comparison
RGAA vs AODA
RGAA (Référentiel général d'amélioration de l'accessibilité, France, 2009) and AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Ontario, Canada, 2005) 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 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.
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.
RGAA vs AODA — the key differences
The principal difference is jurisdictional: RGAA applies in France, while AODA applies in Ontario, Canada. RGAA is maintained by DINUM (Direction interministérielle du numérique); AODA is maintained by Government of Ontario. 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
RGAA covers: Public-sector websites, Large private-sector websites (under EAA transposition). AODA covers: Public-facing websites and web content, Documents (PDF/Word), Customer-service communications.
Penalties
RGAA: Up to €50,000 administrative fine. AODA: C$50,000/day for individuals or unincorporated organisations.
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 RGAA and AODA 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 France and have no cross-border procurement exposure, you may only need RGAA. The same applies in reverse for AODA. For organisations selling cross-border, into the EU or US public sector, the safer default is to plan to both simultaneously.
Sources
- RGAA 4.1 — DINUM
- AODA — Government of Ontario — Government of Ontario
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Cited answers. Sourced. Updated as standards and case law change.
Is RGAA stricter than AODA?
Neither standard is uniformly "stricter" — they cover different regulatory domains. RGAA is more prescriptive about public-sector websites; AODA about public-facing websites and web content. For organisations exposed to both, a unified WCAG 2.2 AA baseline typically satisfies the technical requirements of both.
Can a single audit satisfy RGAA and AODA?
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 RGAA?
France. DINUM; ARCOM for audiovisual.
Which jurisdictions enforce AODA?
Ontario, Canada. Accessibility Directorate of Ontario.
What happens if I am not compliant with RGAA?
Up to €50,000 administrative fine
What happens if I am not compliant with AODA?
C$50,000/day for individuals or unincorporated organisations C$100,000/day for corporations
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