[CATO] Get ready for GAAD 2025

[Vicki Walton]

[Global Accessibility Awareness Day logo]

May 15 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)<https://accessibility.day/>. This is a time to celebrate, reflect, and recommit to building a more inclusive digital world. The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disabilities worldwide.

Digital Accessibility Definition:
The inclusive practice of ensuring there are no barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to, websites, apps, and documents by people with disabilities. When digital content is correctly designed and developed, more users have equal access to information and functionality.

Accessibility Benefits Everyone, Not Just Individuals with Disabilities:
Accessible design leads to a more intuitive and pleasant user experience for all. Accessibility promotes inclusivity by ensuring that everyone can participate in the same way, regardless of their abilities.

Turn Awareness to Action:
*         Watch a 3-minute Disability Awareness video.

Disability Sensitivity video<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkz-UNuvve0>

Follow our protagonist, Bob, as he learns how to interact with people with disabilities.

*         Read about updated disability language.

This is a great Disability Style Guide<https://ncdj.org/style-guide/> from the National Center on Disability and Journalism. Or, check out the book Demystifying Disability<https://emilyladau.com/book/> by Emily Ladau.

The Time is Now:
The revised Title II regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandate that state and local governments comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Levels A and AA, by April 24, 2026. This requirement applies to the accessibility of websites, mobile applications, and other digital content made available to the public by entities such as public schools, universities, libraries, and other government agencies.

Together, we can make this happen!!


[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]Vicki Walton
Pronouns: they/them
Web Accessibility Specialist/IT Quality Assurance Tester
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
vwalton at sbctc.edu*<mailto:vwalton at sbctc.edu*> office: 360-704-4343* website: www.sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/default.aspx>
Accessibility is a fundamental right


Accessibility is not a checkbox. Accessibility is a mindset that can lead to a very powerful sense of inclusion.
~ Maayan Ziv founder and CEO AccessNow

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