The ScotiaConnect reference site targets WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance, aligned with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation expectations for web content.
Accessibility statement
Effective date: 2026-04-22. The ScotiaConnect reference site at sconnect.gr.com is committed to an inclusive reading experience for commercial banking users who rely on assistive technology, keyboard navigation, high-contrast modes or alternative formats. This statement describes the conformance target, the standards the site aligns against, the known issues under active remediation, and the feedback channel for reporting barriers.
Conformance target and standards
Short version. The ScotiaConnect reference site targets WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Ontario-based visitors are also covered by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Alignment with the AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation is the practical baseline, with WCAG 2.1 AA as the functional specification.
WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the conformance target for the reference site. The site is authored against the four WCAG principles: perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. Practical application shows up in the site's use of semantic HTML, sufficient colour contrast on interactive elements, a visible keyboard focus ring, skip-to-content links, text alternatives on decorative and informational imagery, and predictable reading order across responsive breakpoints.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation applies to public-facing web content in Ontario. The reference site operates out of Toronto and treats AODA as the regulatory floor, with WCAG 2.1 AA as the functional specification used at authoring time and at review time.
How the site is tested
The reference site is tested with a combination of automated tooling and manual review. Automated checks run against every page at authoring time, covering heading structure, landmark presence, alt-text coverage, link-text uniqueness and colour-contrast ratios. Manual review uses keyboard-only navigation, screen-reader walk-throughs with NVDA on Windows and VoiceOver on macOS and iOS, and high-contrast mode review on supported platforms. Mobile review uses the built-in assistive tools on current-generation iOS and Android devices.
Known issues and active remediation
Known issues are tracked in a small internal backlog. Representative items at this effective date include: occasional visible focus-ring inconsistencies on the mobile-menu toggle in older browsers, the lack of formally-supplied sign-language translations for long-form content, and the absence of captions on the limited video content embedded from third-party providers where the embedded player does not expose caption controls. Remediation is scheduled against each item with a target resolution date.
Assistive technology tested
The reference site is reviewed against common assistive technology in active use by commercial-banking readers. Screen readers tested include NVDA on Windows with Firefox and Chrome, VoiceOver on macOS with Safari and Chrome, and VoiceOver on iOS with Safari. Keyboard-only navigation is confirmed on each major browser. Magnification at 200 percent is validated on desktop. High-contrast modes on Windows and on macOS are validated for primary navigation and long-form content.
Feedback channel
Accessibility issues can be reported to the commercial service desk at service-desk@sconnect.gr.com or by phone at 1-833-245-7669. A helpful report includes the page URL, the assistive technology and browser in use, a short description of the barrier encountered, and any steps to reproduce. Reports are triaged on receipt and acknowledged within a reasonable window; remediation timing depends on the complexity of the underlying issue. Broader guidance on Canadian accessibility expectations is available from OSFI for federally regulated financial-institution references and from provincial AODA publications for Ontario-specific obligations.
Alternative formats
Page content is available on request in plain-text and large-print formats for users who cannot consume the standard web presentation. Requests are actioned within a reasonable window, subject to the complexity of the requested content. Structured content such as tables is provided as a semantic representation that preserves row-and-column relationships in the alternative format.
Accessibility status reference
| Area | Standard | Status | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semantic structure | WCAG 2.1 AA | Conformant | 2026-04-22 |
| Keyboard navigation | WCAG 2.1 AA | Conformant | 2026-04-22 |
| Colour contrast | WCAG 2.1 AA | Conformant | 2026-04-22 |
| Screen-reader walk-through | WCAG 2.1 AA | Conformant with known items | 2026-04-22 |
| Mobile assistive tools | WCAG 2.1 AA | Conformant with known items | 2026-04-22 |
Effective date and changes
This accessibility statement is effective as of 2026-04-22. The effective date is updated whenever material changes are made to the statement, including changes in conformance target, changes in known-issue status or changes to the feedback channel. Interim corrections that do not change substance may be made without updating the effective date.
Frequently asked questions
Accessibility issues can be reported to the commercial service desk at service-desk@sconnect.gr.com or by phone at 1-833-245-7669. Include the page URL, the assistive technology in use and a short description of the barrier encountered.
Yes. On request, the ScotiaConnect reference site will provide page content in plain-text or large-print format for users who cannot consume the web presentation. Requests are actioned within a reasonable window, subject to the complexity of the requested content.