For Canadians, by Canadians

Make your website
accessible to everyone.

Web accessibility means building websites and apps that everyone can use — including the 6.2 million Canadians living with a disability. This guide covers Canadian law, WCAG standards, and practical implementation, all in plain language.

Get started WCAG explained

Find guidance for your role

Accessibility responsibilities are shared. Choose your role to jump to the most relevant guidance.

  • Designer

    Colour, typography, and layout decisions that include everyone

    • Colour contrast (AAA)
    • Focus states
    • Typography & spacing
    • Motion & animation safety
    Start with Design Principles

  • Developer

    Semantic HTML, ARIA, keyboard nav, and testing tools

    • Semantic HTML patterns
    • ARIA roles & usage
    • Keyboard navigation
    • Automated + manual testing
    Start with Development Practices

  • Content Author

    Writing that everyone can read, understand, and act on

    • Plain language writing
    • Meaningful link text
    • Alt text for images
    • Accessible document structure
    Start with Plain Language

  • Leadership

    Legal obligations, procurement, and building an accessible culture

    • Canadian legal requirements
    • Procurement & vendor evaluation
    • Organizational roles
    • Compliance timelines
    Start with the Legal Framework

Why web accessibility matters

  • of Canadians live with a disability

    That's over 6.2 million people. Inaccessible websites shut them out of services, information, and economic participation.

  • Federal and provincial requirements apply

    The Accessible Canada Act (2019), AODA (Ontario), and the Canadian Human Rights Act create legal obligations for most Canadian organizations.

  • of users benefit from accessible design

    Captions help in noisy environments. Keyboard nav helps power users. Clear language helps everyone. Accessibility is good design.

  • 2.1 AA is the Canadian baseline

    Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA is what Canadian law and best practice both reference as the minimum standard.

Where to start

Not sure where to begin? These are the most useful first pages on this site.

Is your organization legally required to be accessible?

The Accessible Canada Act (2019) applies to federally regulated organizations — banks, telecoms, broadcasters, the federal government, and more. Ontario's AODA applies to most businesses and non-profits in the province. The Canadian Human Rights Act covers all federal organizations and provides complaint mechanisms.

Penalties for non-compliance can reach $250,000 per violation under the ACA. Understanding which law applies to you is the first step.

Which law applies to me? Read the ACA summary