What Accessibility Requirements Does the AODA Cover?

Updated

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets accessibility requirements for organizations in Ontario, and the aoda.ca website is a resource that explains those requirements and tracks how they may change. Based on the site's published articles, the AODA currently covers areas including web accessibility and the procurement of self-service kiosks, while its standards are under review and may be aligned with accessibility laws in other provinces and at the federal level.

What the AODA covers today

According to the articles on aoda.ca, the AODA includes:

  • Web accessibility requirements — obligations for making online content and services accessible.
  • Procurement of self-service kiosks — requirements that apply when organizations purchase or deploy these kiosks.

These are the two areas the site explicitly names as current AODA requirements in the material reviewed.

Topics covered on aoda.ca

The site's headlines show the range of accessibility subjects it explains, including:

  • Implementing federal standards for accessibility in information and technology
  • Accessible relay services and emergency services
  • Accessible documentation
  • Accessible software
  • Accessible webpages and documents

These articles connect AODA requirements to broader accessibility standards, particularly in information and communication technology (ICT).

How the AODA may change

The site notes that the third review of the AODA recommends aligning Ontario's accessibility law with laws in other provinces and with federal standards. Several provinces — including Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Newfoundland — have laws requiring provincial accessibility standards, and the Accessible Canada Act sets standards for organizations under federal jurisdiction. The government of Canada intends to coordinate federal and provincial accessibility laws.

As part of this alignment, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) has adopted European standards for accessibility in ICT. Future AODA standards may incorporate some or all of these guidelines and requirements, which could affect how organizations meet their obligations for ICT products and services.

What this means for organizations

If you are trying to understand your current obligations, the AODA's existing requirements — web accessibility and self-service kiosk procurement — are the starting point. If you are planning ahead, watch for changes that could bring AODA standards in line with federal and other provincial laws, especially in ICT, documentation, software, and emergency services. The aoda.ca articles are organized around these areas, so they can serve as a reference for both current requirements and proposed directions.