What is the AODA?
The AODA sets out a framework for developing accessibility standards across five key areas:
- Customer service: Organizations must provide goods and services in ways that are accessible.
- Employment: Employers are required to identify and remove barriers in hiring, training, and ongoing employment.
- Information and communications: This standard ensures that all information, including digital content and websites, is accessible to individuals with disabilities. (Section 14 of the Act mandates that websites and web content meet a minimum of WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.)
- Design of public spaces: Public spaces, buildings, and outdoor environments must be designed or modified to be accessible.
- Transportation: Accessible transportation services must be made available to ensure that every Ontario resident can travel with ease.
In addition to these standards, the AODA requires organizations to develop and publicly post accessibility policies, provide training to staff, and regularly report on their progress toward meeting these standards.
For a full view of the legislation, you can review the official text of the AODA and consult the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (Ontario Regulation 191/11).
Who Does the AODA Apply To?
The AODA is designed to cover a broad range of organizations operating in Ontario. In practice, this means:
Public sector organizations
- All government bodies at the provincial level, including ministries, agencies, and municipal governments.
- Public educational institutions such as school boards and publicly funded colleges or universities.
Private sector organizations
- Businesses and private educational institutions that employ 50 or more people.
- Non-profit organizations that fall within the jurisdiction of the Act.
Examples of Organizations Affected by the AODA:
- Government: Provincial ministries (e.g., Health, Education), and the Legislative Assembly.
- Public Institutions: Municipal offices, public libraries, and hospitals.
- Large Private Enterprises: Retailers, financial institutions, and service providers with 50+ employees.
- Non-Profits: Organizations and charities that provide services to the public.
This wide scope is intended to ensure that all Ontarians have equal access to goods, services, and information—whether interacting with government, private businesses, or community organizations.
When must websites meet WCAG standards?
The AODA established specific deadlines for different sectors:
- By January 1, 2020: The websites (both internet and intranet) of the Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly must meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.
- By January 1, 2021: Designated public sector organizations and large private sector organizations (those with more than 50 employees) are required to have their digital content in compliance with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
What’s the impact of an inaccessible website?
Having an inaccessible website can have significant implications:
- Administrative penalties: Organizations may be subject to administrative penalties of up to CAD $15,000 (per the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, O. Reg. 191/11) if they fail to meet the accessibility standards.
- Litigation risks: Inaccessible websites may open the door to legal challenges, potentially resulting in costly litigation.
- Reputational damage: Beyond legal and financial risks, an inaccessible website can harm an organization’s reputation and its ability to serve all customers effectively.
How does Silktide help me comply with the AODA?
Silktide works by helping you find and fix web accessibility issues across your websites in the code, design, and content.
Because it’s automated, it helps you:
- Find accessibility problems at scale
- Check for ongoing changes to your websites
We recommend manual testing to find specific instances that cannot be automated. This includes, for example, describing the contents of images in the alt text. But manual testing is usually only an expensive, infrequent ad-hoc process.
Silktide monitors your website by testing pages all the time. Your content team can test pages before they’re published. This avoids any accessibility failures before your customers experience them.
The main ways that Silktide’s automated web accessibility testing platform helps include:
- Find accessibility issues across thousands of pages
- Explain how to fix the issues
- Provide training to web team members to prevent future issues
- Inspire your entire organization to improve, through scores, gamification, and ongoing reports
In Summary
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act is a landmark piece of legislation that ensures both public and private organizations in Ontario actively work toward removing barriers for people with disabilities. By establishing clear standards, deadlines, and enforcement mechanisms—and by covering a wide range of organizations—the AODA plays a crucial role in creating an accessible Ontario.
For further details, consult the official AODA text and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. Tools like Silktide’s accessibility platform can help ensure your digital content not only complies with WCAG 2.0 Level AA (or even WCAG 2.2 for best practice) but also serves all users effectively.
This article is intended to provide a detailed and accessible overview of the AODA, including who it applies to, key deadlines, and compliance information. For specific legal advice or tailored compliance strategies, please consult an accessibility law expert.
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