Accessible Canada Act (ACA) Guide – Compliance, Requirements, and Best Practices

The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a federal law aimed at eliminating barriers and improving accessibility across Canada. This guide provides a clear overview of the ACA’s purpose, scope, and key compliance requirements. It is designed to help organizations understand their responsibilities, implement accessibility measures, and align with best practices for creating inclusive environments.

Building a Barrier-Free Canada by 2040

The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a landmark piece of federal legislation enacted in 2019 with a bold and ambitious goal: to realize a barrier-free Canada by January 1, 2040. The ACA marks a shift in accessibility policy from reactive to proactive—meaning that organizations must identify and remove barriers before they exclude individuals, particularly people with disabilities.

At DigitalA11Y, we believe digital inclusion is a fundamental right. Our team works with organizations to understand and comply with laws like the ACA, helping to make the digital world usable and welcoming for everyone.

What Is the Accessible Canada Act?

The ACA is Canada’s first federal law that directly addresses accessibility across a wide range of industries and services under federal jurisdiction. It was developed through extensive consultation with persons with disabilities and reflects their insights, challenges, and lived experiences.

The Act applies to:

• Federal government departments and agencies
• Crown corporations
• Parliament
• Federally regulated private sector organizations (e.g., banking, telecommunications, transportation)

Core Principles of the ACA

The ACA is guided by key principles rooted in human rights and disability inclusion:

• Everyone must be treated with dignity.
• Everyone must have equal opportunity to participate in society.
• Everyone must be able to make their own choices.
• Laws and policies should respect the diverse needs of all Canadians.
• Accessibility benefits everyone.
• Persons with disabilities must be involved in designing laws, policies, programs, and services.

Priority Areas of Accessibility

The ACA focuses on seven key domains, where barriers commonly exist. Organizations must actively work to remove and prevent barriers in these areas:

1. Employment – Foster inclusive recruitment, training, and workplace practices.
2. Built Environment – Ensure physical spaces—buildings, offices, and facilities—are accessible to all.
3. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) – This includes websites, applications, and digital platforms.
4. Communication (Beyond ICT) – Offer information in accessible formats such as Braille, large print, plain language, or ASL.
5. Procurement – Embed accessibility in purchasing policies and contracts.
6. Programs and Services – Ensure services are accessible from inception to delivery.
7. Transportation – Make travel accessible for all passengers.

Digital Accessibility Under the ACA

Digital accessibility plays a major role in meeting ACA requirements. Federally regulated organizations are expected to comply with standards such as WCAG 2.0 Level AA, ensuring that their – Websites, intranets, mobile apps, customer service portals, public-facing documents – are usable for people with disabilities.

At DigitalA11Y, we support organizations with accessibility audits, remediation, training, and testing to meet these obligations.

Organizational Responsibilities Under the ACA

To comply with the ACA, organizations must:

1. Develop and Publish an Accessibility Plan
2. Consult People with Disabilities
3. Establish Feedback Mechanisms
4. Report on Progress

Enforcement and Oversight

Compliance with the ACA is monitored and enforced by designated authorities, including:

• The Accessibility Commissioner (investigations, audits, penalties)
• The Canadian Human Rights Commission (discrimination complaints)

Why ACA Compliance Matters

• Legal Requirement: Non-compliance can lead to financial penalties and legal repercussions.
• Social Responsibility: Accessibility is about creating equal opportunity.
• Business Advantage: Improves usability and brand reputation.
• Inclusive Innovation: Leads to more user-friendly products.

How DigitalA11Y Can Help

We offer accessibility solutions tailored to ACA compliance:

• Accessibility Audits
• Remediation Support
• VPAT/ACR Creation
• Training for Developers, Designers, and QA Teams
• Accessibility Statement Creation
• Feedback Mechanism Design
• Customized Accessibility Plans
• Consultation Services