Ontario Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

Effective: April 15, 2025

Guidewire’s mission is to be the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. We continually strive to improve accessibility so that our customers and employees, including those with disabilities, can access the services that Guidewire offers.

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan - Application

This 2025 - 2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (this “Plan”) has been developed to meet the requirements of the Ontario Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, as amended (“AODA”). It is specifically applicable to Ontario-based businesses, customers, and employees. This Plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years, or as otherwise prescribed by law.

Statement of Commitment

Guidewire Canada ULC (“Guidewire”) is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity and strive to meet the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We aim to remove barriers to accessibility and meet accessibility requirements as required by law, including under the AODA.

General Requirements

Along with this Plan, Guidewire has implemented an Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS) Policy that is available to all employees and is available to customers upon request. The IAS Policy ensures that Ontario customers and employees with disabilities are treated in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence.

Guidewire does not currently have any self-services kiosks available for Ontario employees or customers, but Guidewire will work to include accessibility features in any such self-service kiosks in the future. Where this is not possible, Guidewire representatives will be available to assist employees and, if applicable, Guidewire will provide similar support for customers.

Guidewire will file an accessibility report every three years, or as otherwise required by law.

Training

Guidewire provides training to covered individuals in Ontario, on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Ontario Human Rights Code, as amended (“Code”) as it relates to people with disabilities.  Training is provided as appropriate for the duties of employees and others who represent the organization. Training includes, but is not limited to, the AODA and the Code (as it pertains to persons with disabilities), accessible customer service, and any accessibility requirements that apply to an employee’s job duties and the organization. In addition, Guidewire’s policies on accessibility are reviewed during the training session.

Customer Service

Guidewire is committed to serving all customers, including people with disabilities. Guidewire has implemented an Integrated Accessibility Standards Policy that is available to all employees and is available to customers upon request.

Guidewire’s IAS Policy addresses topics like communicating with people with disabilities, serving customers who use assistive devices, welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal or support person, and providing notice when there is a planned or unexpected disruption to Ontario-based facilities or services typically used by individuals with disabilities.

Guidewire has also implemented training in compliance with AODA and has established a feedback process (see below).

Information and Communications

Guidewire endeavors to meet the communication needs of people living with disabilities.

For individuals visiting a Guidewire facility in Ontario, Guidewire strives to provide information about accessibility and accessible communications at entry points. Guidewire always welcomes customer feedback regarding its provision of information (see below for more information).

Further, Guidewire will, upon request, provide or arrange for the provision of information in accessible formats for persons with disabilities. Communication supports, which account for the person's needs, will be provided in a timely manner. The cost to provide this service will not be incurred by the person needing accommodation. The individual will be consulted to determine the suitability of a communication support.

Guidewire provides employees with emergency information in an accessible way upon request. Anyone visiting a Guidewire Ontario-based facility should feel free to inform the person that they are meeting if they require assistance in the event of an emergency, or if they require an accessible format of any communication or document used during their meeting. Guidewire is able to provide accessible documents or communication supports for meetings, upon request, within ten business days. Guidewire is not aware of any such documents that would be classified as unconvertible under the AODA (e.g., x-rays).

With respect to the general public, our public website and web content is informed by multiple accessibility guidelines.  As above, Guidewire welcomes feedback regarding this content (see below for details). 

Employment

Guidewire is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. In Ontario, Guidewire accommodates individuals with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment, and hiring processes, and during employment.

Guidewire uses a variety of resources to recruit in Ontario. When posting an open position in Ontario, information about the availability of accommodations is included on the posting. Guidewire notifies applicants for these Ontario based positions when they are contacted for an interview about the availability of accommodations during the recruitment process.

Guidewire notifies successful applicants for positions in Ontario of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities. All new hires in Ontario receive information regarding accommodation. We inform Ontario based employees of our policies for supporting individuals with disabilities. This is done through employee handbooks, job postings, training, and the People team. Upon request, Guidewire consults with Ontario based employees to determine which accessible formats or communication supports they require to perform their job.

We comply with all applicable laws and regulations in developing an accommodation plan for Ontario based employees who have made Guidewire aware of an accommodation need (where required). Where required, the employee is included in the development of that plan. There may be times when we initiate a dialogue, offering assistance to employees who are perceived to be in need of an accommodation. Accommodation plans for Ontario based employees include a return to work process and emergency response plan (where required). Accommodation plans in Ontario are reviewed as necessary and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Such review may be initiated when there is a change in the employee’s disability, accommodation needs, or job.  Guidewire considers the accessibility needs of Ontario based employees when managing performance (i.e., assessing and working to improve employee performance, productivity, and effectiveness with the goal of facilitating employee success) and considers what accommodations those employees with disabilities may need to succeed elsewhere in the business or to take on new responsibilities within their current position (where required).

Note: if an individual has an injury that is covered by the return to work provisions of the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, as amended, that Act's return to work process applies.

Design of Public Spaces

Guidewire will work to meet the accessibility standards for the design of public spaces under AODA for both new construction and when renovating existing public spaces. We will also have prevention and maintenance plans for all accessible elements that we control.

Guidewire has not built and does not intend to build or redevelop (a) any public trails, beach access or public outdoor eating areas in Ontario, (b) any exterior paths of travel in Ontario, or (c) any off-street parking in Ontario. Guidewire has not built any waiting areas, service counters, or fixed queuing guides in Ontario. Should Guidewire decide to build such elements, it will engage experts to ensure that the elements comply with the AODA and any other applicable accessible requirement (such as the Building Code).

Feedback

Guidewire welcomes feedback about how it accommodates and serves customers and employees with disabilities. Feedback can be submitted to physicalsecurity@guidewire.com. Employees can contact their People Business Partner and corporate customers are encouraged to contact their account manager with feedback. Guidewire strives to respond to any such correspondence within 10 business days.