AODA Compliance Checklist: Free WCAG 2.0 AA Web Steps

Your organization

Show everythingBusiness or non-profit, 1 to 19 employeesBusiness or non-profit, 20 to 49 employeesBusiness or non-profit, 50+ employeesPublic sector organization

24 items apply.

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How to use

Pick your organization type

Choose 1 to 19 employees, 20 to 49, 50 or more, public sector, or Show everything. The checklist hides duties that do not apply, such as the website rule for small businesses.

Work through each group

Go through obligations, website and documents, policies and training, employment, and reporting. Each item explains the duty in a sentence. Tick it when done, or add a status and note.

Export for your records

Use Copy as Markdown, CSV or PDF. The PDF is dated and names the organization type you selected, which helps when you prepare your compliance report. Save progress file keeps a copy.

Why AODA Compliance Checklist

Filters AODA duties by organization size and sector.
Covers the website standard, documents, policies, training, employment and reporting.
Four statuses and notes per item for your compliance records.
Export Markdown, CSV or a dated PDF, and save progress to a file.

AODA requirements by organization size

Most AODA duties depend on how many employees you have in Ontario and whether you are in the public sector. The table summarizes the main ones the checklist tracks. Public sector organizations carry every duty in the list, plus accessible procurement.

Duty	1 to 19	20 to 49	50+	Public sector
Customer service policies and staff training	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Accessible feedback and formats on request	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tell job applicants accommodation is available	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Publish written accessibility policies	No	No	Yes	Yes
Multi-year accessibility plan	No	No	Yes	Yes
Website to WCAG 2.0 AA	No	No	Yes	Yes
Accessibility compliance report	No	Every 3 years	Every 3 years	Public sector cycle
Accessible procurement	No	No	No	Yes

AODA penalties and enforcement

Ontario enforces AODA through compliance reports, inspections, compliance orders and administrative penalties. An order can set a date by which a problem must be fixed. Fines on conviction sit at the far end of that process, for organizations that ignore orders or keep failing to comply.

Keep dated evidence of your work: scan reports, training records, your published policies and your multi-year plan. It makes an audit request much easier to answer.

Corporations: up to $100,000 per day on conviction.
Individuals and unincorporated organizations: up to $50,000 per day on conviction.
Directors and officers: can be fined personally if they knowingly allow a violation.
Compliance reports: must be certified by someone with authority to bind the organization, so false or late reports carry their own risk.

Common questions

Who has to comply with AODA website requirements?

Businesses and non-profits with 50 or more employees in Ontario, and public sector organizations such as municipalities, school boards, hospitals, colleges and the Government of Ontario. The rule applies to public websites and web content they control. Smaller organizations are not covered by the website rule but have other AODA duties.

What WCAG level does AODA require?

WCAG 2.0 Level AA, with two exceptions: live captions (1.2.4) and prerecorded audio description (1.2.5). The requirement has applied to covered websites since January 1, 2021.

What are the fines for not complying with AODA?

On conviction, the Act allows fines of up to $50,000 per day for individuals and unincorporated organizations, and up to $100,000 per day for corporations. Directors and officers who knowingly allow a violation can also be fined. The province can issue compliance orders and administrative penalties before a case reaches court.

When is the next AODA compliance report due?

Businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees file every three years, and the current cycle is due by December 31, 2026. Public sector organizations report on their own cycle. Confirm your date on Ontario's accessibility compliance reporting page before you file.

Does AODA apply to businesses outside Ontario?

AODA duties apply to organizations that provide goods, services or facilities and have at least one employee in Ontario. The employee thresholds count your Ontario staff. A company based elsewhere with no Ontario employees is generally not covered.

Do PDFs on my site need to meet AODA?

Yes, for covered organizations. Documents posted on your website are web content, so they need to meet WCAG 2.0 AA unless they fall under the pre-2012 exemption. Either way, you must provide an accessible format if someone asks.

Do Ontario businesses with under 50 employees have AODA duties?

Yes. They must set customer service policies, train staff, make feedback processes accessible, provide accessible formats on request and tell job applicants that accommodation is available. Those with 20 or more employees also file compliance reports. Pick your size in the checklist to see the list.

Is scanning against WCAG 2.1 overkill for AODA?

No, it is a practical shortcut. WCAG 2.1 AA includes every WCAG 2.0 AA criterion plus a few more, so a site that meets 2.1 AA also meets what AODA asks for. Our scanner uses WCAG 2.1 rules for that reason.

Is web content from before 2012 exempt from AODA?

Content first published before January 1, 2012 does not have to meet the WCAG requirement. If someone asks for it in an accessible format, you must provide one. Content you update or republish is treated as new.

Does the AODA checklist export include items hidden by the filter?

No. Markdown, CSV and PDF exports include only the items shown for the organization type you picked. Choose Show everything to export the full list. Ticks on hidden items are kept and reappear when you switch back.