Accessible customer service policy
Providing services to people with disabilities
Our mission
The mission of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP is to provide legal services that are accessible to clients in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place, and in a similar manner as with all our clients.
Communication
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP is committed to communicating with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disabilities.
We will provide accessible legal advice, documentation, and invoicing, etc. to all of our clients in formats suitable to their needs. We will answer any questions clients have about our legal advice, documentation, and invoicing in person, by email, by telephone or by other means if telephone communication is not suitable to our client’s communication needs or is not available.
Assistive devices
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP welcomes people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use, or benefit from our services. We will ensure that our staff are trained and are familiar with various assistive devices that may be used by clients with disabilities while accessing our services.
Service animals and support persons
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP also welcomes into our reception and/or boardrooms people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal or a support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal or support person be prevented from having access to his or her service animal or support person while on our premises.
A personal support person may be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Notice of temporary disruption
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP will provide clients with notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities to access our services. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
Notices regarding the disruption of accessible client washrooms will be placed at our reception desks as well as on the entrances to the client washrooms.
Training for staff
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP will provide training to all members of our firm, volunteers, and others on accessible customer service and how to interact with people with different disabilities.
This training will be provided as soon as reasonably possible after new members to our firm, volunteers, or others commence their duties.
Training will include the following:
- The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard
- 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 support person
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP’s services
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP’s policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standard
Staff will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these polices, practices and procedures.
Availability of documentation in other forms
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP will endeavour to provide its Accessible Customer Service Policy and all other documentation provided to clients in other formats where requested. These formats may include CD-ROM, Braille, large print, etc.
Feedback or questions about this policy
Feedback regarding the way Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP provides services to people with disabilities or questions about this policy can be made by phone, email, in person, or by regular mail. Arrangements can also be made, on request, to provide accessible formats and communication supports for the feedback process. Clients can expect to hear back as soon as possible. Contact:
Shawn Sanford
Chief Procurement & Sustainability Officer
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
TD Centre, Suite 3000
222 Bay Street, P.O. Box 53
Toronto, ON, M5K 1E7
T: +1 416.203.4469
F: +1 416.216.3930
shawn.sanford@nortonrosefulbright.com
Modifications to this or other policies
We are committed to developing customer service policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, any changes that are made to this or other Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP policies will consider the requirement to respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.