Accessibility Policy

Statement of Organizational Commitment

Compugen Inc. is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario’s accessibility laws.

 

We believe accessibility is a shared responsibility across all levels of our organization and therefore encourage our employees, management, and stakeholders to actively contribute to accessibility initiatives.

 

Purpose

In compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, the purpose of this policy is to outline responsibilities of staff personnel (employees, volunteers and other third parties) on behalf of Compugen Inc. in providing goods, services and opportunities to people with disabilities.

 

Scope

This policy applies to all staff personnel (employees, volunteers and other third parties).

 

Policy Principles

Compugen Inc. is committed to meeting its current and ongoing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code respecting non-discrimination.

 

Compugen Inc. understands that obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its accessibility standards do not substitute or limit its obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code or obligations to people with disabilities under any other law.

Assistive Device

We are committed to serving people with disabilities who use assistive devices to obtain, use or benefit from our goods and services.

Communication

We will communicate with people with disabilities in a manner that takes into account their disability and upon request, provide our communications in accessible formats.

We train employees to communicate with customers over the telephone in clear and plain language and to speak clearly and slowly.

Billing

We are committed to providing accessible invoices to all of our customers. Invoices will be provided in alternative format (hard copy, large print, e-mail and PDF) upon request. We will answer any questions customers may have about the content of the invoice in person, by telephone or email.

Service Animals 

We welcome people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public and third parties.

 

We will also ensure that all of our employees involved in hosting customer visits are properly trained in how to interact with people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal. When we cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our employees may ask for documentation (template, letter or form) from a regulated health professional that confirms the person needs the service animal for reasons relating to their disability.  

 

A service animal can be easily identified through visual indicators, such as when it wears a harness or a vest, or when it helps the person perform certain tasks. 

 

A regulated health professional is defined as a member of one of the following colleges:

 

• College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario

• College of Chiropractors of Ontario

• College of Nurses of Ontario

• College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario

• College of Optometrists of Ontario

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

• College of Physiotherapists of Ontario

• College of Psychologists of Ontario

• College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario

 

If the use of a service animal presents a health and safety concern / risk to our employees (ie. severe allergic reactions to the animal), we will do the following to ensure people with disabilities can access our goods, services or facilities:

 

• explain why the animal is not allowed on our premise

• discuss with the customer another way of providing goods, services or facilities

Support Persons

We are committed to welcoming staff members of customer organizations with disabilities who may have a business requirement to visit our premises and are accompanied by a support person. Any such person will be allowed to enter Compugen’s premises with his or her support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises.

 

In certain situations, Compugen might require a person with a disability to be accompanied by a support person for health or safety reasons. Prior to making a decision, Compugen will: 

 

• Consult with the person with a disability to understand their needs

• Consider health or safety reasons based on available evidence

• Determine if there is no other reasonable way to protect the health or safety of the person or others on the premises 

 

In situations where confidential information might be discussed, consent will be obtained from the customer, prior to any conversation where confidential information might be discussed.

Employment 

We are committed to welcoming people with disabilities with respect to recruitment, employment, training, career development and career progression. 

 

We notify employees, job applicants and the public that accommodation can be made during recruitment and hiring. We notify job applicants when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process that accommodation is available upon request. We consult with the applicants and provide or arrange suitable accommodation. 

We notify successful applicants of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when making offers of employment. 

 

We notify employees that support is available for those with disabilities as soon as practicable after they begin their employment. We provide updated information to employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodation that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability. 

 

We will consult with employees when arranging for the provision of suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the accessibility needs due to disability. We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication supports specifically for: 

 

• information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job; and

• information that is generally available to employees in the workplace 

 

Compugen will provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees that have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary, and if Compugen is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. We will provide this information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation. 

 

Where the employee requires assistance, we will, with the consent of the employee, provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by us to provide assistance to the employee. Compugen will review the individualized workplace emergency response information when the employee moves to a different location in the organization, when the employee’s overall accommodation needs or plans are reviewed.

 

We have a clearly written policy for documenting individual accommodation plans. The most recent version of the Accommodation policy is available in the Employee Handbook. 

 

In addition, we have a written process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodation to facilitate their return to work.

Notice of Disruptions

Compugen will provide notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services usually used by people with disabilities. This notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

 

The notice will be placed on the Compugen website and communicated by other appropriate means to individuals likely affected by the disruptions.

 

Procedures

Training

Compugen will provide accessible customer service training to:

 

• All employees and volunteers

• Anyone involved in developing Compugen’s policies

• Anyone who provides goods or services to customers on Compugen’s behalf 

 

This training will be provided within one month of the relevant employee or volunteer commencing their duties. 

 

Training will include the following topics:

 

• The Ontario Human Rights Code

• The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the requirements of the customer service standard

• Compugen’s policy on providing accessible customer service

• How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities

• How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person

• Information on how to use any equipment or devices available to help provide goods or services to people with disabilities

• What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Compugen’s goods or services

 

All staff personnel will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.

Feedback Process

Compugen Inc. is committed to continuous improvement in accessibility. We welcome your feedback on any accessibility barriers that you may have encountered in dealing with Compugen Inc or your feedback on the manner in which Compugen Inc is implementing its Accessibility Plan. This feedback process aims to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and contributes to positive change.

 

How to Provide Feedback

 

You can provide feedback through the following channels:

 

1. Email: Send your feedback to pc@compugen.com

2. Mail: Mail your feedback to our office address: Attention: Tony Chow, People & Culture Operations Manager, 100 Via Renzo Drive, Richmond Hill, ON, L4S 0B8

3. Telephone: Call us at 1-800-350-7404 during business hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time).

 

What to Include in Your Feedback

 

When providing feedback, please include the following details:

 

1. Description: Clearly describe the issue, barrier, or positive experience related to accessibility.

2. Date and Time: Specify when the incident occurred.

3. Location: Provide details about the specific area, service, or product involved.

4. Contact Information (Optional): If you’d like a response, include your name, phone number, or email address.

Feedback can be general or specific, but providing more details such as the date, the name of the webpage, application or activity involved, may make it easier for us to understand your concerns.

 

Anonymous Feedback

 

Individuals wishing to provide anonymous feedback may do so by mail.

 

Acknowledgment of Feedback

 

Automatic acknowledgement of receipt will be sent for feedback received by email. Feedback provided through telephone involve direct interaction with a Compugen employee and therefore the employee will acknowledge receipt of the feedback. For feedback received by mail, if contact information is provided, an acknowledgement letter will be mailed to the address provided within 10 business days. Regardless of the method used, your feedback will be treated confidentially and used solely for improving accessibility.

 

How feedback will be used

 

Feedback will help Compugen Inc. continuously improve our accessibility efforts. Some feedback may not require a direct response or immediate follow-up, while some may highlight issues that need to be addressed right away. However, all feedback received will help Compugen Inc. develop its future accessibility plans and it will help us know how we are progressing towards our accessibility goals. The feedback we receive will be taken into consideration when we write our accessibility progress reports, published in the years between accessibility plans.

 

Accessibility of the Feedback Process

 

We have designed this process to be accessible to everyone. If you require an alternative format (e.g., large print, high contrast, audio), please contact us either by email, phone or mail, and we will accommodate your request.

Changes to Existing Policies

Any policies of this organization that do not respect and promote the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities will be modified or removed.

 

This document is publicly available. Accessible formats are available upon request.

 

Related Policies

In addition to the AODA, Compugen is subject to the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), which requires regulated entities to establish an accessibility feedback process and to publish an accessibility plan. Please refer to the ACA Accessibility Plan and the ACA Feedback Process Description for information.