What is AODA Compliance?

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a provincial law that requires organizations in Ontario to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. Enacted to create a fully accessible Ontario by 2025, AODA sets clear standards across key areas such as customer service, employment, information, and public spaces.

Compliance is not only a legal requirement but a commitment to equity, inclusion, and social responsibility.

What is AODA Compliance?

AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) is a provincial law in Ontario, Canada, that aims to make the province accessible for people with disabilities by setting standards for accessibility in various areas of daily life. It ensures that the web content is accessible to all, including people with disabilities. 

The AODA was enacted with an aim to achieve accessibility for all Ontarians with disabilities by 2025.

Why is AODA Compliance important?

This is why AODA compliance is essential. Web Accessibility not only holds moral responsibility, but it also holds business implications.  

Web Accessibility helps businesses with,

• Target Larger Audience
• Avoiding Lawsuits and Penalties
• Establishing Brand Recognition

Target Larger Audience

In Ontario, approximately 2.6 million people have a disability. As the aging population is expected to grow in the next 25 years, it is projected that the number of people living with a disability is also expected to grow in Ontario. 

Avoiding Lawsuits and Penalties

Failure to comply with the AODA may lead to severe penalties where,  

• Individuals and unincorporated entities found in violation of a significant offence under the AODA Act may face fines of up to $50,000 per day for each ongoing violation. 
• Corporations found guilty of offences under AODA compliance may be subject to fines of up to $100,000 per day. 
• Directors and officers of a corporation, holding fiduciary responsibility, who are found guilty of negligence in AODA compliance may be liable for fines of up to $50,000 per day.

Establishing Brand Recognition

Prioritizing accessibility efforts signals to users that your brand is reliable and values the diverse needs of its user base. There is a growing trend among consumers to prefer businesses emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity. 

Adhering to AODA compliance not only enhances your brand’s reputation but also cultivates a positive perception among both customers and the broader public.

Adhering to AODA Compliance is a proactive measure to ensure all-inclusivity and reduce the risk of legal lawsuits and penalties. It also contributes to improved brand recognition and fosters business growth by expanding your reach to a larger and more diverse target audience.

Who needs to follow AODA Compliance for Web Accessibility?

AODA applies to organizations and businesses in the province of Ontario, Canada. AODA compliance requirements are for the following types of entities:

• Private Sector Businesses (Corporations and Partnerships): This includes both large and small businesses operating in Ontario.
• Non-Profit Organizations: Non-profit organizations, regardless of their size, are required to comply with AODA standards.
• Public Sector Organizations: This includes government offices and agencies at different levels. Also, organizations such as hospitals, schools, and universities that receive public funding.
• Municipalities: Municipal governments in Ontario must also adhere to AODA standards.
• Government of Ontario: The provincial government itself is obligated to comply with AODA standards.

What are the AODA-compliant website requirements?

AODA compliance states that as of January 1, 2021, all public websites that meet the required criteria must be made accessible. It outlines that Electronic information and communication must adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

WCAG Compliance is developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). It is widely regarded as one of the most influential sets of guidelines influencing global web accessibility policies. WCAG compliance is based on the 4 Key Principles:

• P- Perceivable
• O- Operable
• U- Understandable
• R- Robust

These Core Principles lay the foundation for the below WCAG guidelines that should be followed for AODA compliance.

AODA Deadline and Consequences

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) set January 1, 2025, as the deadline for Ontario to become fully accessible. As of now, all organizations governed by AODA, public, private, and non-profit, are expected to be fully compliant with the standards outlined under the Act.

Organizations must have:

• Met all applicable accessibility standards across customer service, employment, information and communications, public spaces, and transportation.
• Filed all required Accessibility Compliance Reports.
• Maintained up-to-date multi-year accessibility plans (where applicable), available to the public.
• Integrated accessibility into policies, practices, and day-to-day operations.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

With the compliance deadline passed, enforcement efforts have become more stringent. Organizations that fail to meet AODA requirements face the following risks:

• Financial penalties: Fines of up to $100,000 per day for corporations and $50,000 per day for individuals or unincorporated bodies.
• Government audits and inspections: The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario actively monitors compliance through audits and can issue compliance orders.
• Public enforcement actions: Non-compliance may be published, affecting an organization’s reputation and stakeholder trust.
• Loss of funding or contracts: Especially for organizations that receive public funding or partner with government agencies.

AODA compliance is now a legal expectation, not a future obligation. Organizations must ensure ongoing accessibility and be prepared to demonstrate proof of compliance through proper documentation and practices.

How to test AODA Compliance using BrowserStack Accessibility Testing

BrowserStack Accessibility Testing  is an integrated platform that detects both fundamental and intricate accessibility issues at speed. It is a one-Stop Solution to 

• Test, 
• Report, and 
• Monitor Web Accessibility Health.

Test Web Accessibility for AODA Compliance

You can test AODA Compliance of your website using BrowserStack Accessibility Testing Tool. It provides core features to:

• Test any user workflow in a single scan using Workflow Scanner
• Identify complex accessibility issues by answering simple, auto-generated questions using Assisted Tests
• Precisely locate issue sources using Screen Readers on Real Devices

You can run Workflow Scanner to Scan user flows across full page scan or test part of a page for accessibility. Use the Workflow scanner to automatically identify and report basic issues such as missing alt text, insufficient color contrast, among others at blazing speed.

Try BrowserStack Accessibility Testing

Workflow Scanner allows you to choose the required WCAG versions and its conformance level, for example, WCAG 2.0 AA. It highlights all the Web Accessibility Issues along with their details. This helps you meet the AODA Compliance requirements of reaching WCAG compliance A or AA for your website.

