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Legal

Accessibility

Our accessibility commitments and how to request support.

Quick Summary

Our WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility commitments.
How to request support or report accessibility barriers.

Accessibility Statement

End The Wait Ontario is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users, including people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience and applying relevant accessibility standards.

Last updated: April 2026

Our Commitment

As an advocacy organization focused on disability rights, we believe strongly that our website should be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. We are committed to meeting the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards and the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

We recognize that accessibility is an ongoing process, and we are continuously working to improve our website's accessibility.

Accessibility Features We Strive to Implement

We work to implement the following accessibility features on our website. Accessibility is an ongoing process and some areas may still be in progress.

Visual Accessibility

•High contrast color scheme (we target WCAG AA minimum 4.5:1; many elements meet AAA 7:1 standards)
•Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality
•We aim to provide descriptive alt text for all meaningful images
•No content relies on color alone
•Dark mode support

Keyboard Navigation

•We work to ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible
•Visible focus indicators
•Logical tab order
•Skip navigation links
•No keyboard traps

Screen Reader Support

•Semantic HTML structure
•ARIA labels where appropriate
•Descriptive link text
•Form labels and error messages
•Logical heading hierarchy

Motion & Cognitive

•Respects reduced motion preferences
•No auto-playing media
•Clear, simple language
•Consistent navigation
•No flashing content

Standards We Follow

We strive to comply with:

•WCAG 2.1 Level AA - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
•AODA - Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, specifically the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR)
•ARIA - Accessible Rich Internet Applications specifications for dynamic content

Conformance Status

We assess our conformance against WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The current status of our site is:

Partially ConformsWCAG 2.1 Level AA

“Partially conforms” means that most content conforms to the accessibility standard, but some areas have known limitations listed below. We are actively working to remediate these issues.

Last assessed: March 2026. Methods: Lighthouse, axe DevTools, manual keyboard testing, VoiceOver and NVDA screen reader testing.

Known Limitations

We are aware of the following accessibility limitations and are working to address them:

•Embedded Videos: Some third-party embedded videos (Instagram, YouTube) may not have captions. We are working with content providers and adding transcripts where possible.
•PDF Documents: Some downloadable documents may not be fully accessible. We are working to provide accessible alternatives.
•Complex Data Visualizations: Some charts and graphs may not be fully accessible to screen readers. We provide text descriptions and data tables as alternatives.

Accessibility Feedback

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

End The Wait Ontario

Accessibility Coordinator

Contact Form

When contacting us about accessibility, please include:

•The page URL where you encountered the issue
•A description of the problem
•The assistive technology you are using (if applicable)
•Your preferred method of contact

Our Response Commitment

•Acknowledgement: Within 5 business days of receiving your feedback
•Assessment: We will assess the issue and provide a timeline for resolution within 15 business days
•Critical barriers: Issues that prevent access to core functionality will be prioritised for immediate remediation

Alternative Formats

If you need information from our website in an alternative format (large print, audio, braille, etc.), please contact us. We will work with you to provide information in a format that meets your needs.

Compatible Assistive Technologies

Our website is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

•Screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
•Screen magnification software
•Speech recognition software
•Keyboard-only navigation
•Browser zoom and text scaling

Browser Compatibility

This website is optimized for modern browsers including:

•Google Chrome (latest version)
•Mozilla Firefox (latest version)
•Apple Safari (latest version)
•Microsoft Edge (latest version)

For the best experience, we recommend keeping your browser updated to the latest version.

Assessment Methods

We assess our website's accessibility through:

•Automated testing tools (Lighthouse, axe DevTools)
•Manual keyboard navigation testing
•Screen reader testing (VoiceOver, NVDA)
•Color contrast analysis
•User feedback and testing

Accessibility Resources

For more information about web accessibility and your rights:

More from End The Wait Ontario

Reach out for accessibility support or questions.

About End The Wait Ontario

Learn about our mission and the people behind this advocacy.

Verified References & Sources

Updated: Mar 2026

Government Reports & Data

[2020]

Autism ServicesVerified FAO Data

Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2020-07-21

View

[2024]

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewVerified FAO Data

Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2024-02-29

View

[2025]

Ontario Autism Coalition FOI update on Ontario Autism Program registrations and fundingVerified FAO Data

Ontario Autism Coalition • Report • 2025-12-10

View

[2024]

Diagnostic Hub Waitlist Data — FOI Response (Trillium Health Partners hospital system, not The Trillium newspaper)Verified FAO Data

Trillium Health Partners (hospital) • Report • 2024-03-15

View

Official Government Sources

[2025]

Canada Disability Benefit - How much you could receiveGovernment Source

Government of Canada • Government • 2025-06-20

View

Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.

About This Article

Written by:Spencer Carroll - Founder & Autism AdvocateParent of autistic child navigating OAP system

Featured in CBC News Investigation

FOI Data Verified

Clip in WHO Social Media Reel

Active HRTO Advocacy

FAO & Legislative Assembly Cited

Where Do You Start?

Choose your path

The quickest routes to diagnosis guidance, evidence, practical support, and advocacy.

Just diagnosed?

First steps after an autism diagnosis

Already waiting?

What to do while on the waitlist

See the data

FOI-backed charts, methods, and evidence

Want change?

Write your MPP in 5 minutes

Verified Facts

Facts cited on this page

88,175 — children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program

SecondaryFOI Dec 2025 (OAC)Verified: 2026-04-16

23.4% — Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four

SecondaryFOI Dec 2025 (OAC)Verified: 2026-04-16

WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement

Gov / Peer-ReviewedWorld Health Organization (2023)Verified: 2023-11-15

View our methodology View all sourcesNext data update: 2026-05-15

Legal

Accessibility

Our accessibility commitments and how to request support.

