What is the AODA?
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a provincial legislation that ensures those who suffer from any type of visible or invisible disability do not experience barriers, discrimination, or difficulty with their day-to-day experiences.
Why is Trent University concerned with the AODA?
In December 2001, the Ontario legislature passed the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA). This piece of legislation was designed to improve full participation of persons with disabilities in all facets of life in Ontario through the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to access.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) received Royal Assent on June 13, 2005. Trent is committed to meeting its obligations under both the AODA and the ODA.
What website standards are required by the AODA?
The required website standards are Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Version 2.0, Level 2 (WCAG 2.0 AA). The legislation however does not require websites to conform to Success Criterion 1.2.4 and 1.2.5. As a rule in the WCAG 2.0 guidelines, you must also provide a proper semantic markup using XHTML or some similar standard.
What is my role in keeping my website accessible?
You are responsible for ensuring that the content that you upload onto your website via the Trent University website content management system follows the accessibility standards outlined in the guidelines in the AODA.
I have ensured a certain accessibility feature has been implemented. Does that mean my website is now accessible?
No. You must implement every guideline that is outlined by WCAG 2.0 on a Priority 2 (A) level.
Once I make my web pages compliant, do I have to worry about these guidelines anymore?
Absolutely. These guidelines and rules will change how you upload content onto your website via the Trent University Website Content Management System for the rest of your career.
Why are there so many rules and guidelines in WCAG 2.0?
Not all people with disabilities have one method to access a web page, nor do all persons with disabilities have the same disability. These guidelines are comprehensive and cover all of the potential issues that a user may come across as a disabled person.
What are the consequences of not complying to WCAG standards?
A major consequence of not complying to standards is that you are creating a barrier between your information and disabled persons trying to access it. Also, while this page does not serve as legal aide, if you are not in compliance with these standards you will be violating provincial law.
Does my intranet website have to meet the standards by January 1, 2021?
"No, you don't have to make your internal website (intranet). If asked, you will need to work with individuals to make the content available to them in an alternate format such as large print or braille." Government of Ontario, How to Make Websites Accessible
