The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a law aimed at making the Canadian province of Ontario fully accessible by 2025. The act is a framework for standards to make the Canadian province accessible to all.
The Act wants to create an Ontario of full participation. This means that every Ontario citizen has the right to take part in all aspects of life. No one should be prevented from joining public, economic or social life. It’s a world-leading Act and one that I hope spreads across the globe as it deserves.
AODA includes duties on some Ontario organisations to make their websites accessible. Organisations with 50 or more employees must make their websites conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG).
AODA applies to all Ontario organisations that provide goods, services or facilities to the public or to other organisations and have at least one employee.
If you run an organisation Ontario, your compliance is part of a timeline. This is based on the type of organisation you run.
When does the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act impact you?
Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly
2012
New public and internal websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA other than criteria 1.2.4 (captions) and 1.2.5 (pre-recorded audio descriptions).
2016
All public websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA other than criteria 1.2.4 (captions) and 1.2.5 (pre-recorded audio descriptions).
2020
All public and internal websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Public sector organizations, businesses and non-profit organizations (50+ staff)
2014
New public websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level A.
2021
All public websites and web content posted after January 1, 2012, must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA other than criteria 1.2.4 (captions) and 1.2.5 (pre-recorded audio descriptions).
Find out more
- Check if and when you need to comply
- All information sourced from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
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