May 21

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Join us in celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day and creating a more inclusive world for everyone by raising awareness of the importance of digital accessibility!

Yearly Date

Third Thursday in May

Observed

Internationally

Introduction

Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day on the third Thursday in May by taking a stand for digital accessibility! This day was created to raise awareness about the importance of making sure digital content is accessible to all people, regardless of physical or mental ability. Founded in 2011, Global Accessibility Awareness Day has grown into an internationally recognized event that encourages businesses, organizations, and individuals to commit to creating more accessible online experiences for everyone. So join the movement and help make a difference!

Global Accessibility Awareness Day Timeline

2011

GAAD Founding

Web developer Joe Devon and Jennison Asuncion, an accessibility professional, officially launched the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).

2012

First Official GAAD

The first official celebration of GAAD, promoting digital accessibility and inclusion for people with all types of disabilities.

2013

Growing Participation

More professional bodies and organizations, including tech giants like Google and Microsoft, started recognizing and supporting GAAD.

2016

Global Reach

GAAD became truly global with participation from businesses, academic institutions, and organizations across the world.

2019

Expansive Awareness Programs

Webinars, workshops, and accessibility challenges were organized on a large scale to educate participants about digital accessibility.

2020

Digital Accessibility Paramount

With the COVID-19 pandemic making digital access more important than ever, GAAD saw elevated levels of participation and awareness.

How to Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day

1 Organize an event

Organize an event to raise awareness about the importance of accessibility. Invite speakers, host a panel discussion, or create a workshop to educate people about digital accessibility.

2 Spread the word

Share content online that educates people about the importance of accessibility. Make sure your posts and stories use appropriate language, captions, and images that are accessible to everyone.

3 Volunteer

Look for volunteer opportunities in your local area or online that support digital accessibility initiatives. This could include helping with accessibility audits, creating accessible websites and apps, or training people on how to create accessible content.

4 Check your own website

Test your own website or digital product to make sure it is accessible to everyone. Use tools such as WAVE, Color Contrast Checker, and Siteimprove Accessibility Checker to check for any issues that could impede someone’s ability to access your content.

5 Educate yourself

Take the time to learn more about digital accessibility. Read up on the different types of disabilities and how they affect people’s ability to access digital content. There are plenty of resources online that can help you understand the importance of creating accessible content.

Why Global Accessibility Awareness Day is Important

It promotes inclusion and equal access

Global Accessibility Awareness Day serves as a reminder that all people have the right to access and understand information, no matter their abilities or disabilities. Making sure online content is accessible will help ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in digital spaces.

It raises awareness of design considerations

In addition to reminding us of the importance of accessibility, Global Accessibility Awareness Day also helps raise awareness of specific design considerations we need to take into account when creating digital products. This includes making sure text is high contrast and large enough to be read easily, selecting suitable font sizes, and providing alternative labels for images when appropriate.

It encourages innovation & creativity

Having a better understanding of what constitutes good accessibility can open the door for more innovation and creativity. People with disabilities deserve to enjoy the same experiences as those without them, so it's up to designers and developers to make sure they're designing applications with that objective in mind.