There will be a summary at the bottom of the post. 

 

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) happens every year on the third Thursday of May. This year GAAD takes place on May 16th. This annual event is dedicated to reminding people about the importance of making technology and digital content usable for everyone, including those with disabilities and different impairments. Throughout the day, various events and campaigns promote awareness and encourage the development of more accessible digital experiences. GAAD has been crucial in creating positive changes and advancing inclusivity in the digital world.

 

According to WebAIM’s 2020 report on internet homepage accessibility, 98.1% of the website homepages used as data for the report contained at least one failure to meet the standards of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0). There are estimated to be over 1 billion people worldwide living with various disabilities.

 

Common Disabilities/Impairments

Visual Impairment: 

Individuals who are blind need alternative text descriptions for images to understand their content. They also rely on keyboard navigation rather than a mouse for interacting with digital interfaces. 

 

Hearing Impairment: 

Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing need captioning for video presentations, and visual indicators to replace audio cues. 

 

Motor Impairment: 

Individuals with motor impairments may need alternative keyboards, eye control or other adaptive hardware to assist them in typing and navigating on their devices. 

 

Cognitive Impairment:

When it comes to individuals with cognitive impairments, an uncluttered screen, consistent navigation, and the use of plain language can be highly beneficial for individuals with different learning disabilities and impairments. 

 

How can I help? 

 

Here are some ways you can help to make social media and websites more inclusive.

•  Add Image and Video Descriptions;

Including descriptions alongside images and videos provides essential information about the content. They help people with vision disabilities and online search engines to access and understand the material.  

 

• Use Captions;

Utilizing captions not only provides visual access to audio content, benefiting deaf or hard of hearing individuals, but also assists non-native speakers of the language. Additionally, many people prefer viewing social media with the sound off, making captions crucial for a wider audience.  

 

• Make Text Readable;

Ensuring text readability involves paying attention to the contrast between text color and the background. High contrast is vital for individuals with vision impairments or in environments with poor lighting. Avoid using white text on pale backgrounds, instead opt for dark text on a light background. 

 

• Learn from the Community;

Engage with and learn from the community to understand their needs and challenges. This will provide valuable insights into how to make your social media/website content more accessible and inclusive.

• Advocate for accessibility;

There are estimated to be 1 billion people living with disabilities worldwide, and advocating for accessibility is crucial to ensure that social media and websites are inclusive for all. By actively supporting and promoting accessibility features and best practices, you can contribute to a more inclusive online environment that benefits everyone.  

 

Summary: 

• Global Accessibility Awareness Day highlights the importance of inclusive digital experiences for people with disabilities. 

• WebAIM’s 2020 report revealed that 98.1% of website homepages did not meet accessibility standards, emphasizing the need for improvement. 

 

Ways you can help: 

• Add Descriptions to Images and Video

• Use Captions

• Make Text Easy to Read 

• Listen to the Community 

• Advocate for Accessibility
  
  

 

With love,

The Inclusivity Group