Accessibility

BGC Canada is committed to providing an accessible, inclusive, and welcoming environment for people with disabilities in the areas that BGC Canada directly controls.

We are committed to meeting our applicable obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, and the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities.

BGC Canada will work to identify, prevent, and remove barriers to accessibility in its own operations, including employment practices, communications, website content, digital information, stakeholder services, meetings, events, and administrative services.

We are committed to treating people in a way that respects their dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity.

BGC Canada is the national organization supporting member Clubs across Canada. Individual BGC Clubs are separate organizations that operate their own programs, facilities, websites, and local accessibility practices.

This policy applies to BGC Canada’s own operations, including its national office administration, employment practices, website, digital content, communications, stakeholder services, meetings, events, and other activities that BGC Canada directly controls.

BGC Canada’s national office is not generally open to the public for walk-in services. Where BGC Canada provides information, services, meetings, events, or communications to the public, stakeholders, employees, volunteers, job applicants, contractors, partners, or other individuals, we will do so in a way that supports accessibility and inclusion.

BGC Canada is committed to providing accessible service and communication to people with disabilities in relation to BGC Canada-controlled activities.

This includes BGC Canada’s website, digital content, communications, meetings, events, stakeholder interactions, employment practices, and administrative services.

This includes:

• communicating with people in ways that take their accessibility needs into account;
• allowing people to use their own assistive devices when accessing BGC Canada-controlled services, meetings, events, or facilities;
• welcoming service animals and support persons in BGC Canada-controlled settings where access is permitted;
• providing accessible formats and communication supports upon request;
• maintaining an accessible feedback process;
• providing notice of temporary disruptions where applicable; and
• training employees, volunteers, policy developers, and others who provide goods, services, or facilities on behalf of BGC Canada.

People with disabilities may use their own assistive devices when accessing BGC Canada-controlled services, meetings, events, information, or facilities.

Where a barrier exists, BGC Canada will work with the person to identify an accessible alternative.

People with disabilities are welcome to be accompanied by a service animal at BGC Canada-controlled premises, meetings, or events where access is permitted, unless the animal is excluded by law.

If a service animal is excluded by law, BGC Canada will explain why and will work with the person to identify another way to access BGC Canada’s services, information, meeting, or event.

A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be permitted to have that person accompany them when accessing BGC Canada-controlled services, meetings, events, or facilities.

Where BGC Canada controls admission to an event or meeting, BGC Canada will communicate in advance if any fee or requirement applies to a support person. Where possible, BGC Canada will work to reduce barriers to participation.

BGC Canada will provide or arrange accessible formats and communication supports upon request for information and communications that BGC Canada controls.

We will:

• consult with the person making the request to determine their accessibility needs;
• provide the information in a timely manner;
• provide the information at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to others; and
• take the person’s accessibility needs into account when providing the format or support.

Examples of accessible formats and communication supports may include large print, accessible electronic documents, plain language, email, telephone communication, reading written information aloud, accessible Word or PDF documents where available, or another support identified through consultation with the person making the request.

To request an accessible format or communication support, please contact:

BGC Canada
302-1920 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4S 3E2
Phone: 905-477-7272
Toll-free: 1-844-477-7272
Email: bgcc_communications@bgccan.com

BGC Canada welcomes feedback about the accessibility of its website, communications, employment practices, meetings, events, services, and facilities that BGC Canada directly controls.

Feedback may be provided by email, phone, mail, or another accessible method upon request.

Feedback can be submitted to:

BGC Canada
302-1920 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4S 3E2
Phone: 905-477-7272
Toll-free: 1-844-477-7272
Email: bgcc_communications@bgccan.com

BGC Canada will acknowledge accessibility feedback within five business days where contact information is provided.

Feedback will be reviewed by the appropriate staff member or department and followed up on as required.

If a person requires an accessible format or communication support to provide feedback, BGC Canada will work with the person to arrange a suitable option.

BGC Canada will provide notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption to accessible BGC Canada-controlled services, meetings, events, digital services, systems, or facilities that people with disabilities may rely on.

The notice will include:

• the reason for the disruption;
• the expected duration, where known; and
• any available alternative services, facilities, access options, or communication supports.

Depending on the situation, notice may be provided on BGC Canada’s website, by email, by phone, through event communications, or by posted notice at the affected location.

BGC Canada provides accessibility training to employees, volunteers, people involved in developing BGC Canada policies, and other people who provide goods, services, or facilities on behalf of BGC Canada.

Training includes:

• the purpose and requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005;
• the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation;
• the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities;
• accessible service and communication;
• how to interact and communicate with people with different types of disabilities;
• how to interact with people who use assistive devices or who require the assistance of a service animal or support person;
• how to respond when a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing BGC Canada-controlled services, information, meetings, events, or facilities; and
• BGC Canada’s accessibility policies and procedures.

