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Website Accessibility Requirement (AODA)

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By January 1, 2021, all designated public sector organizations, as well as private and nonprofit organizations with 50 or more employees in Ontario, must ensure their internet websites and web content on those sites conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA, other than:

  • success criteria 1.2.4 Captions (Live); and
  • success criteria 1.2.5 Audio Descriptions (Pre-recorded).

“Internet website” is defined in the AODA as a collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are accessible to the public.  “Web content” includes documents such as Word, PDFs, and PowerPoint presentations. 

The requirements apply to:

  • internet websites and web content, including web-based applications, that an organization controls directly or through a contractual relationship that allows for modification of the product; and
  • web content published on an internet website after January 1, 2012.

Private/non-profit organizations with less than 50 employees in Ontario are not required to meet this requirement.

If you are not sure how to make your website accessible and compliant with the AODA, we can audit your site to identify accessibility issues and tell you how to remediate them.

Request a quote to get a website accessibility audit.

 

Accessibility Compliance Report

By December 31, 2020, all designated public sector organizations, as well as private and nonprofit organizations with 20 or more employees in Ontario, must file an Accessibility Compliance Report.

The purpose of the report is to confirm for the Government of Ontario that your organization has met its current accessibility requirements under the AODA.  It contains such questions as:

  • Does your organization have written accessibility policies and a statement of commitment?
  • Does your organization provide appropriate training on the AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation and the Human Rights Code as it pertains to people with disabilities?
  • Does your organization have a process to provide accessible formats and communication supports to people with disabilities in a timely manner and at no extra cost?

Learn more about how to submit your Compliance Report.

How to Evaluate Your Website’s Accessibility

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This hands-on workshop will give participants the knowledge and tools required to gauge the accessibility of web content. The session will take an applied look at Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) by explaining how to assess and implement each web accessibility success-criterion. The workshop includes a hands-on exercise where participants will get a chance to review a website or document against WCAG 2.0. 

Learning outcomes

By completing this workshop, participants will:

  • Gain an in depth understanding of WCAG 2.0 Principles, Guidelines and Success Criteria from a testing perspective
  • Be able to identify testable criteria for web accessibility
  • Use testing methods such as operating a site with a screen reader and testing for alternative control navigation
  • Become familiar with testing tools and resources

Excellent workshop! Handy checklist and helpful information to understand WCAG.

Target Audience:

This workshop is appropriate for Communication Specialists, IT Managers, Web Developers, and Marketing Managers.

Take Away:

Participants will be given a digital website accessibility audit checklist and list of testing tools.

Having taken the “How to Evaluate Your Website’s Accessibility” training, I feel far more confident in helping our clients navigate and  fulfill the AODA web accessibility requirements.  (Launchbox)

Prerequisites:

Some basic knowledge of HTML is required for this course. If you are not familiar with HTML, we recommend taking the free interactive online course on HTML. Details on this course will be sent with the workshop registration confirmation.

Laptop computers and headphones are needed in order to participate in the hands-on exercise.

Programs will need to be loaded on to participants’ computers for the exercises.  Contact Accessibility Services Canada if you need your IT department to do this ahead of time.

 

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by a Web Accessibility Specialist
  • Small class size 
  • Accessibility Compliance Evaluation Checklist
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request. 

Strategies for Website Accessibility

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This workshop provides a technical explanation of how to create and maintain an accessible website. Web developers will come away with a deep understanding of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, the AODA requirements for website accessibility, and how to achieve WCAG 2.1 conformance.

Topics covered include:

  • WCAG 2.1: In-depth overview of Guidelines and Techniques
  • WCAG 2.1 Success Criteria: how to achieve conformance
  • Introduction to accessibility evaluation
  • Tool support for WCAG 2.1
  • Additional guidance and tips

Take Away:

Participants will be given a handout listing website accessibility tools and other key references.

Interactive discussions and examples. A great workshop!

Knowledgeable presenter who gave specific mark-up examples and was able to answer questions.

Great practical advice! Easy to understand concepts.

The de-mystifiying of WCAG was very helpful!

Just right for getting the basics. Perfect length and content.

 

Prerequisite: Some basic knowledge of HTML is required for this course.

