Websites about the Accessibility of Tourist Venues

Currently, no AODA standards require tourism to be accessible. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends the creation of standards mandating accessibility in tourism. In this article, we will outline the need for websites about the accessibility of tourist venues.

Websites about the Accessibility of Tourist Venues

The AODA’s Information and Communication Standards require basic web accessibility, through compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines ensure that websites will be functional when people with disabilities browse them. For example, compliant websites have:

• Consistent layouts
• Content that users can perceive in different ways, including:
  • Text
  • Audio
  • Videos
• Compatibility with various assistive technologies, including:
  • Hardware
  • Software
• Accessible ways for users to input information
• Ways to avoid online accessibility barriers, such as time limits or moving information

However, these guidelines do not help web developers decide what information they should post on their websites. The Customer Service Standards recommend that service providers with websites post their accessible customer service policies. However, these policies often contain generic information that the AODA mandates. This mandate does not require service providers with websites to post any information describing their accessible features or services.

Therefore, AODA standards in tourism could require service providers with websites to post details about any accessible features or services they have. Moreover, this requirement could apply first to service providers that tourists to Ontario might frequent, such as:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Stores
• Amusement parks
• Campgrounds
• Sports venues
• Theatres, including:
  • Live theatres
  • Movie theatres
• Museums and galleries
• Monuments and other historic sites
• Libraries

For example, tourist venues could advertise on their websites about:

• Accessible physical features of their premises, such as:
  • Barrier-free hotel rooms
  • Amusement park rides visitors can access while using assistive devices
• Services for visitors with disabilities, such as:
  • Restaurant menus in accessible formats, such as Braille or online
  • Tour guides with accessibility training
  • Excursions with accessible features
  • Plays with communication supports, such as captioning or live audio description

AODA requirements to advertise accessible features could help tourist venues attract visitors with disabilities.