comparison
AODA vs RGAA
AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Ontario, Canada, 2005) and RGAA (Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité, France, 2009) are two of the most-referenced accessibility frameworks in digital compliance. This guide compares them side by side — jurisdiction, scope, conformance approach, penalties, and how a single audit can cover both simultaneously.
What is AODA?
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a 2005 Ontario law that mandates accessibility for the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors operating in Ontario — including a digital requirement that public-facing websites conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Maintainer
Government of Ontario
Jurisdiction and enforcement
Ontario, Canada. Accessibility Directorate of Ontario.
What is RGAA?
France's Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité (RGAA) is the French government's national web accessibility methodology, currently at version 4.1, that operationalises EN 301 549 / WCAG 2.1 AA with 106 control tests and is mandatory for public-sector and (since the EAA transposition) large-private-sector French websites.
Maintainer
DINUM (Direction interministérielle du numérique)
Jurisdiction and enforcement
France. DINUM; ARCOM for audiovisual.
AODA vs RGAA — the key differences
The principal difference is jurisdictional: AODA applies in Ontario, Canada, while RGAA applies in France. AODA is maintained by Government of Ontario; RGAA is maintained by DINUM (Direction interministérielle du numérique). The standards differ on scope, conformance grading, and penalty structure — but a well-designed accessibility programme can satisfy both simultaneously by adopting the strictest applicable requirement and cross-mapping findings.
Scope
AODA covers: Public-facing websites and web content, Documents (PDF/Word), Customer-service communications. RGAA covers: Public-sector websites, Large private-sector websites (under EAA transposition).
Penalties
AODA: C$50,000/day for individuals or unincorporated organisations. RGAA: Up to €50,000 administrative fine.
How to comply with both at once
Adopt the stricter applicable conformance level — typically WCAG 2.2 Level AA — as your engineering baseline. Audit against that baseline once, then cross-map findings to both AODA and RGAA specific requirements. A single Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) using VPAT 2.5 INT can document both.
When you might need just one
If you operate exclusively in Ontario, Canada and have no cross-border procurement exposure, you may only need AODA. The same applies in reverse for RGAA. For organisations selling cross-border, into the EU or US public sector, the safer default is to plan to both simultaneously.
Sources
- AODA — Government of Ontario — Government of Ontario
- RGAA 4.1 — DINUM
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Is AODA stricter than RGAA?
Neither standard is uniformly "stricter" — they cover different regulatory domains. AODA is more prescriptive about public-facing websites and web content; RGAA about public-sector websites. For organisations exposed to both, a unified WCAG 2.2 AA baseline typically satisfies the technical requirements of both.
Can a single audit satisfy AODA and RGAA?
Yes. Both standards ultimately reference WCAG-aligned criteria. A combined audit with cross-mapped findings can produce documentation acceptable to both regulators.
Which jurisdictions enforce AODA?
Ontario, Canada. Accessibility Directorate of Ontario.
Which jurisdictions enforce RGAA?
France. DINUM; ARCOM for audiovisual.
What happens if I am not compliant with AODA?
C$50,000/day for individuals or unincorporated organisations C$100,000/day for corporations
What happens if I am not compliant with RGAA?
Up to €50,000 administrative fine
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