Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Today (May 19) is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion.
Did you know?
- More than 1 billion people worldwide have some type of disability.
- Many disabilities are not obvious. They include hearing, cognitive, motor and learning disabilities.
- Assistive technology helps not only those with disabilities but many others as well.
The web has opened many doors for us all. Some of us remember a time before audiobooks, Alexa and even Google! We once had to go to libraries and bookstores to get information or books. Today, people all over the world can access information in a mere moment. But imagine for a minute that you aren't able to participate. What if you couldn't navigate a website, search for information, make a doctor appointment online or read online content? For some of us, not being able to accomplish these tasks would be inconvenient; but for many, they are essential tasks.
If you've ever used closed captions, an audiobook, talk to text or voice-controlled technology like Siri or Alexa, you've benefited from accessible technology. If you've ever asked Alexa to add tissues to your shopping list and she added "two shoes" instead, you've also experienced what it can be like to encounter a barrier. By making our websites accessible, we reduce the likelihood that we are creating barriers, and we benefit from having a larger and more diverse audience.
Want to gain a little insight? In the spirit of GAAD, give this keyboard-only game a try.
If you've discovered an accessibility barrier, please let us know. If you have questions or would like to join the Accessible Technology Working Group (ATWG), contact us at accessibility-l@mtu.edu.