Web Accessibility Canada: A Detailed Compliance Guide

If you’re looking to make your website accessible and AODA compliant in 2024 you’ve reached the right place!

Anyone who runs a business or manages a website in Canada needs to be aware of the requirements outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

We’ll unpack the steps you can take to make your website compliant and protect your business from costly penalties.

Let’s get started.

What May Happen If Businesses Fail to Comply with AODA

Businesses that don’t prioritize accessibility face significant penalties. Businesses with 20 or more employees, as well as all public sector organizations, need to file an AODA accessibility compliance report.

The maximum penalties under the AODA include:

• Corporations can be fined up to $100,000 per day.
• Individuals and unincorporated organizations can be fined up to $50,000 per day.
• Directors and officers of a corporation or organization can be fined up to $50,000 per day

Yikes!

A Short History of the AODA

The AODA stems from the Ontario Human Rights Code, which was passed in the early 90s. The code made it unlawful to discriminate based on disability. 

It was in 1994 that the development of the AODA officially began, starting with the introduction of the ODA, or Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The ODA aimed to remove and prevent any barriers that made it difficult for people living with disabilities to fully participate as members of society – the ODA became official law in 2001.  

Following government elections in 2003, more focus was placed on strengthening the ODA (3), so the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council (4) was established. This resulted in the AODA being passed as a law in 2005. 

In 2011, the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) (5) unified the five standards of the AODA, namely Employment, Design of Public Spaces, Information & Communication, Transportation, and Customer Service.

Is the AODA relevant for my business?

It is actually very simple to know if the AODA applies to your business.

Answer this question: Is your business registered in Ontario? If yes, then the AODA is applicable to your organization.

Unlike the ACA, which applies to federally governed businesses and organizations, the AODA applies to both governmental and private websites, whether individuals or corporations run them.

How to Make Your Website Accessible & AODA Complaint

Now that you have a basic understanding of the AODA, it’s time to get technical.

What does it actually mean to make your website accessible? And to whom exactly?

In this section, we’ll cover all of that and more.

AODA Compliance -Making Your Website Accessible

Now that we’ve covered AODA basics, we can jump into the technical aspects. Exactly how do you make your website accessible? It all starts with WCAG (the accessibility standard). 

WCAG, or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, are the guidelines referenced in the AODA – WCAG 2.2 specifically. This is the standard to follow to become AODA compliant. 

The Who

Let’s start with who you need to make your website accessible for:

* Users with visual impairments

* Users with auditory impairments

* Users with physical impairments

* Users with cognitive impairments

The How

Next, let’s look at some of the immediate steps you can take to make your website accessible.

• Add alternative text to your images. Any non-text-based content such as images should have alternative text. For videos and audio files, add captions and transcripts. This ensures that users who rely on assistive technology such as screen readers can fully understand what’s on a page.
• Make your site keyboard operable. Just like some users rely on screen readers, there will be users who cannot use a mouse. For this reason, it’s essential for all website functionality to be operable via keyboard.
• Rethink timed content. If any of your site’s content is timed, make sure that a user has enough time to read it or complete a function such as filling out a form. It’s also best to not have any time-outs without warning a user about it first. Give visitors the option to request more time or deactivate any time-outs.
• Minimize distractions. Some users will find scrolling, blinking, and moving content distracting and difficult to engage with. Be sure to offer the option to pause, stop, or hide elements such as carousels, automatic updates, or tickers.
• Be mindful of users with epilepsy. Avoid content and media that flashes as this might induce seizures in some of your visitors.
• Apply the correct color contrast ratios. To cater to users with color blindness and low vision, the contrast between text and the background of your site should be 4:5:1. For larger or bold text and non-text items, a ratio of 3:1 should be applied. There are no contrast restrictions for brand names and logos.
• Enable zoom functionality. Should a visitor need to increase the size of the text on any given page, your website should not lose any functionality. All text should also still be visible on the screen.
• Standardize your navigation. Consistent and predictable navigation is another aspect of website accessibility.Your navigation should always appear in the same place and in the same order. The same applies to any other functional components of your site.
• Don’t forget about documents. If your site houses any documents such as Word or PDF documents, make sure these are accessible too.
• Clearly label forms. By correctly labeling forms, a visitor knows exactly what is expected of them. It also ensures screen readers can clearly read out form fields and descriptions.
• Be careful with CAPTCHA. Unfortunately, CAPTCHA codes can be difficult for people with disabilities to complete. If you must use a CAPTCHA test, opt for one that is compatible with assistive technology.

At this stage, you’re probably thinking that website accessibility sounds like a complex project. But with the right software, AODA compliance is easier than you think.

The Benefits of an Accessibility Overlay

Implementing an accessibility overlay such as accessiBe or UserWay offers numerous benefits for enhancing your website’s inclusivity.

These overlays provide real-time adjustments, allowing users with disabilities to customize their browsing experience according to their specific needs. Features such as text resizing, color contrast adjustments, and keyboard navigation enhancements make your site more user-friendly and accessible.

Additionally, accessibility overlays help you quickly meet compliance with accessibility standards like WCAG, ADA, and Section 508, reducing the risk of legal issues and broadening your audience reach. By integrating an accessibility overlay, you demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and provide a seamless experience for all visitors.

Summary

We hope this guide answered all your most pressing questions about website accessibility.

To begin your digital accessibility journey, you can scan your website for free and see where your business stands.

FAQs