May 12, 2026
May 21 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual event celebrated on the third Thursday in May to raise awareness about digital accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.
GAAD aims to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion. Over one billion people worldwide have disabilities and GAAD seeks to address their needs.
Digital accessibility means that websites, digital tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them, including individuals with disabilities related to visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive functioning.
WebAIM analyzed one million website homepages and found that 98% had at least one Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 failure. The most common accessibility issues identified included insufficient color contrast between text and background, missing image alt text, and empty links.
Visit the Global Accessibility Awareness Day website to learn more about GAAD and how inaccessibility affects the civil rights of individuals and hinders businesses.