Report Web Accessibility Issues for AODA Compliance

BrowserStack Accessibility Testing Tool provides you access to all reports from the past and present scans on one single dashboard. You can combine multiple reports into one in seconds and use the insightful issue summaries for better debugging.

You can get details on Issue Summary and Workflow Log Reports within the dashboard. All reports contain issues that are grouped on the basis of violating WCAG guidelines. It enables easier VPAT report creation. 

You can also select multiple reports to create a consolidated report that can be shared or exported as a CSV file.

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Monitor Web Accessibility for AODA Compliance

BrowserStack Accessibility Testing Tool also allows you to schedule scans at regular intervals and get a detailed Accessibility report with Website Scanner. Once the workflow is scanned, you can get details on Issue Summary and Workflow Log Reports within the dashboard. 

Schedule Website Scan for WCAG Compliance Now

Best Practices for AODA Compliance

Some of the key best practices to follow for being AODA compliant are:

• Understand and Implement WCAG Standards to meet AODA Requirements.
• Track WCAG 2.0 AA and AAA using a checklist.
• Use HTML Markup in the content as per the accessibility standards.
• Create simple workflows that are easily understandable.
• Make user-friendly Design Navigation. 
• Create interactive elements that are easy to identify.
• Create designs considering different viewport sizes.
• Perform cross-browser compatibility tests on the website regularly.
• Use Automation tools to check Accessibility regularly.
• Run usability tests with users across the disability spectrum.
• Create VPAT reports regularly and track Web Accessibility conformance.

AODA Compliance Checklist

Here’s a handy checklist that can help you make an AODA-Compliant website based on WCAG 2.0 compliance:

• Insert alternative text tag on visual assets.
• Ensure that the electronic content is compatible to screen readers.
• Use contrasting colors to make content perceivable.
• Accommodate keyboard navigation.
• Keep text font and size easy to view.
• Create interactive elements that are operable.
• Use Digital Accessible Information Systems (DAISY) audio format.
• Use structured and well-defined headlines and descriptions for a clear content hierarchy
• Add subtitles and captions to videos
• Avoid seizures due to photosensitivity by avoiding any flashing lights or blinking bright elements on the website. 
• Use clear labels in forms for a better understanding.
• Use pop-ups and alerts to help users avoid mistakes. 
• Make it easy to correct mistakes if they occur using options like Back and Edit.
• Use concise language in text content for easy understanding.
• Build website that is compatible with current and future user agents (including assistive technologies).

Why Choose BrowserStack for Accessibility Testing?

Inaccessible websites can alienate users and expose organizations to legal and regulatory risks. Compliance with accessibility standards, such as WCAG, ADA, Section 508, and AODA, is essential not only for meeting legal obligations but for ensuring equitable access for all users.

BrowserStack Accessibility Testing provides a comprehensive solution to help organizations detect, prioritize, and resolve accessibility issues early in the development cycle. Supporting over 10 international accessibility regulations, including WCAG 2.1/2.2, ADA, and EAA, the platform empowers teams to deliver inclusive digital experiences across all devices and user scenarios.

Its proprietary Spectra Engine identifies 60% more issues than conventional tools, while intelligent workflow scanning accelerates testing without slowing down development pipelines.

• Tests on 3500+ real devices and browsers, not emulators or simulators
• Fully supports WCAG 2.1/2.2, ADA, AODA, Section 508, and EAA standards
• Integrates directly with CI/CD pipelines for automated, shift-left testing
• AI-powered issue prioritization and pattern recognition for large-scale audits
• Visual issue detection with contextual code references for faster debugging
• Centralized reporting dashboard for cross-team collaboration and tracking
• Includes real screen reader testing (e.g., NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
• Enables testing across complete user workflows, not just static pages
• Powered by the proprietary Spectra Rule Engine for advanced issue detection
• Focuses on genuine accessibility fixes, not overlay-based solutions
• Part of a trusted QA ecosystem used by 50,000+ development teams globally

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Core Capabilities of BrowserStack Accessibility Testing

BrowserStack’s tools are designed not just to identify compliance gaps, but to support scalable remediation and inclusive design practices across teams and workflows:

• Automated Accessibility Testing: Rapid scans on real devices to uncover code-level violations and common WCAG errors early in development.
• Real Screen Reader Testing: Supports testing with widely used screen readers like NVDA and JAWS to simulate real user experiences.
• Workflow Analyzer: Tests complete user journeys, like registration or checkout flows, to ensure accessibility at every step, not just on static pages.
• AI-Driven Issue Management: Uses machine learning to prioritize and suggest resolutions for accessibility issues, streamlining the remediation process.
• Assisted Testing: Guided workflows help uncover complex issues such as keyboard navigation problems, focus traps, and dynamic content behavior.
• Central Reporting Dashboard: Offers a single view of accessibility issues across teams and projects, with filtering, tracking, and export options.
• Design Toolkit for Accessibility: Helps designers validate choices like color contrast and typography early, building accessible experiences from the design stage.

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Conclusion

AODA compliance ensures Ontario is an accessible and inclusive province for everyone. AODA compliance promotes web accessibility for all. To make AODA compliant website, WCAG 2.0 AA and AAA should be adhered to based on the cut-off timelines. Through its 4 Principles and Guidelines, WCAG offers a detailed framework to test accessibility and ensure that the website has an all-inclusive design.

By running Accessibility Tests based on the WCAG you can keep a check on the AODA compliance of the website and follow all the guidelines to deliver web content that is easily accessible to all.