:

Definitions



Assistive Device– Is a technical aid, communication device or other instrument that is used to maintain or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. Personal assistive devices are typically devices that customers bring with them such as a wheelchair, walker or a personal oxygen tank that might assist in hearing, seeing, communicating, moving, breathing, remembering and/or reading.

Disability – The term disability as defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, refers to:

• Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device
• A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability
• A learning disability, or dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language
• A mental disorder; o
• An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997

Guide Dog – Is a highly-trained working dog that has been trained at one of the facilities listed in Ontario Regulation 58 under the Blind Persons' Rights Act, to provide mobility, safety and increased independence for people who are blind.

Service Animal – an animal is a service animal for a person with a disability if:

1. The animal can be readily identified as one that is being used by the person for reasons relating to the person’s disability, as a result of visual indicators such as the vest or harness worn by the animal; or
2. the person provides documentation from one of the following regulated health professionals confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability:
3. A member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario; College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, College of Optometrists of Ontario, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, College of Physiotherapists of Ontario or a member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario; College of Nurses of Ontario, College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario

Service Dog – As reflected in Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Regulation 562 a dog other than a guide dog for the blind is a service dog if:

• It is readily apparent to an average person that the dog functions as a service dog for a person with a medical disability; or
• The person who requires the dog can provide on request a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires a service dog.

Support Person – As reflected in Ontario Regulation 429/07, a support person means, in relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies him or her in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs or access to goods and services.

PRIVACY

Safari Niagara respects the privacy of its members, donors, volunteers, employees and those who attend our educational programs or enter our contests and promotions. As a private organization we rely on the generosity and support of our many members and patrons and hold great value in the trust that is placed with us by the sharing of personal information. We would like to clarify why we may ask for certain personal information such as name, address, phone number, email, etc.

If you are a Season Pass holder we collect personal information from you in order to set up a Season Pass account. This information allows us to:

• Administer our Season Pass program, including communication of renewal notices, newsletters, surveys and additional updates and special announcements
• Understand and analyze members responses, needs and expectations
• Develop and enhance our Season Pass programs in response to those needs and expectations

If you sign up for Safari Niagara news, we collect personal information from you in order to:

• Maintain an ongoing relationship
• Distribute our newsletter
• Communicate with you about specific events and offers Safari Niagara may have from time to time
• Allow access to certain parts of our website that require passwords

If you are a donor to Safari Niagara we collect personal information from you in order to:

• Process your donation and tax receipt
• Recognize your contribution to Safari Niagara
• Communicate with you about ongoing fundraising initiatives

If you attend an educational program at Safari Niagara we collect personal information from you in order to:

• Process your purchase of the applicable program
• Communicate with you to provide confirmation of your purchase
• Communicate with you concerning other educational program opportunities

If you enter a contest or promotion with Safari Niagara we collect personal information from you in order to:

• Process your entry and administer the contest
• Communicate with you as to the results of the contest

If you are a volunteer with Safari Niagara we collect personal information from you in order to:

• Process your volunteer application
• Maintain an ongoing relationship
• Distribute our volunteer newsletter
• Communicate with you about zoo volunteer opportunities

If you are an employee of Safari Niagara we collect personal information from you in order to:

• Process your employment application with respect to payroll, benefits and registration for training and development workshops
• Communicate with you about zoo employee opportunities, programs and committee reports
• Invite you to staff meetings and social events

Safari Niagara does NOT use any form of website “cookie” when you access our website. We do collect, on a continuous and automatic basis, generic and non-personal information that allows us to track web page traffic patterns.



The information you provide to us is for the exclusive use of Safari Niagara and will not be sold, lent or bartered to anyone without your prior consent. As a supporter of Safari Niagara we may contact you to offer you opportunities to attend special or education events; to contribute time, talent or funds for zoo initiatives; or send you information on value-added offers that we feel may be of interest to you. You will always have the option of not providing certain personal information and/or not to receive communication from us.