Quick Summary

Our WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility commitments.
How to request support or report accessibility barriers.

Accessibility Statement

Last updated: April 2026

Our Commitment

We recognize that accessibility is an ongoing process, and we are continuously working to improve our website's accessibility.

Accessibility Features We Strive to Implement

We work to implement the following accessibility features on our website. Accessibility is an ongoing process and some areas may still be in progress.

Visual Accessibility

•High contrast color scheme (we target WCAG AA minimum 4.5:1; many elements meet AAA 7:1 standards)
•Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality
•We aim to provide descriptive alt text for all meaningful images
•No content relies on color alone
•Dark mode support

Keyboard Navigation

•We work to ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible
•Visible focus indicators
•Logical tab order
•Skip navigation links
•No keyboard traps

Screen Reader Support

•Semantic HTML structure
•ARIA labels where appropriate
•Descriptive link text
•Form labels and error messages
•Logical heading hierarchy

Motion & Cognitive

•Respects reduced motion preferences
•No auto-playing media
•Clear, simple language
•Consistent navigation
•No flashing content

Standards We Follow

We strive to comply with:

•WCAG 2.1 Level AA - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
•AODA - Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, specifically the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR)
•ARIA - Accessible Rich Internet Applications specifications for dynamic content

Conformance Status

We assess our conformance against WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The current status of our site is:

Partially ConformsWCAG 2.1 Level AA

“Partially conforms” means that most content conforms to the accessibility standard, but some areas have known limitations listed below. We are actively working to remediate these issues.

Last assessed: March 2026. Methods: Lighthouse, axe DevTools, manual keyboard testing, VoiceOver and NVDA screen reader testing.

Known Limitations

We are aware of the following accessibility limitations and are working to address them:

•Embedded Videos: Some third-party embedded videos (Instagram, YouTube) may not have captions. We are working with content providers and adding transcripts where possible.
•PDF Documents: Some downloadable documents may not be fully accessible. We are working to provide accessible alternatives.
•Complex Data Visualizations: Some charts and graphs may not be fully accessible to screen readers. We provide text descriptions and data tables as alternatives.

Accessibility Feedback

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

End The Wait Ontario

Accessibility Coordinator

Contact Form

When contacting us about accessibility, please include:

•The page URL where you encountered the issue
•A description of the problem
•The assistive technology you are using (if applicable)
•Your preferred method of contact

Our Response Commitment

•Acknowledgement: Within 5 business days of receiving your feedback
•Assessment: We will assess the issue and provide a timeline for resolution within 15 business days
•Critical barriers: Issues that prevent access to core functionality will be prioritised for immediate remediation

Alternative Formats

Compatible Assistive Technologies

Our website is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

•Screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack)
•Screen magnification software
•Speech recognition software
•Keyboard-only navigation
•Browser zoom and text scaling

Browser Compatibility

This website is optimized for modern browsers including:

•Google Chrome (latest version)
•Mozilla Firefox (latest version)
•Apple Safari (latest version)
•Microsoft Edge (latest version)

For the best experience, we recommend keeping your browser updated to the latest version.

Assessment Methods

We assess our website's accessibility through:

•Automated testing tools (Lighthouse, axe DevTools)
•Manual keyboard navigation testing
•Screen reader testing (VoiceOver, NVDA)
•Color contrast analysis
•User feedback and testing

Accessibility Resources

For more information about web accessibility and your rights:

More from End The Wait Ontario

Reach out for accessibility support or questions.

About End The Wait Ontario

Learn about our mission and the people behind this advocacy.

Verified References & Sources

Updated: Mar 2026

Government Reports & Data

[2020]

Autism ServicesVerified FAO Data

Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2020-07-21

View

[2024]

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewVerified FAO Data

Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2024-02-29

View

[2025]

Ontario Autism Coalition FOI update on Ontario Autism Program registrations and fundingVerified FAO Data

Ontario Autism Coalition • Report • 2025-12-10

View

[2024]

Diagnostic Hub Waitlist Data — FOI Response (Trillium Health Partners hospital system, not The Trillium newspaper)Verified FAO Data

Trillium Health Partners (hospital) • Report • 2024-03-15

View

Official Government Sources

[2025]

Canada Disability Benefit - How much you could receiveGovernment Source

Government of Canada • Government • 2025-06-20

View

Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.

About This Article

Written by:Spencer Carroll - Founder & Autism AdvocateParent of autistic child navigating OAP system

Featured in CBC News Investigation

FOI Data Verified

Clip in WHO Social Media Reel

Active HRTO Advocacy

FAO & Legislative Assembly Cited

Where Do You Start?

Choose your path

The quickest routes to diagnosis guidance, evidence, practical support, and advocacy.

Just diagnosed?

First steps after an autism diagnosis

Already waiting?

What to do while on the waitlist

See the data

FOI-backed charts, methods, and evidence

Want change?

Write your MPP in 5 minutes

Verified Facts

Facts cited on this page

88,175 — children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program

SecondaryFOI Dec 2025 (OAC)Verified: 2026-04-16

23.4% — Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four

SecondaryFOI Dec 2025 (OAC)Verified: 2026-04-16

WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement

Gov / Peer-ReviewedWorld Health Organization (2023)Verified: 2023-11-15

View our methodology View all sourcesNext data update: 2026-05-15