Global Accessibility Awareness Day

May 16, Thursday

World Accessibility Awareness Day is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of May. The purpose of this day is to draw attention to the importance of accessibility of digital and physical spaces for people with disabilities and to inform the public about the need to create an inclusive environment that would be convenient and accessible to everyone.

History
The idea of creating this day belongs to web developer Joe DeWitt and accessibility specialist Jennifer Homan. In 2011, they started discussing accessibility issues on social networks, and this led to the birth of the initiative. World Accessibility Awareness Day was first celebrated in 2012.

Goals and objectives of World Accessibility Awareness Day
Raising awareness. One of the main goals of this day is to draw attention to the problems of people with disabilities and the need to create accessible digital products and services.

Popularization of accessibility standards. World Accessibility Awareness Day promotes international standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), which describe requirements for creating accessible web content.

Developer and designer training. GAAD helps developers and designers learn about methods and approaches that will help make their products accessible to all users, regardless of their physical abilities.

Creating an inclusive society. Awareness Day aims to create an inclusive culture in which all people, regardless of their abilities, can freely use modern digital technologies.

How is World Accessibility Awareness Day celebrated?
Webinars and online events. On this day, educational events, webinars, and conferences dedicated to accessibility issues are held around the world. Experts share knowledge on how to develop and test digital products taking into account the needs of people with disabilities.

Accessibility testing. Developers and designers can test their products for compliance with accessibility standards. This may include testing for compatibility with screen readers, testing for ease of navigation with a keyboard and other assistive devices.

Raising awareness on social media. Using hashtags like #GAAD (Global Accessibility Awareness Day), users can share information about accessibility, successful examples of inclusive design, and their own stories.

Volunteer initiatives. On this day, companies and organizations can organize events aimed at improving the accessibility of their products or launch new initiatives to support people with disabilities.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day – days left: 175. Create Countdown to Event

Global Accessibility Awareness Day in other years

2023 May 18, Thursday
2025 May 15, Thursday

Global Accessibility Awareness Day in other countries