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Updates to Accessibility: What You Need to Know in 2025

Accessibility continues to evolve, and 2025 has brought some important developments that impact how we design and deliver content. Whether you’re creating documents, managing digital communications, or planning events, keeping up with accessibility standards ensures you’re reaching everyone — and staying compliant.

Here are a few key updates and trends we’re tracking this year:

1. WCAG 2.2 Is Now a Formal Standard

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 became a W3C recommendation in late 2023. While adoption across tools is ongoing, many organizations have started integrating 2.2 success criteria into their workflows. The updates focus on improving access for users with cognitive and motor disabilities, and include new success criteria such as:

  • Dragging Movements (2.5.7): Ensure alternatives to drag-and-drop functionality.
  • Focus Not Obscured (2.4.11): Make sure visible focus indicators aren’t hidden.
  • Consistent Help (3.2.6): Provide consistent help mechanisms throughout your interface.

While not yet universally enforced, it’s a good idea to start aligning content now with 2.2 requirements — especially if you work with public or federally funded organizations in Canada.

2. Document Accessibility Remains a Priority

PDF/UA and accessible documents continue to be a focus in both private and public sectors. Accessibility audits for PDFs, Word files, and PowerPoint decks are becoming standard practice — particularly in government, health, and education sectors. In 2025, we’re seeing:

  • A greater emphasis on logical reading order and proper use of tags.
  • More organizations requiring accessible templates from the start.
  • Expanded training on tools like Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft 365, and InDesign to support accessible exports.

If you’re working on reports, forms, or event materials, ensuring they meet PDF/UA or WCAG 2.x standards is becoming non-negotiable.

3. AI Tools for Accessibility: Helpful, But Not a Substitute

AI-based accessibility checkers and auto-tagging tools are improving — but they’re not perfect. Many of these tools can assist in flagging issues or suggesting alt text, but they still require human judgment to ensure quality and compliance. Remember:

  • Automated tools can miss complex reading order issues or incorrect heading structures.
  • It’s still important to test content with screen readers and review tags manually.
  • AI-generated summaries or transcriptions should be checked for accuracy — especially when used in educational or legal contexts.

4. Provincial and National Policy Shifts in Canada

Canada is slowly moving toward greater alignment between the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and provincial standards like Ontario’s AODA. In 2025, we’re seeing:

  • More procurement policies that require vendors to demonstrate accessibility knowledge.
  • Increased interest in professional certifications, such as CPACC or ADS, especially for those doing accessibility audits or compliance reporting.
  • Community discussions around developing a Canadian chapter of the IAAP to support networking and training.

5. Simple Steps to Keep Your Projects Inclusive

If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few easy wins:

  • Use built-in accessibility checkers in Word, PowerPoint, and Acrobat.
  • Add meaningful alt text and descriptive link text.
  • Avoid using only colour to convey meaning.
  • Ensure all videos include captions and transcripts.
  • Ask your vendors or contractors if they can deliver accessible formats.

Final Thoughts

Accessibility is no longer a side consideration — it’s part of how we do business, communicate, and build inclusive communities. These updates are just a few of the ways our industry is shifting, and we’re here to help you stay ahead of the curve.

Have questions about making your documents or content more accessible? Let’s talk.

Updates to Accessibility: What You Need to Know in 2025

Keeping your documents compliant, inclusive, and ready to share.

At epubsupport, we help organizations navigate the evolving landscape of accessibility — especially when it comes to document design, remediation, and production. If you create reports, forms, presentations, or downloadable content, here are some of the key accessibility updates to be aware of in 2025:

1. WCAG 2.2 Is Here – Are Your Files Ready?

The latest version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) was finalized by the W3C and is already being incorporated into procurement and compliance frameworks. New success criteria focus on better support for users with motor and cognitive disabilities. Some highlights include:

  • Alternatives to drag-and-drop interactions
  • Ensuring visible focus indicators aren’t obscured
  • Offering consistent help features across pages

These apply across web, mobile, and interactive documents — and public sector organizations in Canada are already beginning to align their requirements.

2. Document Accessibility Is No Longer Optional

More organizations — especially in government, healthcare, and education — are requiring that files be accessible before publishing or sharing.

At epubsupport, we specialize in making sure your PDFs, Word documents, and PowerPoint files meet standards like:

  • PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility)
  • WCAG 2.1 / 2.2
  • AODA and ACA compliance

We can also build accessible templates for recurring materials, so your teams are set up for success.

3. Don’t Rely on AI Alone for Remediation

AI-based accessibility tools are helpful — but they can’t fully understand document structure, intent, or user experience. We’ve seen tools generate:

  • Incorrect heading levels
  • Missing or redundant tags
  • Unreliable reading order

That’s why we combine trusted tools with hands-on testing and manual review, especially for complex, high-value documents. Our remediation process includes screen reader testing, detailed tagging, and final validation reports.

4. Canada’s Accessibility Landscape Is Expanding

As federal and provincial regulations align, we’re seeing increased demand for:

  • Accessible procurement policies
  • Trained contractors with CPACC or ADS credentials
  • Interest in building a Canadian IAAP chapter

Working with an accessibility-focused service provider like epubsupport ensures your content meets expectations — even as those expectations shift.

5. Quick Wins to Improve Accessibility Right Now

Not sure where to start? Here are a few things you can do today:

  • Run the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or AcrobatPro
  • Make sure all PDFs have a defined reading order
  • Write descriptive alt text and clear link titles
  • Check contrast and avoid using colour alone to communicate meaning
  • Add captions and transcripts to any video-based materials

If you’re producing content meant for wide distribution — especially for the public — these simple steps go a long way.

Let’s Make Your Documents Work for Everyone

Accessibility isn’t just about compliance — it’s about making sure your message gets through. Whether you need a single report tagged for accessibility or ongoing support with accessible document production, epubsupport is here to help.

Get in touch at epubsupport.com to learn more about our services or to request a quote.