Website Accessibility Law: Canada (ACA) vs. USA (ADA)
If you operate in North America, you are likely worried about ADA compliance for websites in Canada or the USA. While the laws are different, the technical requirement is the same: WCAG 2.1.
The USA: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is a “complaint-driven” system. In the US, most businesses find out they aren’t compliant when they receive a demand letter from a law firm. There is no central government “checker,” but the courts have consistently ruled that Title III of the ADA applies to websites.
Target Keyword: “Accessibility widget for Shopify” is often searched by US merchants after seeing a surge in e-commerce lawsuits.
Canada: Accessible Canada Act (ACA) & AODA
Canada is moving toward a more “regulatory” model.
- AODA (Ontario): Has strict deadlines and potential fines for non-compliance for organizations with 50+ employees.
- ACA (Federal): Focuses on federal sectors but sets the tone for the entire country.
In Canada, the focus is less on “lawsuits” and more on “administrative penalties” and public reporting.
The Common Denominator: WCAG 2.1
Regardless of which side of the border you are on, the WCAG 2.1 compliance tool is your shield. Both the US and Canadian governments point to WCAG as the definition of “accessible.”
How to Protect Your Brand
- Audit: Perform a scan to find your biggest errors.
- Remediate: Fix the high-impact code errors (labels, alt-text).
- Assist: Use a tool like Sienna to provide a high-quality UI for users who need contrast and font adjustments.
Don’t let borders confuse your compliance strategy. Start your accessibility journey with Sienna.