Everything you need to know about AODA (Ontario) and ACA (Canada) accessibility requirements. WCAG compliance for Canadian public, private, and non-profit websites. Free Canada compliance checker included.
AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act): Ontario provincial law requiring WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance for all public websites by January 1, 2014. Applies to all organizations in Ontario with 50+ employees.
ACA (Accessible Canada Act): Federal law applying to government entities, federally regulated sectors (banking, transportation, telecommunications), establishing national accessibility standards. Uses WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard.
Both AODA and ACA require websites to comply with WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA standards, with additional requirements for specific sectors.
| Feature | AODA (Ontario) | ACA (Canada Federal) |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Ontario (Province) | Canada (Federal) |
| Scope | 50+ employees in Ontario | Government entities, banks, airlines, railways, telecom, broadcasting |
| Standard | WCAG 2.0 Level AA | WCAG 2.1 Level AA |
| Status | Active since 2014 | Active since 2019 |
| Enforcement | AODA enforcement | Accessibility Commissioner |
| Penalties | $100,000/day (CAD) | Significant penalties |
| Law | Entities Covered | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| AODA | All organizations in Ontario with 50+ employees | WCAG 2.0 Level AA |
| AODA | Public sector organizations in Ontario | WCAG 2.0 Level AA + Accessibility plans |
| ACA | Government entities (federal) | WCAG 2.1 Level AA |
| ACA | Banks and financial institutions | WCAG 2.1 Level AA |
| ACA | Airlines, railways, transportation | WCAG 2.1 Level AA |
| ACA | Telecommunications and broadcasting | WCAG 2.1 Level AA |
AODA: Fines up to CAD $100,000 per day for corporations. Directors and officers can also face personal liability.
ACA: Compliance enforced by the Accessibility Commissioner with significant penalties. Federal entities can face compliance orders and fines.
Use AccessiTool's ADA compliance checker (which also tests against WCAG standards) to scan your website against WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA standards. Get a detailed report of violations and fixes.
Keep records of scans, fixes, and accessibility statements. This documentation is your defense against enforcement actions.
Run monthly compliance scans to catch new violations from content updates and code changes. Schedule annual accessibility audits.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is an Ontario provincial law requiring organizations with 50+ employees to make their websites WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliant. It has been active since 2014.
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a federal law applying to government entities, banks, transportation, and telecommunications across Canada. It requires WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance and is enforced by the Accessibility Commissioner.
AODA requires WCAG 2.0 Level AA. ACA requires WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Both are based on the same core WCAG principles and success criteria.
All organizations in Ontario with 50 or more employees must comply with AODA. This includes private sector, non-profit, and public sector organizations.
AODA fines up to CAD $100,000 per day for corporations. Directors and officers can also face personal liability. ACA is enforced by the Accessibility Commissioner with significant penalties and compliance orders.
Use our free ADA compliance checker (which tests against WCAG standards) to scan your website against WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA standards. Get a detailed report of violations and fixes in 60 seconds.
This article is for general informational purposes and isn't legal advice. AODA and ACA compliance obligations and enforcement can vary by jurisdiction and entity type, so consult qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
Free Canada compliance checker — scan your website against WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA standards.
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