Hutchinson, Kan. — Beyond Barriers is proud to recognize Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), observed each year on the third Thursday in May, as a reminder that digital access is essential to full participation in modern life.
GAAD was launched in 2012 to spark conversation, learning, and action around digital access and inclusion. The day focuses on the more than one billion people worldwide who live with disabilities and the need to make websites, software, mobile apps, documents, and online content accessible to everyone.
“Accessibility is not just a technical requirement. It is a commitment to dignity, independence, and inclusion,” said Erica Rivera, Executive Director of Beyond Barriers. “Whether someone is applying for a job, reading an announcement, registering for an event, watching a video, or engaging with a business online, access matters. Small improvements can remove big barriers.”
Digital accessibility benefits people with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have mobility disabilities, cognitive disabilities, or use assistive technology. It also improves the experience for everyone by making information clearer, easier to navigate, and more usable across devices and environments.
For businesses, nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and community groups, accessibility is also good practice. Accessible communication can expand audience reach, improve customer service, reduce frustration, support legal and ethical responsibilities, and demonstrate that an organization values all people.
In recognition of GAAD, Beyond Barriers encourages organizations and individuals to take simple, practical steps toward more accessible communication:
Add alternative text to images. Write short, meaningful descriptions that explain the information an image conveys.
Use strong color contrast. Make sure text stands out clearly from its background so people with low vision or color blindness can read it more easily.
Write descriptive link text. Replace vague phrases like “click here” or “read more” with specific links such as “view our accessibility policy” or “download the event schedule.”
Structure content with headings. Use built-in heading styles in a logical order instead of only bolding or enlarging text. Headings help screen reader users move through content quickly.
Provide captions and transcripts. Add accurate closed captions to videos and transcripts for audio content so people who are deaf or hard of hearing can access the information.
Use CamelCase for hashtags. Capitalize the first letter of each word, such as #DigitalAccessibility, so screen readers can pronounce hashtags correctly.
Use plain language. Write clearly and directly. Avoid unnecessary jargon, all-caps text, and overly complex sentences.
Test with a keyboard. Make sure menus, buttons, forms, and links can be reached and used with the Tab and Enter keys, without a mouse.
Beyond Barriers invites businesses, organizations, and individuals to use GAAD as a starting point for year-round action: review digital materials, listen to people with disabilities, adopt accessibility standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and make inclusion part of everyday communication.
