The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is Canada’s first federal law dedicated to proactively identifying, removing, and preventing barriers to accessibility in areas under federal jurisdiction. Enacted in 2019, the ACA covers a broad spectrum of sectors, including federal government departments, Crown corporations, banking, telecommunications, and transportation. The Act was shaped through extensive consultations with people with diverse abilities, ensuring their lived experiences informed its provisions.

The ACA requires federally regulated organizations to proactively identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility in their operations. This includes developing and publishing accessibility plans, consulting with people with diverse abilities, establishing feedback mechanisms, and reporting regularly on progress. The ACA mandates compliance with accessibility standards in areas such as information and communication technologies (ICT), employment, transportation, and public services, ensuring digital content and platforms meet or exceed recognized accessibility guidelines.

All federally regulated organizations must comply with the ACA. This includes federal government bodies, Crown corporations, banks, telecommunications companies, and transportation agencies operating at the national level. Compliance is enforced by authorities like the Accessibility Commissioner and the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which can investigate, audit, and impose penalties for non-compliance.

ContentA11y specializes in digital accessibility remediation, offering comprehensive audits, accessible web and document design, and ongoing support to ensure your organization meets ACA requirements. Our team works closely with clients to develop accessibility plans, implement feedback mechanisms, and provide training, ensuring full compliance and a seamless digital experience for everyone.