Accessibility Plan in Compliance with the Accessible Canada Act
Updated June 1, 2023
I. Purpose
Windstream Enterprise is committed to making its services accessible to the entire community in a way that promotes equality and strives to prevent and remove barriers that limit equitable access to all people. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities effectively and efficiently in order to create an accessible user experience. This Accessibility Plan (“Plan”) is meant to provide guidance for the development of Windstream Enterprise’s processes and procedures related to the implementation of products, services, and platform engagements.
II. Standards
Windstream Enterprise has developed this Plan in accordance with the Telecom and Broadcasting Regulatory Policy (CRTC 2021-215) – The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Accessibility Reporting Regulations pursuant the Accessible Canada Act. Windstream Enterprise supports the principles contained in the Accessible Canada Act and considers the following as it implements its Accessibility Plan:
- Everyone must be treated with dignity;
- Everyone must have the same opportunity to make for themselves the life they are able and wish to have;
- Everyone must be able to participate fully and equally in society;
- Everyone must have meaningful options and be free to make their own choices, with support if they desire;
- Laws, policies, programs, services, and structures must consider the ways that different kinds of barriers and discrimination intersect;
- Persons with disabilities must be involved in the development and design of laws, policies, programs, services, and structures; and
- Accessibility standards and regulations must be made with the goal of achieving the highest level of accessibility.
III. Scope
a. EMPLOYEES
This Plan applies to all Windstream Enterprise employees responsible for developing, designing, managing, maintaining, and auditing Windstream’s websites, website portals, mobile applications, products and services.
b. SERVICES
This Plan applies to Windstream Enterprise’s telecommunications services including VoIP data services, video conferencing services and the tools that support the services including but not limited to: Windstream Enterprise website, WE Connect Portal, and other mobile applications. Additionally, these obligations extend to telecommunication services or products WE may acquire from a third-party provider.
c. USERS
This Plan applies to Windstream Enterprise users, prospective users, and website and/or mobile application visitors.
IV. Procedures
The specific implementation of this Plan consists of discrete areas that must all be met in order to comply with the Accessible Canada Act and the Purpose of this Plan as outlined above.
a. FEEDBACK
A conspicuous posting (similar to the language below) of Windstream Enterprise’s Accessibility Statement and feedback form can be found on its publicly accessible website, https://www.windstreamenterprise.com/.
Windstream’s efforts are ongoing, and we strive to continuously improve accessibility. We want to hear from you if you encounter any accessibility barriers. A version of Windstream’s Accessibility Plan may be available to you in large print, braille, audio format, electronic format that is compatible with adaptive technology that is intended to assist persons with disabilities. Please contact Windstream with accessibility related questions, comments, suggestions, and complaints by phone at 1-855-348-7843, [email protected], live chat, in-person, or mail at:
Accessibility Coordinator
Windstream
4005 North Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, AR 72212-2442
Any personal information submitted via the feedback process must be treated as confidential unless the submitter specifically consents to the disclosure of such information.
In addition, Windstream Enterprise will provide a copy of this Plan to any member of the public upon request, and in alternative formats including print, large print, braille, audio format, electronic format that is compatible with adaptive technology that is intended to assist persons with disabilities, or any other format that the requestor and Windstream agree upon. Requests for copies can be sent to [email protected].
b. CONSULTATION
Windstream Enterprise will facilitate the engagement of and consultation with a person or persons with disabilities to address how its services, website and mobile applications accessibility may be improved to be more accommodating, and Windstream Enterprise will incorporate those suggestions as it improves accessibility.
c. ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR
Windstream Enterprise has designated an Accessibility Coordinator as the contact for issues related to accessibility. The Accessibility Coordinator will receive feedback on behalf of Windstream and streamline a process for Windstream to adequately respond to and address accessibility concerns. The Accessibility Coordinator will help meet the objectives contained in this Plan.
d. VENDOR COMPLIANCE
Windstream Enterprise will require all of its underlying providers to comply with accessibility requirements and meet Windstream Enterprise’s standards at minimum those standards contained in this Plan.
e. TRAINING AND DEPLOYMENT CHECKLIST DISTRIBUTION
Windstream Enterprise will incorporate training into its annual training programs. Windstream Enterprise will also develop a compliance checklist to be utilized before any new product, service, or update is deployed in order to ensure and optimize accessibility. Windstream will make this Plan available to all personnel who work with product management, web content including writers, editors, designers, and developers.
f. PROGRESS REPORTS
Windstream Enterprise will provide progress reports to the CRTC as needed or upon request.
V. References & Citations
Windstream Enterprise strives to meet accessibility requirements in compliance with Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990; and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.; the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC”) Accessibility Planning and Reporting Regulations; Accessible Canada Regulations, SOR/2021-241; the Accessible Canada Act (S.C. 2019, c. 10); and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, W3C World Wide Web Consortium Recommendation, Level A & Level AA Success Criteria. (http://www.w3.org/TR/200X/REC-WCAG20-20081211/).