Ontario, Canada

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Compliance Checker

Ontario businesses with 50+ employees must meet WCAG 2.0 AA. Scan your site for AODA compliance now.

Maps to WCAG 2.1 AA 10-page deep scan AI-generated fix guide
Overview

What is AODA?

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a 2005 provincial law aiming to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025. Under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR), all public sector organizations and private businesses with 50 or more employees must ensure their websites and web content meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Organizations must also file annual accessibility compliance reports with the provincial government.

Applicability

Who Needs to Comply?

  • All Ontario public sector organizations (government, agencies, municipalities)
  • Private businesses operating in Ontario with 50+ employees
  • Non-profit organizations with 50+ employees
  • Educational institutions, hospitals, and healthcare providers
  • Any website serving Ontario residents at scale
The Risks

Penalties for Non-Compliance

$100,000/day
Maximum daily fine for a corporation found guilty of AODA non-compliance.
$50,000/day
Maximum daily fine for a director or officer personally.
Public Filing
Non-compliance appears on public accessibility compliance reports.
WCAG 2.0 AA
The technical conformance level required under the IASR regulation.
In-Depth Guide

AODA Compliance: The Complete Guide

What Is the AODA?

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a 2005 provincial law aiming to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025. Under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR), organizations must conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA for all web content.

History

The AODA received Royal Assent on June 13, 2005 — Ontario was the first Canadian province with comprehensive accessibility legislation. The 2011 IASR consolidated standards covering information, employment, transportation, and public spaces. Key deadlines: 2014 (WCAG 2.0 Level A for large orgs), 2021 (WCAG 2.0 Level AA for all covered orgs).

Who Must Comply

  • Ontario public-sector organizations — provincial government, municipalities, hospitals, schools, universities, transit
  • Private and non-profit organizations with 50+ employees — full IASR requirements including WCAG 2.0 AA
  • Small organizations (1-49 employees) — reduced but real obligations for customer service and web accessibility

Filing Requirements

Public-sector organizations file annual accessibility compliance reports. Private-sector and non-profits with 20+ employees file every three years. Organizations must also maintain publicly available multi-year accessibility plans.

AODA vs. ACA

AODA is provincial (Ontario). The Accessible Canada Act is federal (banks, telcos, airlines, Crown corps). An Ontario bank must comply with both. AODA’s WCAG 2.0 AA requirement has been enforceable since 2021; ACA standards are still developing.

Common Violations

  • Missing alt text on images
  • Insufficient color contrast failing the 4.5:1 ratio
  • Inaccessible forms without labels or keyboard navigation
  • Videos without captions
  • Keyboard traps in interactive elements
  • Untagged PDFs

How wcagrepair Helps

For $8.99, get a remediation guide covering every WCAG 2.0 AA violation on your site with specific code fixes, priority ranking, and plain-language explanations. Whether you’re preparing for your next compliance filing or remediating an overdue obligation, wcagrepair provides the fastest path to AODA compliance.

FAQ

AODA Compliance FAQ

Does AODA apply to my business?

If your organization has one or more employees in Ontario, the AODA applies. Public-sector and private organizations with 50+ employees face the most extensive requirements, including WCAG 2.0 Level AA for all web content. Smaller organizations have reduced but real obligations.

What is the deadline for AODA compliance?

The major deadline has passed. As of January 1, 2021, all public-sector and large private-sector organizations must have all web content conforming to WCAG 2.0 Level AA. If you haven’t met this standard, you are already overdue.

What is the difference between AODA and ACA?

AODA is Ontario provincial law. The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is federal legislation covering federally regulated industries across all of Canada. An organization can be subject to both. AODA’s WCAG 2.0 AA requirement has been enforceable since 2021; ACA’s technical standards are still developing.

What WCAG level does AODA require?

AODA requires WCAG 2.0 Level AA — all Level A and AA success criteria covering text alternatives, color contrast, keyboard accessibility, video captions, and consistent navigation.

What are AODA penalties?

Up to $50,000/day for individuals and $100,000/day for corporations. Plus compliance orders and public disclosure of non-compliant organizations.

How We Help

How Our Scanner Helps with AODA

Most accessibility laws reference the WCAG 2.1 AA standard as their technical baseline. Our scanner audits your site against WCAG 2.1 AA using axe-core — the same engine used by Google Lighthouse and Microsoft Accessibility Insights.

  • Automated AODA audit mapped to WCAG 2.1 success criteria your regulation requires
  • Severity breakdown by critical, major, and minor issues to prioritize remediation
  • AI-generated remediation guide with copy-paste code fixes for every issue
  • Ongoing monitoring to stay compliant as your site changes
  • Downloadable compliance certificate showing your site's current audit status

Is Your Site AODA Compliant?

Find out in under 2 minutes — free.