Accessibility regulations
A reference to the accessibility laws and standards most often behind our engagements — Canadian federal and provincial legislation first, followed by the major international frameworks.
Laws in Canada, the United States and Europe that require accessible websites and documents, and the standards they point to.
Applies to the Government of Canada and federally regulated sectors such as banking, telecommunications and transportation.
Who it applies to: Federally regulated organizations: the Government of Canada, Crown corporations, banks, telecommunications, broadcasting and interprovincial transportation. Requires accessibility plans, feedback processes and progress reports.
Technical standard: CAN/ASC-EN 301 549:2024, adopted by Accessibility Standards Canada; WCAG 2.1 AA as the web baseline.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Sets when and how federally regulated organizations publish accessibility plans, feedback processes and progress reports, including accessible formats on request.
Technical standard: Publication must itself be accessible; plans are updated every three years.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Government of Canada websites and web applications.
Technical standard: WCAG 2.0 AA, being superseded by the Standard on ICT Accessibility referencing EN 301 549.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by federally regulated service providers and employers, including through inaccessible services.
Technical standard: Duty to accommodate; no technical standard named.
Read the official sourceRequirements differ by province. Several standards are still being developed, so timelines change.
Who it applies to: Public sector and private or non-profit organizations with 50 or more employees in Ontario. Information and Communications Standard (O. Reg. 191/11).
Technical standard: WCAG 2.0 AA for public websites and web content (excluding live captions and pre-recorded audio description).
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Public and private organizations in Manitoba. The Accessible Information and Communication Standard applies to the public sector first, then businesses.
Technical standard: WCAG 2.1 AA for websites and web content.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Public sector bodies and, as standards are adopted, private organizations. Goal of an accessible province by 2030.
Technical standard: Information and communication standard in development; WCAG used as the reference.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Provincial government and prescribed public-sector organizations, which must have accessibility committees, plans and feedback tools.
Technical standard: Standards under development; plans should reference WCAG.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Public bodies, with standards to extend to other sectors.
Technical standard: Accessibility plans required; technical standards under development.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Ministries and public bodies. Government standards SGQRI 008 2.0 cover websites, documents and multimedia.
Technical standard: SGQRI 008 2.0, aligned with WCAG 2.0 AA.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Government and prescribed public-sector bodies, which must publish accessibility plans.
Technical standard: Standards being developed.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Public sector and, in phases, private organizations.
Technical standard: Standards in development, including information and communications.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Public bodies first, with standards to follow for other sectors.
Technical standard: Standards in development.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: No dedicated accessibility act yet. Human rights legislation in each jurisdiction still requires services to accommodate people with disabilities.
Technical standard: Organizations commonly adopt WCAG 2.1 AA as good practice.
Read the official sourceRelevant when you sell to US government buyers, serve the public in the US, or offer products and services in Europe, the UK or Australia.
Who it applies to: US federal agencies, and the ICT they develop, buy, maintain or use. Vendors document conformance with an ACR.
Technical standard: Revised 508 Standards incorporating WCAG 2.0 AA.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: State and local governments (Title II) and places of public accommodation (Title III). The 2024 Title II rule sets web and mobile app deadlines from 2026.
Technical standard: WCAG 2.1 AA under the Title II rule.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Products and services sold in the EU, including e-commerce, banking, e-books, transport and telecoms. Applies from 28 June 2025.
Technical standard: EN 301 549 (incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA).
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Public-sector websites and mobile apps in EU member states, with a published accessibility statement.
Technical standard: EN 301 549.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Service providers (Equality Act) and public-sector websites and apps (2018 Regulations).
Technical standard: WCAG 2.2 AA for the public sector.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: Organizations providing goods, services and information in Australia.
Technical standard: WCAG 2.1 AA referenced by government guidance.
Read the official sourceMost laws point to the same small set of technical standards, which is what an audit measures against.
Who it applies to: The W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the technical basis of almost every law above.
Technical standard: Levels A, AA and AAA.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: European standard for ICT products and services, adopted in Canada as CAN/ASC-EN 301 549.
Technical standard: Covers web, documents, software, hardware and support services.
Read the official sourceWho it applies to: International standard for universally accessible PDF documents.
Technical standard: ISO 14289-1 and 14289-2.
Read the official sourceThis page is a general summary for orientation, current as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Requirements, deadlines and thresholds change; confirm obligations with the official source or legal counsel.
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