Understanding the AODA for Websites

How Ontario businesses can meet the web accessibility requirements.

With the goal to be fully accessible by 2025, Ontario put into law the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in 2005. So if you’re a business operating in Ontario, you’re likely familiar with the standards aimed at removing and preventing barriers for the one in seven Ontarians with a disability.

The AODA requires businesses and organizations to improve inclusivity and accessibility for customers and employees in person and online. By January 1, 2021, most private and public-sector websites must conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, except for criteria 1.2.4 (live captions) and 1.2.5 (pre-recorded audio descriptions).

WCAG is internationally recognized as the digital accessibility guidelines to follow, which means many organizations all over the world have already implemented accessibility plans to work towards meeting the standards.

One-hundred-percent conformance with any level of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is very difficult to accomplish. There are gray areas where even experts disagree and just as web content is updated regularly, accessibility is an ongoing process.

In order to meet WCAG and truly remove digital barriers for people with disabilities, we recommend partnering with a vendor who has accessibility experts and assistive technology users, who can ensure your site is usable and working towards compliance.

Perkins Access partners with organizations all over the globe to improve digital accessibility and meet WCAG standards. If you’re ready to embrace digital accessibility the right way, we can help. Get in touch today.