Question: What do bendy straws, text messages, the touchscreen on your smartphone, audiobooks, electric toothbrushes, keyboard shortcuts, weighted blankets, jar openers, curbs that slope down to road level and Velcro have in common?
Answer: Today they are found in every household and location – but they were originally designed for disability inclusion.
The purpose of GAAD (Global Accessibility Awareness Day) is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disabilities/impairments.
On 15 May 2025, businesses around the world will recognise and promote Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) – a day dedicated to raising awareness about digital access and inclusion for the more than 1 billion people with disabilities worldwide.
GAAD began in 2012 with a simple mission: to get people talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion. Now in its 13th year, GAAD continues to grow in impact, prompting companies, developers, designers, and decision-makers to prioritise accessibility in every aspect of digital and workplace experiences.
There are 16 million disabled people in the UK. Disabled people are almost twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people, and 3 times as likely to be economically inactive.
| · | 11% of children are disabled |
| · | 23% of working age adults are disabled |
| · | 45% of pension age adults are disabled |
Why Accessibility Matters in the Workplace
Accessibility is more than just a compliance issue – it’s about creating equitable experiences for all employees and customers, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. When we design with accessibility in mind, we unlock opportunities for people with disabilities to thrive in the workplace, contribute their talents, and fully participate in the digital world.
| An accessible workplace means | |
| · | Inclusive communication |
| · | Equal access to technology by designing websites and platforms that work for all users |
| · | A culture of belonging where everyone feels empowered to do their best work |
What We Can All Do
Take the opportunity to learn, reflect, and act. Here are a few suggestions:
| · | Learn about the evolution and types of accessible technology |
| · | Try out some of the technology – have you ever tried using a screen reader or keyboard navigation? |
| · | Listen to the experiences of friends, family and colleagues with disabilities to further your empathy and understand their needs and challenges better. |
| · | Reflect – when you post an image on LinkedIn, do you provide alternative text for the benefit of an audience using a screen reader? If you look back at old documents, what is the colour contract and text readability like? |
| · | Tell us what you find useful. Is there a piece of kit or software that has improved your experience of working – please share the details with the People Team so they can help others in your position. |
| · | Is there a piece of tech that you would like to look into which may improvement your working experience – please speak to your line manager or the People Team to see if this can be explored. |
Our Commitment
Skewb has always been, and is 100% committed to building a workplace that values inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility – and for this inclusion to spread outwards into our community and clients. We continue to invest in inclusive policies, products and practices, and education that helps us all grow. GAAD is not just a one-day event—it’s part of an ongoing journey toward greater equity. Let’s use 15 May as a reminder that accessibility benefits everyone—and that when we design for inclusion, we design for all.
WebAIM: Web Accessibility In Mind
Discover Windows accessibility features – Microsoft Support
Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA) – TPGi
Disability Price Tag 2024 | Disability charity Scope UK
10 digital accessibility mistakes to avoid – Accessibility in government
The Click-Away Pound Survey 2019 – Home Page
Make Technology Work for Everyone: introducing digital accessibility
By Gill Edwards
Gill Edwards is Senior Project Manager at Skewb. To speak with her about this topic in more detail, you can connect with her on LinkedIn.
