Global Accessibility

Today (May 21st) is Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day, also known as GAAD, works to promote digital accessibility, access, and inclusion worldwide. GAAD defines digital accessibility as the need for top-quality digital experiences for all internet users, regardless of an individual’s disabilities. GAAD on digital accessibility.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day launched in May 2012. It was inspired by a blog post from November 2011 by Los Angeles-based web developer Joe Devon. Devon worked with Jennison Asuncion, an accessibility professional from Toronto, to co-found GAAD.

1 Billion People Worldwide have a Disability or Impairment.

What is Digital Accessibility? Every user deserves a first-rate digital experience on the web. Someone with a disability must be able to experience web-based services, content and other digital products with the same successful outcome as those without disabilities. This awareness and commitment to inclusion is the goal of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a global event that shines a light on digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Common Disabilities/Impairments:

Visual: People who are blind need alternative text descriptions for meaningful images and use the keyboard and not a mouse to interact with interactive elements.

Hearing: People who are deaf or hard of hearing will need captioning for video presentations and visual indicators in place of audio cues.

Motor: People with motor impairments may need alternative keyboards, eye control or some other adaptive hardware to help them type and navigate on their devices.

Cognitive: An uncluttered screen, consistent navigation and the use of plain language would be useful for people with different learning disabilities/impairments.