Digital Accessibility Compliance in Canada

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is an Ontario provincial law that requires organizations to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities.

AODA applies to public, private, and nonprofit organizations operating in Ontario and includes requirements related to digital accessibility under the Information and Communications Standards.

The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a federal law that applies to federally regulated organizations across Canada.

The ACA focuses on proactive accessibility planning, barrier identification, and ongoing accountability for programs and services, including digital platforms such as websites and mobile applications.

Yes. Both AODA and ACA include requirements related to digital accessibility.
These requirements commonly apply to websites, mobile applications, and certain digital documents. While the two laws differ in jurisdiction and enforcement, accessible digital content is a shared expectation under both frameworks.

Digital accessibility compliance in Canada is commonly measured against WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

WCAG is an internationally recognized technical standard developed by the W3C and is widely used to evaluate the accessibility of websites and digital applications under AODA, ACA, and other accessibility laws.

AODA applies to organizations operating in Ontario.

This includes public sector bodies and private and nonprofit organizations. Requirements vary based on organization size and sector, with additional reporting and accountability obligations for larger organizations.

The ACA applies to federally regulated entities in Canada.
This includes federal government departments and agencies, Crown corporations, banks, telecommunications companies, and transportation providers. These organizations must publish accessibility plans, establish feedback mechanisms, and report on progress.

No. Canada has multiple accessibility laws at the federal and provincial levels.
In addition to AODA and ACA, several provinces have enacted accessibility legislation that includes digital accessibility components. Many of these laws reference WCAG as the technical benchmark for inclusive digital design.

AODA and ACA are separate accessibility laws that apply to different jurisdictions in Canada.
AODA applies within Ontario, while ACA applies to federally regulated organizations nationwide. Many organizations align with WCAG standards to support accessibility across both frameworks.