The digital world has become so consuming at every touchpoint in our lives, that is in a very real sense, how we now experience the world. Think about it. We do everything online; building relationships, ordering meals, consuming entertainment, right down to purchasing day-to-day necessities. It’s how we work, how we play, how we live.
However, around 15% of our population has a disability that can hinder them from using the everyday digital tools we love. Can you imagine life restricted to living offline, unable to navigate the platforms that now support our daily life, in some very essential and meaningful ways?
Creating an accessible website requires proper planning and understanding of the long list of WCAG requirements. Some of the items to consider are text screen readers, descriptive alt text for images, sharp colour contrast, captions to videos, and making sure the user can navigate the website with only a keyboard. And even once your site launches, continually monitoring all new improvements or content uploads is recommended to remain compliant with accessibility standards.
If you have an Ontario-based private or public business with 50+ employees, AODA Compliance will impact you.
In the last couple years, Crew has taken the initiative to be proactive regarding website accessibility. We have been connecting with accessibility experts on how AODA will affect our clients in Ontario and soon enough Canada. While Ontario was the first province to be mandated to comply, more provinces will follow. Below is critical info on next steps for 2021.
Ontario Deadline
Ontario has extended the deadline to file an AODA accessibility compliance report to June 30, 2021, from an original date of December 31, 2020.
A business with 20-49 employees, you must file an Accessibility Compliance Report by June 30, 2021.
Fines
Ontario organizations that fail to comply could face a fine of up to $50,000 – $100,000 per day of non-compliance.
Training
Ontario offers free training to businesses to succeed with accessibility.
Want to learn more about the key information business owners need to know? Head over to our friends at Equidox.
Interested in guidelines for website accessibility? Check out this list from Siteimprove.
If you need support ensuring your website presence is compliant and not at risk of being fined, reach out to our team. We’d love to connect with you if you have any questions, or need help understanding how this impacts your business. CREW’s web team is prepared to help.