When discussing accessibility best practices and the rights of people with disabilities, two of the most important pieces of legislation passed are the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Accessible Canada Act (ACA). Both share many similarities, the main difference being regional.
Keep reading to learn more about the ADA equivalent in Canada, the importance of the ACA and Canadian Human Rights Act for businesses, and how an accessibility widget like Accessibly can assist business owners and web developers to increase compliance.
What Is The ACA (Accessible Canada Act)?
Enacted in 2019, the ACA (Accessible Canada Act) is a landmark federal legislation; a series of Canadian accessibility laws that promise full accessibility and inclusion to all Canadians for goods and services throughout the public and private sectors, from brick-and-mortar locations to government websites.
Long known as Canada’s ADA equivalent, it recognizes several barriers to accessibility, including physical and technological barriers in areas such as transportation, hospitality, offices at federally regulated entities, and even the local supermarket.
To combat discriminatory practices and remove barriers to accessibility, the ACA is responsible for developing laws and enforcing provisions, including accessibility standards, designating officers to oversee compliance, penalties for non-compliance, and appointing various government entities like the Canadian Transportation Agency, various federal and provincial businesses, and the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization (CASDO), which is responsible for developing accessibility laws and making timely recommendations to the government.
Some of the standards under the Accessible Canada Act include:
- Built Environment: Creating innovative accessibility plans meeting ACA compliance for the mobility-impaired to enter and exit buildings with proper use and design of wheelchair ramps, wider pathways, and easier access to restrooms. Naturally, this calls for many custom specifications to remove accessibility barriers with slope, minimum width, height, and other specific measurements required for persons with disabilities to move freely.
- Transportation: Like the above, accessibility is crucial at bus stops, terminals, and other transportation infrastructure so that people with disabilities can enjoy full and equal access.
- Communication: Accessibility requirements mean going beyond standard audio and video formatting and introducing new information options for disabled persons, such as sign language, screen readers, and other visual or contextual aids.
- Establishment of an Accessibility Commissioner: The Accessibility Commissioner (chief accessibility officer) is responsible for enforcing all accessibility laws at the federal jurisdiction level, ensuring ACA in public spaces, interpreting how the act applies, issuing compliance orders across information and communication technologies, public services, and more.
Who Does The ACA Apply To?
Canadian accessibility legislation does not strictly apply to persons with disabilities. The ACA applies to federal agencies, public and private businesses, banks, telecommunications providers, transportation providers, and any supplier to the Canadian government under its purview.
One important distinction with the resulting Accessible Canada Act is how funding is intertwined. Breaking ACA requirements could immediately disqualify businesses contracted to the government from receiving funding or much-needed aid. This is yet another reason to ensure full compliance with the Accessible Canada Act.
Canadian Accessibility Regulations and Requirements
The ACA and the government of Canada advocate for accessibility regulations and requirements in several areas.
For example, employment accessibility regulations require accommodations for individuals with disabilities in the workplace. These may include making job postings more visible, conducting caption interviews, or using assistive technology to make work presentations easier.
Other areas may focus on information and communication technology. In this case, Canadian authorities may lean towards the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a set of best practices for web accessibility based on four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust, as well as three levels of performance: A, AA, and AAA (best).
Individual Canadian provinces may have their own accessibility standards. For example, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) applies to Ontarians only, removing barriers to customer service, information, and communication standards.
Let’s Talk About Accessibility with Accessibly
Accessibly offers an innovative way for web developers to be more ACA compliant, creating the most inclusive environment possible for the disability community.
This widget incorporates several digital accessibility best practices, allowing web developers and site owners to include larger text, more extensive color choices, various contrast selections, and dozens of other features, making it easier for the cognitively, visually, and auditorily impaired to enjoy equal and full access to content.Accessibly is supported on 10+ platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Joomla, and Webflow. Let’s work to prevent barriers and fix accessibility issues for Canadians with disabilities. Try out Accessibly with a free trial today.
