guide
ACA for government: requirements, priorities, and audit checklist
ACA compliance for public-sector sites requires applying Accessible Canada Act to the specific failure points typical of the government industry — including inaccessible pdf forms and notices, inaccessible kiosks and ticketing terminals, outdated cms platforms.
Does ACA apply to public-sector sites?
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA, 2019) requires federally regulated entities — federal government, banks, telecom, broadcasting, transportation — to identify, remove and prevent accessibility barriers, with the explicit goal of "a Canada without barriers by 2040" and detailed regulations layered on top including the ICT regulations referencing EN 301 549.
Government accessibility — the lay of the land
Public-sector compliance is layered: technical standards (Section 508, EN 301 549), legal mandates (ADA, WAD, ACA), and procurement rules (VPAT/ACR requirements). State and local governments now face the April 2024 DOJ final rule with compliance dates of April 2026/2027.
Where ACA bites hardest in public-sector sites
• Inaccessible PDF forms and notices
• Inaccessible kiosks and ticketing terminals
• Outdated CMS platforms
• Procurement of inaccessible third-party services
• Lack of accessibility staff in smaller agencies
Remediation priorities
• Online services and benefits portals
• PDF forms and notices
• Tax, licensing, permitting flows
• Public meeting and election information
• Kiosks and self-service terminals
How to comply with ACA on a Government site
1. Publish an accessibility plan: Every federally regulated entity must publish a multi-year accessibility plan, updated every three years.
2. Establish a feedback mechanism: Accept and respond to accessibility complaints.
3. File progress reports: Annual progress report between plans.
4. Meet technical ICT requirements: Reference EN 301 549 for digital products and services.
Sources
- Accessible Canada Act — Government of Canada
- Section508.gov — GSA
- ADA Title II Rule — US DOJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Does ACA apply to government websites?
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA, 2019) requires federally regulated entities — federal government, banks, telecom, broadcasting, transportation — to identify, remove and prevent accessibility barriers, with the explicit goal of "a Canada without barriers by 2040" and detailed regulations layered on top including the ICT regulations referencing EN 301 549.
What are the most common ACA failures in public-sector sites?
Inaccessible PDF forms and notices Inaccessible kiosks and ticketing terminals Outdated CMS platforms
What conformance level should a government site target?
WCAG 2.2 Level AA is the consensus target for legal compliance and the level referenced by virtually every national accessibility law.
What does the DOJ Title II final rule require?
WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance for web content, mobile apps, kiosks, and self-service terminals operated by state and local government entities. Compliance deadlines: April 2026 for entities serving >50,000 residents; April 2027 for smaller.
How does Section 508 differ from ADA Title II?
Section 508 governs federal procurement of ICT and applies to vendors selling to federal buyers. ADA Title II governs state and local government services. Both reference WCAG. A federal contractor often complies with both simultaneously via a single VPAT.
Stop guessing. Get the audit a Fortune 500 a11y team would have written.
Free audit on your live URL. No sign-up. IAAP-format report. Ready in hours.
founders@accessivepath.com · +977 9851094056