Is there a Specific Law for Website Accessibility in Alberta?

As of the last update, there is no specific provincial digital accessibility legislation in Alberta. In the absence of a provincial mandate, national Canadian legislation is applicable. Non-compliance can result in fines up to $250,000.

What is the Accessible Canada Act?

This act, also known as the Act to Ensure a Barrier-Free Canada, was passed to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility for persons with disabilities. It mandates compliance for digital content and technology for Parliament, the Government of Canada, and federally-regulated organizations in the private sector, including sectors such as banking, telecommunications, and transportation industries.

Is it Necessary to Hire Someone for a Website Accessibility Audit?

While software can be useful in testing website accessibility, it’s limited. Manual testing by experts with knowledge of visible and non-evident disabilities is essential as most WCAG requirements cannot be verified by software alone.

What is the Standard on Web Accessibility in Canada?

Established in 2011, this standard directly addresses web accessibility standards, mandating that government websites meet accessibility web standards by conforming to WCAG requirements.

How Does the Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977 Relate to Web Accessibility?

While this act did not specifically address web accessibility, it has been interpreted to require websites to provide accessible content to persons with disabilities, including employment listings and other web content.

What does WCAG mean?

WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which are a set of recommendations for making web content more accessible, primarily for people with disabilities.

What is the Difference Between WCAG 2.0 and 2.1?

WCAG 2.1 builds on WCAG 2.0 by adding one new Guideline and seventeen new Success Criteria. Websites or PDFs that pass WCAG 2.1, Level AA, will also pass WCAG 2.0, Level AA.

Can Alberta Government Websites Be Navigated Without a Mouse?

Yes, these sites can be navigated using a keyboard or assistive device. Visitors can use ‘Skip to Navigation’ and ‘Skip to Content’ links or the Tab key to jump between links on the page.

What Accessibility Standards Do Alberta Government Websites Follow?

Alberta government web pages conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines of the W3C and are designed to be accessible for visually impaired or blind visitors using screen reading software.