Today is the seventh annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).
The aim of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital accessibility and inclusion and people with different disabilities.
A growing number of people want to learn how to make technology accessible and usable for people with disabilities, but they are often unsure of where to start.
That’s why GAAD aims to raise awareness about accessibility, particularly amongst people in the fields of digital design, development, usability, user experience and related areas.
Those who influence digital tech must understand accessibility
It’s crucial that these people, who influence how digital technology is designed and used, grow their understanding of what accessibility really means and how to get it right.
To celebrate GAAD our Founder and CEO Ross Linnett has written a blog for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations about how PR and communications professionals can make their digital communications more accessible.
PR and communications professionals shape the design and use of much digital technology like websites and apps. So the blog gives them a great chance to learn about simple steps they can take to make their digital communications more accessible for GAAD 2018.
GAAD 2018 events
There are lots of events happening around the world to mark GAAD 2018, including both physical and digital events.
There are several events happening in the UK. For example, if you’re in London you may want to go to the UK Chapter of the User Experience Professionals’ Association’s (UXPA) event about upcoming standards, technologies and ways of implementing this into your team.
Or if you can’t make that event there’s a We Love Accessibility GAAD event on May 31st, which will explore best practises for the web in a world where standards in accessibility for digital are constantly evolving.
GAAD 2018 digital events
If digital events are more your cup of tea, may we recommend you check out the online event about Using WordPress for Accessible Web Development. Or look at the BBC Access All Areas events, which will be live streaming between two events held at BBC offices in London and Salford, UK.
Recite Me Founder and CEO Ross Linnett said: “The whole team here at Recite Me and I have a passion for digital accessibility.
“So we are very proud to support GAAD 2018 and hope that lots of people take this chance to learn more about digital accessibility.
“Around one in every five people in the UK has a disability and they can often face barriers like inaccessible websites that prevent them taking an active part in life.
“GAAD aims to change this by giving those responsible for designing digital technology the chance to understand what accessibility means and why it’s so important for people with disabilities.”
Let us know how you’re marking GAAD 2018
We’d really love to know what you’re doing to celebrate GAAD 2018.
Please tweet Recite Me (@reciteme) to let us know and help us get as many people as possible talking about GAAD 2018 and accessibility.
Want to make your own website more accessible? Then check out the Recite Me accessibility scanner or our assistive toolbar widget today.
