Customer service standard for people with disabilities

1.1 Objectives

This Standard is for use by organizations that intend to provide people with disabilities with customer service that is equivalent to the quality of service provided to the population at large.

The objectives of this Standard are to assist individuals and organizations in planning and implementing good service delivery, verifying the service performance of the organization, and ensuring that the quality of service is continusously improved.

1.2 Application

1.2.1 The Standard sets out

(a) general requirements, including core principles and the overall framework of the Standard

(b) requirements for the provision of customer service, including requirements for management leadership, provision of resources, service planning and delivery, and responsibilities of staff and associates

(c) important considerations in understanding disabilities, and how to interact with and meet the needs of people with disabilities

(d) a management system that can be implemented to monitor and improve customer service; and 

(e) further references and resources (see Appendices A to G) 

NOTE: See Clause 4.7.4 for suggested approaches to appropriate timing for implementing changes to existing facilities and practices.

1.2.2

The Standard applies to all service delivery modes and may include, and not be limited to, those 

(a) in person, by telephone, or by electronic or mail correspondence 

(b) through an intermediary, intervenor, or third party and 

(c) by all personnel, whether professional, administrative, or full- or part-time.

1.3 Intended Users

This Standard is for use by those who are responsible for developing and bringing services to the public, which includes people with disabilities. It is applicable to large and small organizations, including public, commercial, and not-for-profit service providers. 

Users of the Standard may include, but not be limited to, the following sectors: 

(a) communications

(b) education

(c) entertainment, recreation, and community (theatres, sports facilities and stadiums, arenas, places of worship, food service, restaurants, etc)

(d) financial services (banks, insurance, etc)

(e) government

(f) health care (hospitals, clinics, dentists, chiropractors, etc)

(g) retail (food, clothing, etc)

(h) property management (shopping malls, meeting rooms, libraries, etc)

(i) service agencies for people with isabilities

(j) transportation and travel (air, rail, bus, taxi, travel agents, etc); and 

(k) accommodation (hotels, motels, lodges, bed and breakfast premises, etc).

1.4 Limitations

1.4.1 

This Standard does not apply to the physical features or characteristics of a built environment or a product, unless they include a service delivery component. Barrier-free requirements for the built environment are addressed in CSA Standard CAN/CSA-B651.

1.4.2 

The requirements of this Standard do not reduce or substitute for regulatory or other requirements for safety and functional provisions of a product, service, or environment.

When establishing a management system for customer service for people with disabilities, organizations, should be knowledgeable about legislation and regulations that affect the safety of their customers.

1.5 Terminology

Through use of this Standard is voluntary, it is written in prescriptive language. In this Standard, shall is used to express a requirement, ie, a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; should is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or fiqure and may be written as requirements.

Legends to equations and figures are considered requirements.