Website Accessibility Services
Accessibility for Alberta.
Alberta may not yet have provincial accessibility legislation, but that does not reduce the need for inclusive digital experiences. Federal law, human rights protections, and growing public expectations all point in the same direction: your website needs to work for everyone.
The State of Accessibility Legislation in Alberta
Alberta is one of only two Canadian provinces, alongside Prince Edward Island, that does not have dedicated provincial accessibility legislation. In March 2026, Bill 206 (the Accessible Alberta Act) was introduced to the Alberta Legislature with the goal of making the province fully accessible by 2040. The bill was defeated at second reading.
Despite the absence of a provincial law, Alberta organizations are not operating in a legislative vacuum. The federal Accessible Canada Act (ACA) applies to all federally regulated industries in Alberta, and the Canadian Human Rights Act has been interpreted as requiring accessible digital content.
Advocacy for provincial legislation continues, and the trajectory across Canada is clear: accessibility requirements are expanding, not contracting. Organizations that invest in accessibility now are better positioned for whatever comes next.
What Legislation Applies to Alberta Organizations?
Even without a provincial accessibility act, several legal frameworks are relevant to Alberta businesses and organizations.
- Accessible Canada Act (ACA): Federal legislation that requires federally regulated organizations to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility. This includes banks, telecommunications companies, airlines, and federal government entities. Non-compliance penalties can reach $250,000.
- Canadian Human Rights Act (1977): While it predates the web, tribunals and courts have interpreted this act as requiring accessible digital content. Complaints can be filed through the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
- Alberta Human Rights Act: Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in services, accommodations, and facilities. While it does not specifically address web accessibility, it establishes a legal foundation for accessibility expectations.
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA: The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the internationally recognized benchmark referenced by the Accessible Canada Act and most provincial legislation across Canada. Conforming to WCAG 2.1 AA is considered best practice for all organizations.
What Alberta Businesses Should Do Now
The absence of provincial legislation does not mean accessibility should wait. Here is what forward-thinking Alberta organizations are doing to prepare.
- Conduct a WCAG audit: Understand the current state of your website's accessibility. Identify barriers that prevent users with disabilities from accessing your content and services.
- Target WCAG 2.1 Level AA: This is the conformance level referenced by the Accessible Canada Act and adopted by most Canadian provinces. It covers screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, colour contrast, and content structure.
- Build accessibility into your process: Accessibility is more effective and less expensive when it is part of your design and development workflow from the start, rather than bolted on after launch.
- Train your content team: Ongoing accessibility depends on content creators who understand how to write descriptive alt text, use proper heading structure, and create accessible documents.
- Document your efforts: Keep records of audits, remediation work, and accessibility policies. If a complaint is filed, documented good-faith efforts demonstrate your commitment to compliance.
How India Stone Creative Helps Alberta Organizations
We work with Alberta businesses, nonprofits, and public sector organizations to build websites that meet WCAG guidelines and serve every user. Our accessibility services cover the full lifecycle, from initial audit through remediation and ongoing support.
- Accessibility audits: We evaluate your website against WCAG 2.1 Level AA using a combination of automated scanning and manual expert testing. Automated tools catch roughly 30% of accessibility issues. The rest require human judgment.
- Remediation planning: We deliver a prioritized roadmap of fixes, organized by severity and impact, so your team knows exactly what to address and in what order.
- Design and development: Whether you are building a new site or improving an existing one, we integrate accessibility into every stage of the design and development process.
- Content accessibility: We help your team create accessible content, including descriptive alt text, proper heading structure, accessible PDFs, and clear link text.
- Training and documentation: We provide training for your content and development teams so accessibility becomes part of your ongoing workflow, not a one-time project.
Whether you are preparing for future provincial legislation, meeting federal requirements, or simply building a better experience for your users, we can help you get there.
Learn more about our accessibility services or get in touch to discuss your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alberta have provincial accessibility legislation?
As of mid-2026, Alberta does not have provincial accessibility legislation. Bill 206, the Accessible Alberta Act, was introduced in March 2026 but was defeated at second reading. Alberta remains one of only two provinces, alongside Prince Edward Island, without dedicated accessibility legislation. However, the federal Accessible Canada Act still applies to federally regulated organizations operating in Alberta.
What accessibility standards apply to Alberta businesses?
While there is no provincial law mandating web accessibility for Alberta businesses, the federal Accessible Canada Act applies to federally regulated industries including banking, telecommunications, and transportation. Beyond legal requirements, following WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines is considered best practice and helps protect against complaints under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
What is the Accessible Canada Act and does it apply in Alberta?
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is federal legislation that requires federally regulated organizations to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility. It applies to organizations under federal jurisdiction in Alberta, including banks, airlines, telecommunications companies, and the federal government itself. Non-compliance can result in penalties up to $250,000.
Can my Alberta business face legal action for an inaccessible website?
Yes. Even without provincial legislation, the Canadian Human Rights Act (1977) has been interpreted by courts and tribunals as requiring accessible digital content. Complaints can be filed through the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Additionally, if your organization falls under federal jurisdiction, the Accessible Canada Act applies directly. Proactive WCAG compliance is the most effective way to reduce legal risk.
What is WCAG and what level should Alberta businesses target?
WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, an internationally recognized standard developed by the W3C. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the most widely adopted conformance target and is referenced by the Accessible Canada Act and most provincial legislation across Canada. It covers requirements for perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust web content.
Why should Alberta businesses invest in web accessibility without a provincial mandate?
Accessibility improves the experience for over 800,000 Albertans living with a disability, strengthens search engine performance through better semantic markup, reduces legal risk under federal legislation, and demonstrates a commitment to inclusion that builds trust with customers. Federal legislation is also likely to expand, and provincial legislation continues to be advocated for.
Ready to make your website accessible?
Whether you are meeting federal requirements, preparing for future provincial legislation, or building a more inclusive experience for your users, we can help. Let us show you where your site stands and what it takes to get to full WCAG compliance.
Talk to our team- Reach more Albertans with an inclusive digital experience
- Reduce legal risk under federal accessibility legislation
- Improve search visibility with clean, semantic markup