Web Accessibility Requirements for Canadian Nonprofits

Web Accessibility Requirements for Canadian Nonprofits: AODA & WCAG Guidelines

As a Canadian nonprofit organization, ensuring your website is accessible and inclusive to all users, regardless of ability, is not only the right thing to do—it’s also legally required. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) mandates that nonprofits follow specific web accessibility guidelines to accommodate users with various disabilities. Let’s dive into what you need to know to make your nonprofit website AODA compliant.

Understanding AODA Web Accessibility Requirements

The AODA sets out clear accessibility standards that apply to nonprofit organizations with 50+ employees as well as all public sector organizations in Ontario. The key requirement is that your website must conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA. But what exactly does that mean?

Overview of WCAG 2.0 Level AA Guidelines

WCAG 2.0 Level AA provides a set of technical specifications to make web content more accessible to a wider range of users with disabilities. Some of the key guidelines include:

  • Providing text alternatives for non-text content like images
  • Ensuring content is structured with proper headings and labels
  • Making all functionality keyboard accessible
  • Providing captions and audio descriptions for videos
  • Ensuring text has sufficient color contrast
  • Allowing text to be resized up to 200% without loss of content or function

Benefits of an Accessible Website

Making your nonprofit website accessible is not only legally required, it also has many benefits:

  1. Expands your potential supporter base
  2. Enhances your organization’s reputation
  3. Improves overall user experience and usability
  4. Helps avoid potential legal issues and complaints

“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” – Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web

How to Make Your Nonprofit Website AODA Compliant

Now that you understand the WCAG requirements, here are some steps to make your nonprofit site AODA compliant:

  1. Audit your current website for accessibility issues
  2. Develop an accessibility statement and provide means for feedback
  3. Provide text alternatives (alt text) for all images, graphics and non-text elements
  4. Ensure your site is fully keyboard accessible
  5. Structure content with proper headings (H1, H2, etc)
  6. Provide captions and transcripts for audio/video content
  7. Ensure sufficient color contrast between text and backgrounds
  8. Allow text to be resized without breaking layouts
  9. Avoid content that flashes more than 3 times per second
  10. Test your site with users who have various disabilities
Learn More About AODA Web Accessibility

Accessibility Resources for Canadian Nonprofits

There are many great resources available to help guide your nonprofit in meeting AODA web accessibility requirements:

By understanding AODA web accessibility requirements and following WCAG guidelines, your nonprofit can create an inclusive website that engages all supporters and complies with the law. While it may seem daunting at first, making your site accessible benefits everyone and is well worth the effort.