Accessibility Statement

OpenHouseCanada is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people of all abilities. We strive to provide a positive experience for everyone and are continually improving our platform to be accessible and usable for all Canadians.

We aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, as well as applicable Canadian accessibility legislation including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Accessible Canada Act.

We have implemented the following accessibility features across our platform:

Navigation & Structure

• Semantic HTML headings and landmarks for clear page structure
• Keyboard-navigable menus, forms, and interactive elements
• Skip-to-content links for efficient keyboard navigation
• Consistent navigation patterns across all pages
• Breadcrumb navigation on nested pages

Visual Design

• Colour contrast ratios that meet WCAG AA standards
• Text that can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality
• No reliance on colour alone to convey information
• Clear focus indicators for keyboard users
• Responsive design that works across screen sizes

Content & Media

• Descriptive alt text on images and property photos
• ARIA labels on interactive elements and icons
• Form fields with associated labels and error messages
• Clear, plain-language content

Assistive Technology

• Compatible with popular screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
• Compatible with voice recognition software
• Compatible with screen magnification tools
• ARIA roles and properties for dynamic content

While we strive for full accessibility, some areas of the platform may have limitations we are actively working to address:

• Interactive map views may have limited screen reader support — a list-based alternative is always available
• Some third-party content (external listing photos or documents) may not meet our accessibility standards
• PDF documents uploaded by users may not be tagged for accessibility

We are continuously working to resolve these issues and improve accessibility across the entire platform.

To get the best experience with OpenHouseCanada:

• Screen readers: Use landmark navigation (headings, regions) to move quickly between sections
• Keyboard users: Use Tab to navigate, Enter/Space to activate buttons, and Escape to close modals
• Zoom: The platform supports browser zoom up to 200% without horizontal scrolling
• High contrast: The platform respects your operating system's high contrast settings

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of OpenHouseCanada. If you encounter any barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know:

• Email: accessibility@openhousecanada.ca
• Contact form: Contact us
• Report an issue: Report form

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 2 business days and to resolve issues within 30 days.

Our accessibility efforts are guided by:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA
• Accessible Canada Act (ACA)
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
• Canadian Human Rights Act
• Ontario Human Rights Code