I really liked the amount of content covered and the use of visual examples to see how the content relates to real, live websites.

The workshop opened my eyes to the importance of accessibility issues.

 

  INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

  • High quality instruction by a Web Accessibility Specialist
  • Small class size 
  • Accessibility Compliance Evaluation Checklist
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

WCAG Updated! New 2.1 version

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In June 2018, the World Wide Web Consortium issued an expanded version of  the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.0, adding 17 new success criteria. The new criteria, called the WCAG 2.1, is an extension of the WCAG 2.0 standards and updates include ones relating to mobile devices; disabilities that affect vision, such as low vision; and disabilities that affect cognitive function, such as attention deficit disorder and age-related cognitive decline.

This 60-minute webinar will cover the recent changes to the WCAG and outline the aspects that will and will not change as a result of this refresh. Participants will gain knowledge about the goals of the new standard and the 17 new success criteria that have been added to the standard to support these goals. 

Learning outcomes

By completing this workshop, participants will:

  • Learn about the overarching goals of WCAG 2.1 
  • Understand the process behind the development of the new standard
  • Learn about the 17 new success criteria in the WCAG 2.1
  • Receive information about plans to integrate WCAG 2.1 into legislation internationally.

Note: This workshop is ideal for those who are already familiar with WCAG 2.0 and web accessibility concepts. We suggest our January 29th “Introduction to Website Accessibility” webinar as a good complement to this WCAG 2.1 webinar.

Great presentation as always. 🙂

  INCLUDED IN THE WEBINAR:

  • High quality instruction by a Web Accessibility Specialist
  • Resources about WCAG 2.1
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request. 

Introduction to Website Accessibility

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Many people have difficulty understanding the website accessibility requirements under the AODA. This webinar will give you a understanding of how websites can be made accessible. Participants will learn about the background and theory of website accessibility, how accessibility effects visitors to your site, and what changes you can immediately make to increase the accessibility of your website.

1 in 7 people in Ontario currently have a disability and this is expected to rise to 1 in 5 by 2036 as the population ages. By having an accessible website, you are including people with disabilities – whether they be clients, employees, or the public. By understanding accessibility issues and the strategies to tackle them, your organization can communicate more effectively while complying with legal and moral responsibilities.

Who should attend this webinar

Anyone who is responsible for website design and development, content creation, and content posting, as well as anyone who oversees the work of such staff. This includes all Executive Directors/CEOs, Communication Managers, Document Creators, Communication or Accessibility Coordinators, Website Content Managers, Website Developers, Marketing Managers, Administrative Assistants.

What You Will Walk Away With:

At the end of this webinar, participants will have a understanding of:

  • Website accessibility and factors that create barriers
  • How to overcome digital accessibility barriers
  • How people will disabilities use assistive technologies to navigate the internet
  • How how web accessibility impacts organizations
  • WCAG 2.1- the newly updated website accessibility standard

Maximizing the Value of these Webinars

Registration entitles you to one Internet connection and an unlimited number of participants from your organization in one listening room. Tap into your training budget. Ask your HR group or manager to underwrite the webinar as part of your organization’s ongoing staff development effort.

  INCLUDED IN THE WEBINAR:

  • High quality instruction by a Web Accessibility Specialist
  • A chance to network with other professionals
  • Official recognition for your participation (that you can share on LinkedIn, Facebook or your resume)

 

Accommodations

Accommodations available upon request. 

WCAG 2.1 – Updated Website Accessibility Standards

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In June 2018, the World Wide Web Consortium issued an expanded version of  the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.0, adding 17 new success criteria. The new criteria, called the WCAG 2.1, is an extension of the WCAG 2.0 standards and updates include ones relating to mobile devices; disabilities that affect vision, such as low vision; and disabilities that affect cognitive function, such as attention deficit disorder and age-related cognitive decline.

On October 15th, we are hosting a 45-minute webinar that will cover the recent changes to the WCAG and outline the aspects that will and will not change as a result of this refresh. Participants will gain knowledge about the goals of the new standard and the 17 new success criteria that have been added to the standard to support these goals.

Register for our WCAG 2.1 webinar.

computer with assistive devices