For many federally regulated organizations in Canada, the next Accessible Canada Act (ACA) annual progress report is due June 1, 2026. That date is approaching quickly, and this is more than just a reporting exercise.
If your organization has been proactive about digital accessibility, you should be right on track. But for organizations that have delayed accessibility work, there is limited time left to demonstrate meaningful progress before reporting season arrives.
Fortunately, you don’t need to solve everything by June 1.
In this post, I’ll help you understand what’s due and what your best options are for meeting the requirements. If you need guidance, reach out to Deque today and schedule a strategic consultation.
Progress reports
Under the ACA, progress reports are public-facing documents. Among the requirements, organizations are expected to show:
- what barriers they identified
- what feedback they received
- what actions they took
- what measurable progress they’ve made
That creates real pressure for organizations that are still relying on one-time audits, fragmented remediation efforts, or reactive accessibility practices.
Organizations that have not operationalized accessibility may struggle to demonstrate sustained progress in a credible way. This means considering everything from procurement, design, and development to testing, content, and governance.
Any gaps will be increasingly visible to regulators, customers, employees, and disability communities.
What you can do right now
Being truly prepared for ACA reporting means not scrambling to explain accessibility gaps at the last minute. Instead, your organization must be able to clearly demonstrate where barriers exist, what progress has been made, who is accountable, and how accessibility improvements are being sustained over time. While this process can be complex, qualified digital accessibility experts can help you gather the information you need, assemble and publish your report, and notify the Accessibility Commissioner using the My Accessibility Portal, as required by the Act.
Deque has worked with organizations across regulated industries to help assess accessibility maturity, prioritize high-impact barriers, and build practical, scalable accessibility programs that can withstand growing regulatory and public scrutiny.
This reporting deadline is an opportunity to make sure you are moving in the right direction. Now is the time to have a conversation about your organization’s path to ACA readiness. With the right strategic guidance, you can meet your short-term requirements while laying the foundation for a proactive approach to digital accessibility that will ensure long-term compliance.
Schedule a strategic consultation with Deque today.
