What the AODA is
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is the Ontario law that creates accessibility standards. Its purpose clause set a goal of accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities by January 1, 2025. That date has passed, and the standards still apply.
Most of the detailed rules sit in one regulation, the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (O. Reg. 191/11), often called the IASR. It sets general requirements, such as policies and training, and five standards.
Two other laws sit alongside it. The Ontario Human Rights Code still requires you to accommodate people with disabilities, and it can require more than the AODA does. And the Ontario Building Code, not the AODA, covers most accessibility requirements for buildings.
Who must comply
The IASR applies to every business and non-profit with at least one employee in Ontario, and to the public sector. If you have no employees in Ontario, you're exempt.
- Businesses and non-profits, from retailers and restaurants to charities and manufacturers.
- Designated public sector organizations, such as municipalities, school boards, hospitals, colleges, universities and public transit.
- The Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly, which have some additional requirements.
Full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract workers can all count as employees. Volunteers and independent contractors aren't counted, but the services they deliver on your behalf still need to meet the standards.
The five standards
The general requirements apply to everyone. Every organization needs accessibility policies, and must train employees and volunteers on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities and on the accessibility requirements that apply to their work. Then come the five standards.
| Standard | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Customer service | Communicating in ways that take disability into account, allowing assistive devices, welcoming service animals and support persons, giving notice of temporary disruptions, and an accessible feedback process |
| Information and communications | Accessible formats and communication supports on request, at no extra cost; accessible emergency information; and accessible public websites for larger and public sector organizations |
| Employment | Accessible hiring, telling staff about accommodation policies, individualized emergency response information, and accessible performance management and career development |
| Transportation | Accessible transit services and vehicles, mainly for transportation providers, with some duties for municipalities and other public sector organizations |
| Design of public spaces | New or redeveloped spaces such as parking, outdoor paths, service counters, waiting areas, recreational trails, beach access routes, play spaces and outdoor eating areas |
For websites, the requirement applies to designated public sector organizations and to businesses and non-profits with 50 or more employees. Public websites and web content posted after January 1, 2012 must meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA, except for live captions and pre-recorded audio descriptions. Our plain-language guide to WCAG 2.2 explains how that fits with newer versions.
What changes with your size
Requirements grow with your organization. This summary follows Ontario's guidance as of October 2026.
| Organization | What's added |
|---|---|
| Business or non-profit, 1 to 19 employees | The general requirements and the five standards as they apply. Documenting policies is recommended. No compliance report. |
| Business or non-profit, 20 to 49 employees | An accessibility compliance report every three years |
| Business or non-profit, 50 or more employees | Documented policies; a multi-year accessibility plan, posted online and reviewed at least every five years; written training records; accessible public websites; documented individual accommodation plans and a return-to-work process |
| Designated public sector organization | Broadly the same as large organizations, plus a multi-year plan developed in consultation with people with disabilities, an annual status report posted online, and a compliance report every two years |
A multi-year accessibility plan sets out your strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet your requirements. It works best when it's built on real information about your spaces and services, such as an accessibility audit.
Compliance reporting
An accessibility compliance report is a self-declaration that you're meeting your current requirements. You file it online through Ontario's Accessibility Compliance Reporting Portal.
- Businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees file every three years. As of October 2026, the next deadline is December 31, 2026.
- Designated public sector organizations file every two years. Their most recent deadline was December 31, 2025, and Ontario asks anyone who missed it to file as soon as possible.
Filing is a legal obligation. Ontario says organizations that don't file could face enforcement measures, which can include financial penalties.
Key point: The business and non-profit deadline is December 31, 2026. Answer each question based on what actually happens in your organization, not only on what your policies say.
Where to start
- Count your Ontario employees to confirm which requirements apply
- Find and update your accessibility policies, and make sure staff and the public know about them
- Check that everyone, including volunteers, has been trained, and keep records if you have 50 or more employees
- Review your multi-year plan and your public website, if they apply to you
- Confirm your feedback process works in more than one format
- Note your reporting deadline and who will file
The AODA sets a minimum. PRISM can help you see where you stand through an audit or training for your team. We don't provide legal advice, so for legal questions, check the regulation itself or speak with a lawyer.
Sources
- Government of Ontario: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
- Government of Ontario: Integrated Accessibility Standards, O. Reg. 191/11
- Government of Ontario: Accessibility rules for businesses and non-profits
- Government of Ontario: Accessibility rules for public sector organizations
- Government of Ontario: Completing your accessibility compliance report
- Government of Ontario: How to make websites accessible
- Government of Ontario: Accessibility in Ontario, what you need to know
- Government of Ontario: A guide to the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (PDF)