A wave of new legislation is making digital accessibility a legal requirement, not just a “nice to have.” Governments across Canada and the European Union are rolling out stricter compliance standards, putting increased pressure on organizations to ensure their digital platforms are accessible to all — including the one billion people worldwide living with disabilities.
Canada’s Accessibility Mandates Tighten
In Canada, the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) requires federally regulated organizations — from banks to telecom providers — to identify and remove barriers in their digital content. Noncompliance can lead to fines up to $250,000 CAD per violation.
At the provincial level, laws like Ontario’s AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) and Manitoba’s AMA (Accessibility for Manitobans Act) are already in effect. And British Columbia is next: the Accessible BC Act currently applies to public organizations and is expected to expand to private companies in the near future.
🔗 Learn more about Canada’s accessibility laws
EU Deadline Approaches
Meanwhile, in the European Union, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will become enforceable in June 2025, compelling all businesses selling digital products and services in the EU — including e-commerce sites, banking apps, and smart devices — to comply with EN 301 549, the European equivalent to WCAG 2.1 standards.
Failure to comply could result in exclusion from procurement contracts, loss of market access, or steep financial penalties.
🔗 Explore the EAA requirements
What This Means for Businesses
The message is clear: accessibility is no longer optional.
From website design and mobile interfaces to internal tools and customer platforms, organizations are now accountable for ensuring equal access to digital services.
While this raises concerns for companies unprepared to meet these standards, it also unlocks a massive opportunity for inclusive innovation.
How wA11y™ Is Leading the Way
As one of Canada’s first education platforms designed for all women, including those left out of traditional tech pathways, wA11y™ is training a new generation of UX designers who understand accessibility from day one.
“Accessibility should not be an afterthought — it should be foundational,” says Cláudia Kich, Founder of wA11y™. “We are equipping underrepresented women with the skills the world now urgently needs.”
wA11y™ is not only teaching compliance — it is creating a workforce ready to lead accessible innovation.
Want to Stay Ahead of the Curve?
Organizations looking to ensure their teams understand digital accessibility can:
- Partner with wA11y™ for inclusive hiring and training
- Sponsor scholarships for underrepresented women in tech
- Join our mission to build a tech future where no one is left behind
👉 Join the waitlist or signup for our newsletter to learn more.