How to Make Your Website AODA Compliant: A Complete Guide

If your business or organization operates in Ontario, Canada, ensuring your digital presence is AODA compliant isn’t just best practice—it’s the law. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was created to remove barriers for people with disabilities across all public-facing services, including websites and web applications.

With deadlines already passed for many organizations, now is the time to take action and ensure your website meets AODA compliance standards.

What Does AODA Compliant Mean?

Being AODA compliant means your website or digital content meets the accessibility standards set out by Ontario’s accessibility legislation. AODA incorporates the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, developed by the W3C, to ensure that websites are accessible to users with various disabilities.

As of January 1, 2021, all public sector organizations and private or non-profit organizations with 50+ employees in Ontario must have websites that conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.

Failure to comply with AODA can result in hefty fines—up to $100,000 per day—and significant damage to your brand’s reputation.

Why AODA Compliance Matters

Legal Requirement

Under Ontario law, digital accessibility is mandatory for most organizations. Meeting the AODA standards helps you avoid legal consequences and demonstrates regulatory responsibility.

Inclusivity and Equal Access

Roughly 1 in 5 Canadians live with a disability. Ensuring your website is AODA compliant allows everyone to navigate and interact with your content equally—improving user experience for all.

Boosts SEO and Usability

Accessible websites often rank better on search engines due to clean code, faster performance, and improved content structure.

Brand Trust and Customer Loyalty

Organizations that prioritize accessibility are seen as inclusive and socially responsible—traits that attract and retain loyal customers.

Key Features of an AODA Compliant Website

To achieve AODA compliance, your website should follow the POUR principles of WCAG 2.0:

Perceivable: Information must be presented in ways users can recognize (e.g., alt text for images, captions for videos).

Operable: All functionality should be usable by keyboard and assistive technologies.

Understandable: Content should be easy to read and navigate with consistent layout and behavior.

Robust: Your site must work well with various devices, browsers, and assistive technologies.

How WebAbility Can Help You Become AODA Compliant

At WebAbility.io, we specialize in making websites fully AODA compliant through comprehensive audits, technical fixes, and accessibility enhancements. Our experienced team helps businesses across Ontario and beyond meet digital accessibility standards quickly and affordably.

Our AODA compliance services include:

Accessibility audits & reports

WCAG 2.0 Level AA remediation

Assistive technology testing

Ongoing compliance monitoring

Document and PDF accessibility solutions

We don’t just stop at automated tools. We combine real-user testing with expert evaluations to ensure your website meets both technical and practical accessibility standards.

Take the First Step Toward AODA Compliance Today

Making your website AODA compliant isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about opening your digital doors to everyone.

Ready to get started? Contact WebAbility today to schedule a free consultation and start your path to full AODA compliance.