Accessibility at Mercedes-Benz Ottawa Downtown
Multi-year accessibility plan.
January 17 2023,
Mercedes-Benz Ottawa Downtown aims to remove barriers and be as accessible as possible to persons with disabilities.
We welcome the opportunity under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), to meet its requirements, improve our facilities, and look for areas upon which we can improve, making our business more accessible for everyone.
This plan will be reviewed and updated every 5 years.
New and existing employees will be trained on our accessibility policies and be provided with documentation pertaining to any accessibility barriers they may encounter in the workplace. This will include personal accommodation requests, as well as the form “Opportunity to Create a Safer and More Accessible Workplace” where suggestions can be brought to the attention of management.
We are proud to be doing our part in making Ontario an accessible Province for all Ontarians!
Passed Achievements in Removing and Preventing Barriers:
2021 marked the opening of our dedicated Sprinter store. In designing this facility, we drew on decades of experience learned from operating multiple automotive dealerships, to design a modern, state-of-the-art facility, keeping accessibility in mind during the planning process.
Features include:
- A single-level, platform-free floorplan
- Fully accessible washrooms/waiting lounge/refreshment area.
- Elevator access to 2nd floor which is also fully accessible.
- Power door access.
- Emergency alarms for persons who are visually impaired and/or persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Our Plan Moving Forward:
Mercedes-Benz Ottawa Downtown was built in 2012 and renovated in 2018, following all municipal and provincial codes However, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our facility, making it more accessible for everyone, including:
- The addition of more accessible parking, specifically at the St. Laurent Blvd. entrance.
- Redesigning the Service and Reception counters to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
- Update/Install signage to direct customers with disabilities to the accessible entrances, counters, and parking areas.
- Using hand-held tablets to simplify transactions.
- Keeping current with respect to recommendations and requirements under the AODA.
- Training employees on recommendations and requirements under the AODA.
Within our corporate environment we have made strides to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities:
- We have made it a hiring policy to “look for the ability, not at the disability”, with the goal of hiring the best candidate for the position.
- We have included the “Individual Accommodation Plan” in our employee handbook, so employees know how best to communicate their needs to management.
- Staff meetings will include an open forum agenda item where opportunities for health & safety and accessibility concerns or suggestions for improvements can be discussed and brought to the attention of management.
Mercedes-Benz Ottawa Downtown is committed to removing barriers. We are continually working towards providing better customer service and accommodation to persons with disabilities. We are fully on board with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act of 2005, and its goal of making Ontario Accessible for all Ontarians!