Accessibility Policy

Customer Service • Information & Communications • Employment

Ristorante Verdicchio / Natura Catering & Events

Effective date: September 18, 2026

Accessibility contact: Office / HR Manager

1. Statement of Commitment

Ristorante Verdicchio and Natura Catering & Events are committed to providing goods, services, facilities and employment practices in a manner that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities, supports integration, and provides equal opportunity to access and benefit from our services and workplace. We will identify, prevent and remove accessibility barriers where required and will respond to individual accessibility needs in a timely manner.

This policy is intended to support compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), Ontario Regulation 191/11 (Integrated Accessibility Standards), and applicable obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

2. Scope

This policy applies to Ristorante Verdicchio and Natura Catering & Events, as applicable, and to employees, volunteers, contractors and other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on our behalf or participate in developing applicable policies.

3. Accessible Customer Service

Communication

We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take their disability-related needs into account. When appropriate, staff will ask the person how they prefer to communicate and will work with them to identify a suitable method.

Assistive Devices

People with disabilities may use their personal assistive devices when accessing our goods, services or facilities. Staff will not interfere with an assistive device unless asked or unless there is a significant and unavoidable health or safety concern. If an assistive device cannot be used for a legitimate reason, we will consult with the person and consider another reasonable way to provide access.

Service Animals

People with disabilities who are accompanied by a guide dog or other service animal may enter areas of our premises open to the public or other third parties and keep the animal with them, unless the animal is excluded by another law. If a service animal is excluded by law, we will explain the reason and consider alternative measures so the person can access our goods, services or facilities. Where it is not readily apparent that an animal is a service animal, documentation permitted by Ontario law may be requested.

Support Persons

A person with a disability may be accompanied by a support person and will not be prevented from having access to that support person while on our premises. If we ever require a support person for health or safety reasons, we will first consult with the person with a disability, consider available evidence, and determine that there is no other reasonable way to protect health or safety. If we require the support person, any applicable admission fee for that support person will be waived. We do not ordinarily charge admission to enter the restaurant.

Temporary Disruptions

If there is a planned or unexpected disruption to a facility or service that people with disabilities usually rely on to access our goods, services or facilities, we will provide public notice as soon as practicable. The notice will include the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and available alternative facilities or services, if any. Depending on the circumstances, notice may be posted at the premises, on our website or social media, communicated to affected reservations, or provided by another reasonable method.

Accessible Customer Service Training

We provide accessibility training as soon as practicable and appropriate to the duties of the person. Training includes the purpose of the AODA and applicable customer service requirements; our accessibility policies; communicating and interacting with people with various disabilities; assistive devices, service animals and support persons; use of accessibility equipment or devices available on-site, where applicable; and what to do if a person is having difficulty accessing our goods, services or facilities. Additional training is provided when relevant policies change. Required training records are maintained.

4. Feedback, Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

Accessibility Feedback

We welcome feedback, including complaints, about the accessibility of our goods, services, facilities and feedback process. We will review accessibility feedback, identify appropriate action where necessary, and respond in a manner that takes the person’s communication needs into account. The feedback process will itself be accessible, and accessible formats or communication supports will be provided or arranged upon request.

• Telephone: 705-523-2794
• Email: info@verdicchio.ca
• Mail or in person: 1351-D Kelly Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5P5, Attention: Office / HR Manager

Personal information provided through an accessibility request or complaint will be handled confidentially and used or shared only as necessary to address the request, complaint or accommodation.

Public Information and Documents

Upon request, we will provide or arrange for publicly available information and communications in an accessible format or with a communication support in a timely manner and at no more than the regular cost charged to others. We will consult with the person making the request to determine a suitable format or support. If information is unconvertible as defined by applicable accessibility requirements, we will explain why and provide a summary of the information or communication.

Documents required under the Accessible Customer Service Standards are available upon request. We will notify the public of the availability of accessible formats and communication supports, including through this policy and our website.

Emergency and Public Safety Information

If we prepare emergency procedures, plans or public safety information and make that information available to the public, we will provide it in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.

5. Website and Digital Information

We aim to make our website and digital information usable by as many people as possible and to address accessibility barriers that are brought to our attention. If you experience difficulty accessing information on our website, contact us at 705-523-2794 or info@verdicchio.ca and tell us what information you need and, if applicable, what accessible format or communication support would be helpful. We will work with you to provide access in a suitable manner.

Our website may contain links to or content from third-party services that we do not control. We will nevertheless assist, where practicable, with access to information about our own goods, services, facilities and events.

6. Accessible Employment Practices

Recruitment and Hiring

We notify employees and the public that accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities during recruitment. Applicants selected for an assessment or selection process are advised that accommodations are available upon request. If an accommodation is requested, we consult with the applicant and provide or arrange a suitable accommodation that takes the applicant’s disability-related accessibility needs into account. Successful applicants are notified of our policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when an offer of employment is made.

Informing Employees of Accessibility Supports

Employees are informed of policies used to support employees with disabilities, including job accommodation policies. New employees receive this information as soon as practicable after beginning employment, and employees are informed when relevant policies change.

Accessible Workplace Information

When an employee with a disability requests it, we consult with the employee to provide or arrange accessible formats and communication supports for information needed to perform the employee’s job and information generally available to employees in the workplace. We consult with the employee to determine a suitable format or support.

Individualized Workplace Emergency Response Information

Where we are aware that an employee has a disability and the disability makes individualized workplace emergency response information necessary, we provide that information as soon as practicable. If the employee requires assistance, and with the employee’s consent, relevant emergency response information is provided to the person designated to assist. The information is reviewed when the employee changes work location, when the employee’s overall accommodation needs or plans are reviewed, and when our general emergency response policies are reviewed.

Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment

When we use performance management, provide career development or advancement, or use redeployment, we take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities and any applicable accommodation information or plans.

Accommodation and Return to Work

Ristorante Verdicchio and Natura Catering & Events will meet applicable accommodation and return-to-work obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 and other applicable law. Where a disability-related accommodation is required, we work with the employee on an individualized basis and protect medical and personal information in accordance with applicable requirements.

7. Design of Public Spaces

Where the Design of Public Spaces Standards apply to newly constructed or redeveloped public spaces under our control, we will meet the applicable accessibility requirements. This may include requirements relating to accessible parking, exterior paths of travel, outdoor public use eating areas and service-related elements, depending on the nature of the project. Accessibility requirements for new construction or redevelopment do not, by themselves, require unchanged existing public spaces to be retrofitted.

8. Modifications and Review

Policies, practices or procedures that do not respect and promote the dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity of people with disabilities will be reviewed and modified or removed as appropriate. This policy will be reviewed when relevant accessibility requirements or our practices change.

9. Contact and Requests for Accessible Formats

To request this policy or other public information in an accessible format or with a communication support, to make an accessibility request, or to provide accessibility feedback, contact:

• Office / HR Manager, Ristorante Verdicchio / Natura Catering & Events
• 1351-D Kelly Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 5P5
• Telephone: 705-523-2794
• Email: info@verdicchio.ca