Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025

Dr Richard Dune

15-03-2024

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025

Image by seventyfourimages via Envato Elements

Unveiling the power of global accessibility awareness day: Committing to change

In today’s busy digital world, accessibility isn’t just a choice, it’s a basic right. Yet millions of people around the world are still left out of the digital world because of inaccessible content and technology. That’s where Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2025 plays an important role, bringing communities together to support inclusivity and help people of all abilities. This year’s theme, “Committing to Change”, focuses on the need to keep improving and working together to make digital spaces more accessible. It encourages everyone to take action and make accessibility a key part of digital development.

Understanding accessibility

Accessibility is about designing products, services, and environments to be usable by everyone, including those with disabilities. In the digital world, this means creating websites, apps, and content that are easy to navigate and understand for people with diverse needs. The focus is on continuous improvement, ensuring that digital spaces are more inclusive and accessible for all.

The impact of GAAD on learners

Highlighting the importance of inclusive learning, GAAD empowers educators and institutions to break down digital barriers and ensure equitable access to education for all learners.

Empowering through education

GAAD catalyses change in the education sector, encouraging ongoing efforts to raise awareness and understanding of accessibility issues among educators, students, and policymakers. By promoting inclusive design practices and providing resources for accessible learning materials, GAAD supports continuous improvement in bridging the digital divide. This ensures that learners of all abilities can fully participate and succeed in educational settings, fostering an environment where accessibility is always a priority.

Promoting inclusive technology

Through workshops, seminars, and online campaigns, GAAD encourages the continuous development of accessible technology solutions that improve the learning experience for individuals with disabilities. From screen readers to speech recognition software, these innovations are part of the ongoing effort to create more inclusive digital environments. By fostering a commitment to change, these tools help open doors to new opportunities, empowering learners to reach their full potential.

Key facts and statistics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.3 billion people globally - around 16% of the world’s population - live with some form of disability. This figure is expected to rise due to ageing populations and increased chronic health conditions.

(Source: WHO – Disability and Health)

A report by the United Nations estimates that 90% of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school, highlighting a major gap in access to education and the need for long-term solutions that promote inclusive learning environments.

(Source: UN DESA – Factsheet on Persons with Disabilities)

In the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 (which replaced the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) legally protects people with disabilities from discrimination and ensures equal access to education, employment, services, and digital content.

(Source: GOV.UK – The Equality Act 2010)

Recommendations

Educate yourself – Make a commitment to continuous learning by exploring resources from organisations such as GAAD, W3C, AbilityNet, and The Mandatory Training Group. These platforms offer valuable insights into accessibility principles, practical guidance, and the latest developments to help you stay informed and actively involved.
Advocate for change - Join the conversation on social media, attend local events, and engage with policymakers to advocate for greater accessibility in education and technology.
Embrace inclusive design – No matter your role- educator, developer, or content creator- embed accessibility into your daily work. By consistently designing with inclusion in mind, you help remove barriers and create digital experiences that support people of all abilities.

Conclusion

As we commemorate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2025, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive world where every learner, regardless of ability, can access the transformative power of education and technology. This year’s theme, “Committing to Change”, calls on individuals, organisations, and communities to take meaningful, ongoing steps toward greater accessibility.

Together, let's embrace the spirit of GAAD 2025 by making accessibility an everyday practice, not just a one-time goal. At The Mandatory Training Group, we offer a wide range of accessibility awareness resources and training solutions to support educators, service providers, and organisations on their journey toward inclusion.

ComplyPlus™, our integrated compliance and learning management system, plays a vital role in this journey. It enables organisations to embed accessibility into their training programmes and digital content. With features that support inclusive learning, such as screen reader compatibility, closed captioning, and customisable user experiences, ComplyPlusTM helps ensure compliance with accessibility standards while empowering all learners to succeed.

Join us in championing lasting change and building a future where accessibility is not just a goal, but a shared responsibility and a lived reality.

Last updated on 15-05-2025

About the author

Rose Mabiza

Rose has dedicated over 15 years to improving health and social care quality through practice, targeted education and training. Her extensive experience includes working with older adults, individuals with mental health conditions, and people with autism and learning disabilities.