Accessible websites in Ontario
In Ontario, as of January 1, 2021, all public websites and web content posted after January 1, 2012 must meet WCAG 2.0 level AA (other than live captions and pre-recorded audio descriptions).
This law is part of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and applies to all private and non-profit organization with 50+ employees and public sector organizations. Organizations that fail to comply could face a hefty fine.
What is WCAG 2.0?
WCAG 2.0 or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 defines how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities, and older people with changing abilities due to aging. WCAG 2.0 aims to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, including (but not limited to):
- Users with blindness or low vision
- Users with cognitive or learning disabilities
- Users with deafness and hearing loss
- Users with limited movement
WCAG 2.1, published in June 2018, includes new requirements for addressing mobile accessibility but is not currently required in order to be AODA compliant in Ontario.
What is the AODA?
AODA is an Ontario law that that was passed in 2005. The law mandates a set of standards that private and non-profit organizations must follow to become more accessible to people with disabilities. Learn more about accessible websites at ontario.ca.
Let Bitnut help you
There are 13 guidelines and 44 success criteria in the WCAG 2.0 level AA. Meeting these requirements can be a challenge. Bitnut is committed to helping organizations become more accessible. Let Bitnut help you get there.
Bitnut offers the following accessibility solutions:
- New website design that is accessibility ready*
- Existing website redesign and accessibility upgrade*
- Accessible PDF conversion*
*Solution aims to adhere to WCAG 2.0 AA or above (i.e. AODA compliant)
Website accessibility checklist
The following document will be completed for all accessibility ready websites which are designed/redesigned by Bitnut. All criteria must pass in order for the website to be considered accessibility ready.
Download Bitnut's WCAG 2.0 A & AA minified checklist (44 criteria)
Download Bitnut's WCAG 2.1 A & AA minified checklist (50 criteria)