In today’s world of rapidly advancing technology, it has become more important than ever that companies and organizations do their best to make new technologies accessible to everyone.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15 percent of the world’s population − an estimated 1 billion people − live with disabilities, with many facing accessibility barriers every day in the form of inaccessible physical structures or transportation, a lack of assistive devices, or non-existent services, just to name a few.
For some, simply browsing the internet, texting friends, or playing games online can pose a wide range of challenges and frustrations.
Tomorrow (May 16), people around the world will shine a spotlight on digital accessibility as part of the 8th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) celebration. The day will feature global discussions, meet-ups, and hands-on demos designed to encourage everyone to talk, think, and learn about digital (web, software, mobile, etc.) access and inclusion for people of all abilities.
Though the day’s target audience is the design, development, and usability communities who build, shape, fund, and influence technology and its use, GAAD is centered on promoting awareness in making technology accessible and usable by persons with disabilities across the board and provide real direction to those who seek it.
Events are planned in more than a dozen states in the US, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington as well as Washington, D.C.
Internationally, events are set for Dublin, Ireland; London, England; Madrid, Spain; Munich, Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Tokyo, Japan; and Toronto, Canada, among others.
Click here for a list of Global Accessibility Awareness Day events and activities near you.
The largest captioning company in the United States, VITAC has provided over 30 years of accessibility services and solutions in a variety of industries for clients of all sizes. We have worked closely with advocacy groups and organizations as we strive to make accessible content standard.
Our team always is working to improve our captioning solutions, developing and using new technologies to create the best service for all our caption clients and viewers.
At VITAC, we are committed to increased accessibility for all, and are pleased to support the efforts of the accessibility community to create global awareness.