Watch our video to learn more about AODA compliance. We explain all you need to know about AODA in just five minutes! Or read a summary of the video below.
If you’re a business owner in Ontario, you’ve probably heard the term AODA recently or seen it floating around online, but what does it actually mean?
AODA stands for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. New regulations came into place on January 1st, 2021, requiring all companies with 50 or more employees to make their corporate website AODA compliant. AODA allows people with disabilities to effectively use the web without barriers and engage with their online communities.
What does that mean? It means accessible websites are now critical to your business.
Why Does Your Website Need to be AODA Compliant?
Well, there are several reasons, and the first is simple:
1. Help people with disabilities.
Did you know 5.4% of all Canadians have a visual disability and 4.8% of all Canadians have a hearing impairment? That’s ~10% of the Canadian population! Think of all your advertising initiatives that lead back to your website. 1 out of 10 Canadians may be unable to access the information if your website is not accessible.
2. Become an equal opportunity employer.
Equal opportunities in your workplace begin when individuals apply to your company—making the ‘career page’ on your website accessible means allowing people using screen readers to hear and interact with your website content.
3. Avoid fines.
AODA compliance is the law, and corporations in Ontario are now facing hefty fines for not being compliant.
Is My Website AODA Compliant?
AODA compliance includes everything about your website, from design to development. We’ve listed three steps that will help you figure out if your website is currently compliant:
1. AChecker
Use AChecker to test if your website’s HTML content is compliant with AODA. All you have to do is input your website address, and the online tool will assess your website content for errors.
2. Design
Unfortunately, AChecker is unable to read images. If your website has text over a graphic, it will go undetected. So it’s critical to review your website’s design to ensure the content is accessible for the person viewing it.
3. Assets
You also must evaluate the assets on your website, such as videos or downloadable forms. Do your videos have subtitles? If they don’t, people with hearing impairments cannot listen to the content, which is why accessible assets are essential!
AODA is an incredible new standard helping to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. Making your corporate website accessible means allowing all people to interact with your content. It’s good for the population of Ontario, and it’s great for your business!
If you have any questions about AODA, reach out to us – we’d be happy to review your website for AODA compliance! Contact us and claim your free assessment today!
