Employers in Ontario are required to make their workplaces
accessible. As of January 1, 2021, accessibility
standards will extend to the internet websites and web content
controlled by "large organizations" with 50 or more
employees.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act,
2005 (the "AODA") establishes accessibility
standards in Ontario. The AODA imposes accessibility deadlines
based on the size and nature of the organization. For example,
organizations with 20+ employees will be required to file an
Accessibility Compliance Report by June 30,
2021.
There are objective standards for what accessible online content
entails, specifically the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
2.0 ("WCAG"), Level AA (the intermediate
standard). The Government of Ontario has also provided a useful
summary of AODA and WCAG requirements here. Note that the pending accessibility
deadline does not apply to intranets. Moreover, two of the more
costly and complex criteria
