T-Base Communications and People Access Join Forces for a More Accessible Ontario

OTTAWA and TORONTO, May 15, 2012 /CNW/ - People Access, a division of Excellence Canada, and T-Base Communications Inc. announced today that they have signed a strategic alliance agreement designed to help organizations become fully compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The alliance provides the combined strengths and the necessary tools required for Ontario organizations to meet AODA compliance, ensuring a seamless implementation of the new AODA standards.

"To align with an organization so focused on this important legislation made perfect sense for us. It brings yet another layer of legislative expertise for those customers who require AODA-specific education and training," said Jeff Potts, President and CEO of T-Base Communications.

T-Base Communications is the North American leader in ensuring that important customer, citizen, and student communication materials are full accessible, inclusive, and useable by blind, deaf-blind, and print disabled individuals. T-Base helps their customers communicate effectively with those who cannot access information in conventional print or online formats while at the same time ensuring their full compliance with all applicable legislation. Within the standards of AODA, an organization must formally document its policy and make these documents publicly available in an accessible format upon request. In addition, it must post its accessibility plan on its website, provide the plan in an accessible format, and review and update the accessibility plan at least once every five years. "Many of our Ontario customers who already produce alternate format communication materials in accordance with the Customer Service Standard and the Information and Communication Standard, under AODA's regulations, will benefit greatly from this alliance," adds Jeff Potts.

People Access provides accessibility training and consulting services to help both public and private sector organizations comply with the AODA legislation. "We see this as a tremendous opportunity to deliver an even higher level of accessibility across Canada," says David Segal, Executive Director of People Access, adding "It allows us to provide a wider range of services that are required by organizations in order to communicate with their customers and staff." Russ Gahan, Vice President of Operations for Excellence Canada adds, "We are also very pleased to be working with T-Base as we help Canadian businesses advance toward overall organizational excellence."

People Access, Excellence Canada, and T-Base Communications look forward to launching new initiatives together in the coming months to help their respective clients improve customer service and employee engagement while becoming fully compliant with accessibility standards and legislation.

About T-Base Communications Inc.
T-Base Communications is the leader in design, production, and delivery of information in formats fully accessible to blind, deaf-blind, partially sighted, and print disabled customers, citizens, and students. T-Base transcribes information into braille, large print, e-text, and audio as well as formats for online delivery via accessible PDF and HTML, all under a comprehensive and secure infrastructure, ensuring full compliance with all applicable legislation. www.tbase.com

About People Access
People Access is committed to helping organizations meet or exceed accessibility standards with a full suite of products and services leading to full compliance with accessibility regulations, while also improving bottom-line results and increasing customer and employee satisfaction. People Access offers extensive products and services to help organizations, regardless of its size, industry, or location to achieve their accessibility goals. www.peopleaccess.ca

About Excellence Canada
Founded in 1992 by Industry Canada, Excellence Canada is an independent, not-for-profit organization that is committed to advancing organizational excellence across Canada. As Canada's national authority on Quality and Healthy Workplace® practices, Excellence Canada's unique model provides measurable standards for thousands of Canadian organizations. The Governor General of Canada is the Vice-Regal Patron of the Canada Awards for Excellence, making this the most prestigious organizational awards program in Canada. www.excellence.ca

Media Contacts 

T-Base Communications Inc.
Deanna White
[phone] Ext. 231

People Access
David Segal
[phone] Ext 244

Excellence Canada
Russ Gahan
[phone] Ext. 249