Canadian law 路 3 min read
AODA and Ontario's Website Accessibility Rules: The Basics
Who Ontario's accessibility law applies to, what it asks of websites, and where to read the official rules.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) became law in 2005. Its goal is to make Ontario accessible to people with disabilities, and websites are part of that.
Who has to make their website accessible?
- The Ontario government and designated public sector organizations.
- Businesses and non-profits with 50 or more employees in Ontario.
Since January 1, 2021, these organizations' public websites and web content must meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA, an international standard for accessible websites. There are a few exceptions, such as live captions and pre-recorded audio descriptions.
What about smaller businesses?
Organizations with fewer than 50 employees aren't required to meet the website rule, but other parts of the AODA, such as the customer service standard, apply to almost every organization with at least one employee. Many small businesses follow WCAG anyway, because it's good for customers and keeps them ahead of future changes.
Reporting and penalties
Organizations with 20 or more employees must file accessibility compliance reports with the province every three years. The Act allows fines of up to $100,000 per day for corporations that don't comply.
Outside Ontario
Federally regulated organizations, such as banks, telecoms and airlines, fall under the Accessible Canada Act. Other provinces, including Manitoba and Nova Scotia, have their own accessibility laws.
Official sources
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. For your specific obligations, check the official sources above or speak with a lawyer.