Our commitment to accessibility
The Civil Service Superannuation Board and the Board’s staff (collectively, “the Board”) are committed to providing customer service to plan members and other stakeholders which is consistent with the purposes and principles of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and The Human Rights Code.
The Board has a long-standing commitment to ensuring access to information and services to all persons who are entitled to receive it.
We will continue to work towards eliminating barriers to access that may be experienced by people with disabilities, and our plan for doing so is available upon request.
The Board welcomes support persons and service animals and accommodates the use of assistive devices. If a person with a disability cannot access our services and we are unable to eliminate the barrier, we will strive to provide the service or information in a manner that takes the barrier into account.
Accessibility Policy
Section: Public
Supersedes: May 1, 2018
Date of approval/policy number: September 13, 2022
Method of approval: Senior management
Purpose
The CSSB Accessibility Policy has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (the “Act”) and the Standards established under that Act.
Our commitment to accessibility
The Civil Service Superannuation Board and the Board’s staff (collectively, “the Board”) are committed to accessibility for plan members and other stakeholders consistent with the purposes and principles of the Act and The Human Rights Code.
Scope
This policy applies to Board staff.
This policy applies to website users and members of the public trying to access information.
This policy also applies to interactions between the Board and:
- plan members, which include members of any of the pension plans under the administration of Board and members of the Public Service Group Insurance Plan,
- legal or authorized representatives of a plan member,
- anyone providing assistance to a plan member in the presence of the member, and
- other stakeholders who interact with the Board as part of the Board’s administrative duties, including representatives of the plan sponsor.
Practices
Accessible customer service
Accessible customer service is provided when all persons who are reasonably expected to seek to obtain, use or benefit from the services provided by the Board have barrier free access to those services.
The Board will make reasonable efforts to remove barriers that prevent members from accessing these services. If an existing barrier cannot reasonably be removed, the Board will seek to provide access to the service by an alternate means.
Accessible events
Wherever reasonably possible, the Board will hold member events in accessible meeting spaces.
Accessible public information
The Board will produce information in ways that enhance accessibility, for example, using plain language and clear print. Wherever technically feasible, online content and services will conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA at a minimum.
Assistive devices
Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate assistive devices used by a person who is disabled by a barrier. Assistive devices include any device that aids in removing or reducing the barrier.
Communication
When communicating with a person who self-identifies as being disabled by a barrier, every reasonable effort will be made to communicate in a manner that takes into account the barrier.
Support persons
A person who is disabled by a barrier may be accompanied by a support person when accessing services at the Board office.
Service animals
A person who is disabled by a barrier may be accompanied by a service animal when accessing services at the Board office.
Training for staff
Training about accessibility will be provided to all Board staff who provide service to plan members, who interact with other individuals or organizations in carrying out the Board’s administrative duties, and who purchase, maintain or develop information technology or communication tools.
Training will occur within the first 3 months for new employees and annually for all other employees. Annual training content will be guided by the Act and its Standards.
Notice of temporary service disruption
In the event of a planned or unexpected disruption of services or access to the Board, the public will be notified about the disruption, the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. General notification will be made by means of posted information on the Board’s website and a physical sign outside the Board office.
Where a person has an appointment to meet with a staff person or has registered to participate in a group seminar, the Board will attempt to personally notify the affected person regarding the disruption.
The Board will maintain a summary of measures that have been taken to promote accessibility, which will be stored on the Board’s internal filing system. This summary will be made available to plan members or their representatives upon request and will be provided in a manner that is appropriate in the circumstances and is suitable in light of the identified barrier to access.
Limitations
The Board regularly meets with plan members, either individually or in group seminars, in locations outside the Board office. This policy only extends to the services provided by the Board in these locations to the extent that the Board has reasonable control.
Feedback
Comments or concerns regarding the Board’s efforts towards accessibility can be provided to the Director of Communications and Client Services.
This feedback can be provided in the following ways:
Mail:
Director, Communications and Client Services
The Civil Service Superannuation Board
1200-444 St. Mary Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3C 3T1
Fax: 204.945.0237
Phone: 204.946.3200 or toll free in Canada 1.800.432.5134
Email: askus@cssb.mb.ca
Responses to feedback from a person disabled by barriers will be provided in a manner that is appropriate in the circumstances and is suitable in light of the identified barrier to access.
Feedback and responses will be documented and made available to plan members or their representatives upon request.