AODA & WCAG Compliance
Accessibility isn't optional. For many, it's the law.
If your organization operates in Ontario, you are legally required to meet the standards set out in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). In the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets similar requirements. Across Europe, EN 301 549 governs digital accessibility. The frameworks differ by jurisdiction, but the message is the same: your website needs to work for everyone.
Beyond compliance, it's simply the right thing to do. Nearly one in five Canadians lives with a disability. An inaccessible website isn't just a legal risk — it's a barrier between your organization and a significant portion of your audience.
What is AODA?
Introduced in Ontario in 2005, the AODA requires organizations to meet accessibility standards across customer service, employment, information and communications, transportation, and the built environment. For your website, the relevant standard is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA — the globally accepted benchmark for digital accessibility, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
You are required by law to submit an accessibility compliance report if you are a business or non-profit with 20 or more employees, a public sector organization, a municipality, an educational institution, or a producer of educational materials. Failure to comply can result in enforcement action and financial penalties.
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are an internationally recognized standard that makes digital content more accessible to people with disabilities — including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments. WCAG 2.0 Level AA is the current legal requirement under AODA, though WCAG 2.1 and 2.2 are now the recommended standards and where we focus our work.
How we help.
We conduct a thorough audit of your website against current WCAG standards, identify issues, and implement the necessary fixes. Our process includes automated testing, manual review, and where possible, real-world testing with assistive technologies such as screen readers.
We don't just make your site compliant — we make it better. Accessible design benefits every user, not just those with disabilities. Cleaner structure, clearer copy, and better navigation improve the experience for everyone.
We also maintain detailed records of all accessibility work completed, which is invaluable if your organization is ever asked to demonstrate compliance.
Ready to get compliant?
Whether you need a full accessibility audit or want to build compliance into a new project from the ground up, we'd love to talk.