The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is an Ontario law that was enacted in 2005 by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It sets out a process for developing and enforcing accessibility standards. There are currently five accessibility standards which mandate how organizations must remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. The five AODA standards include:
- The Information and Communications Standards
- The Employment Standards
- The Transportation Standards
- The Design of Public Spaces Standards
- The Customer Service Standards
These standards work together to govern how organizations can offer services that meet the needs of all Ontarians, including those with disabilities. The goal for the province is to be fully accessible by 2025.
The AODA 2021 Deadline is Fast Approaching
The AODA has introduced a new compliance deadline which requires all public sector organizations and all private organizations with 50 or more employees to make their websites and web content WCAG 2.0 AA compliant by January 1, 2021 other than:
- Success criteria 1.2.4 Captions (Live)
- Success criteria 1.2.5 Audio Descriptions (Pre-recorded)
Adhering to this deadline is your responsibility. By ensuring that your organization’s information is accessible, it allows for people with disabilities to exercise their spending power and ultimately contribute to the economy and society.
Accessibility Compliance Reporting
Did you know that submitting accessibility compliance reports is the law? By filing an accessibility compliance report, it confirms that you have met your current accessibility requirements under the AODA. Failing to complete your report can result in consequences including financial penalties.
It is important to note that the requirements and deadlines you need to follow depend on the type and size of your organization. Public sector organizations must file their next accessibility compliance report by December 31, 2021. The deadline for private businesses and non-profits has been extended to June 30, 2021.
T-Base Offers Web Accessibility Services
T-Base Communications is the industry leader in the design, production and secure delivery of accessible communications to end-users who are blind, have low vision or are print-restricted. We provide web accessibility and remediation services, including Impact Analysis Reports and remediation support to ensure that our clients are compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0/2.1 Level AA and Level AAA. At a time when inclusion and equality for all populations is imperative, T-Base can ensure your website is inclusive and accessible to all users. Contact us today to learn more.
For more details on the AODA 2021 Deadline, we invite you to join our “Know The Facts” webinar on December 8, 2020 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST. Register here.
