Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

Overview

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a provincial law enacted in 2005 with the goal of making Ontario fully accessible by 2025. It empowers the government to develop and enforce mandatory accessibility standards covering customer service, information and communications, employment, transportation, and the built environment. The information and communications standard is what makes AODA directly relevant to software and web teams.

AODA is one of the more prescriptive subnational accessibility regimes in North America, with phased deadlines and explicit conformance targets tied to WCAG.

Who It Applies To

AODA applies to the Ontario government, broader public sector organizations, and private and nonprofit organizations with at least one employee in Ontario. Obligations scale by organization type and size. Larger organizations and public bodies face the most extensive requirements, including web accessibility and compliance reporting, while very small organizations have reduced obligations.

Key Requirements

Under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, designated organizations must make their public-facing websites and web content conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA, excluding certain criteria such as live captions and audio description in some phases. Organizations must also create accessibility policies and multi-year plans, provide accessible formats and communication supports on request, ensure accessible employment practices, train staff, and file periodic accessibility compliance reports.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

AODA includes administrative penalties enforced by the province. Corporations can face significant daily fines for non-compliance, and directors and officers can face penalties as well. Enforcement includes audits, inspections, and director orders requiring remediation.

How to Comply

Organizations should bring public websites and content to WCAG 2.0 Level AA, document accessibility policies and a multi-year plan, and establish processes to provide accessible formats on request. Maintain staff training, build accessibility into hiring and employment, and file required compliance reports on schedule. Aligning with newer WCAG versions exceeds the baseline and prepares for future updates.