Training will be provided as soon as practicable and updated when BGC Canada’s accessibility policies, practices, or procedures change.

BGC Canada is committed to accessible and inclusive employment practices.

We notify job applicants that accommodations are available on request during the recruitment, assessment, and selection process.

If an applicant requests accommodation, BGC Canada will consult with the applicant and provide or arrange suitable accommodation that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.

BGC Canada also notifies successful applicants and employees of its policies for supporting employees with disabilities, including employment-related accommodation.

BGC Canada will inform employees of its policies for supporting employees with disabilities, including employment-related accommodation.

Where an employee with a disability requests accessible formats or communication supports for information needed to perform their job or information generally available to employees, BGC Canada will consult with the employee to determine the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

BGC Canada will provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees with disabilities where the employee’s disability makes individualized information necessary and BGC Canada is aware of the need for accommodation.

Where BGC Canada makes emergency procedures, plans, or public safety information available to the public, we will provide the information in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports upon request, as soon as practicable.

We’ve taken care to ensure the site has a simple and consistent structure, so visitors will be able to easily understand and navigate through all pages on the site.

Each page includes 3 main site areas:

1. Header with main navigation
2. Main content area
3. Footer

When navigating with the keyboard or using a screen reader, the 3 areas appear or are read in the above order.

The site has been designed to be navigable by keyboard. Visitors can navigate using a combination of the tab key and keyboard arrows to move through the site without the use of a mouse or trackpad. When navigating through the links and input form fields using the tab key, the element that has keyboard focus is highlighted visually with a visible highlight around the element.

Note: Some screen readers will have other key combinations used for navigating the site via the keyboard, and the site was designed to be keyboard accessible for screen readers as well.

Note for Mac/Safari Users: Keyboard navigation does not work by default in Safari. See Apple Support for details on enabling keyboard navigation: Full Keyboard Navigation

For images where the content of the image will add additional context or enhance your understanding of the site, we’ve added alternative text. These descriptions (alternative text attributes) replace the information that would be conveyed by images for visitors using screen readers or when the images are turned off.

When the images are decorative only or if an image description would only duplicate content already available as text, we have hidden those images from screen readers or when images are turned off.

The web site does not include content or functionality which relies on colour alone to convey key information.

We’ve worked to ensure that the purpose of all links on the site is clear so you will know where each link goes before you click on it. Whenever possible, the link destination will be clear from both the link or button text and the content immediately above where the link appears.

Wherever the link or button text may not be easily understood out of context, we’ve added a ‘title tag’, ’label’ or other accessible markup to provide additional context for those visiting the site using assistive devices.

To improve site accessibility for visitors using using screen readers who may not be able to see the form ‘placeholder content’ in input forms or buttons, we have added extra markup accessible to screen readers to ensure labels and form instructions are accessible.

The first link on each page is a ‘skip to content’ link. This feature lets visitors skip repeated content at the beginning of each page (such as the header items and navigation) and go straight to the main page content.

When needed to add extra context user instructions and information helpful to visitors using screen readers, we have added additional labeling and instructions available for screen readers only.

Some documents on the site are in PDF format which will open in a new browser window. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to be able to open PDF files. Adobe’s free reader includes support for screen readers to read PDF documents. You can download the reader free from Adobe:  Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (external link)   (URL to link to  https://get.adobe.com/reader/)

We have added CAPTCHAs to some of our forms. CAPTCHAs are used to ensure that forms are being filled in by human beings and not robots by requesting that before submitting the form, the site visitor complete basic tasks that cannot be easily replicated by bots. CAPTCHA are typically difficult to make fully accessible. To improve form accessibility, we’ve chosen to use a CAPTCHA designed with accessibility in mind that includes an option to use an audio test rather than a visual one.

Some of our content and site functionality is dependent on external formats, tools, or plugins that enhance the overall functionality and available features on the site but do have some barriers to accessibility.

We have worked to make sure valuable features on our site, such as social share links and the home page video, are keyboard accessible and provide a valuable experience to as wide an audience as possible. However, we are not yet able to ensure a fully accessible experience.

In particular, we have identified some accessibility issues with the Find Your Club form for screen reader users. As an interim solution, we have provided additional messaging in a screen reader accessible format that offers additional support in finding a Club.

We are aware of these issues and continue to work towards full accessibility for all content and functionality used on our site.

In the meantime, if you have questions or are having trouble accessing information about our programs, finding a BGC in your local area, or making a donation, please contact BGC Canada’s office by email at bgcc_communications@bgccan.com or by phone at 905-477-7272 and we will be happy to assist you.

Documents and information controlled by BGC Canada are available in alternate formats upon request, where applicable. To request an alternate format, please contact BGC Canada using the contact information above.

We are committed to providing the best possible online experience for our site visitors.  We welcome your feedback and questions, as well as recommendations for improving our site.

Contact us by email at bgcc_communications@bgccan.com or by phone at 905-477-7272.