Canada web accessibility

Canada - AODA

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, or AODA, aims to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. The AODA became law on June 13, 2005, and applies to all levels of government, nonprofits, and private sector businesses in Ontario that have one or more employees (full-time, part-time, seasonal, or contract).

The AODA includes requirements that all organizations must meet, with deadlines specific to an organization’s type and size. The AODA is made up of five parts, or Standards, and deadlines for compliance began as of January 1, 2010. AODA web accessibility standards stipulate WCAG 2.1 as the conformance requirements.

The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a federal law that applies to all territories in Canada. ACA compliance breaks down into three groups:

Government entities such as the Government of Canada, the Canadian Forces, and Parliament;
Crown corporations—companies that are owned by the state but operate administratively as private businesses;
The federally regulated private sector, such as the banking, transportation and telecommunications sectors. This includes entities or individuals that work within the legislative authority of Parliament.

The ACA has yet to establish specific compliance standards, but conforming to WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards would cover most accessibility-related regulations. Canadian public and private organizations are also required to publish accessibility reports on a periodic basis. For more information, click here (AODA compliance) and here (ACA compliance).

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