Global Accessibility Awareness Day: “Disrupt the culture of technology”

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2024

Today marks the 13th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual event which encourages developers and designers to reevaluate digital inclusivity.

The main aim is to ensure accessibility is a core requirement for all technology, and that it is considered throughout each stage of development work.

How did GAAD begin?

GAAD has its origin in a blog post by Joe Devon in 2011, which called for “a day of the year where web developers across the globe try to raise awareness and know-how on making sites accessible.” In May 2012, this day became a reality and GAAD has since seen immense success in encouraging improved accessibility.

In honour of GAAD’s 10th anniversary, the GAAD Foundation was established. The nonprofit organisation endeavours to make accessibility ‘accessible’ by hosting events and sharing resources that clearly outline what accessibility is and how it can be implemented. Crucially, the foundation stresses that accessibility should be an ongoing priority 365 days a year, not just today.

Why does digital accessibility matter?

The World Health Organisation estimates that 1.3 billion people (or 16% of the global population) experience a significant disability. Technology that does not consider access requirements ultimately isolates this population of people, removing their ability to participate or be independent.

GAAD exists as a pertinent reminder that removing digital obstacles to allow for equal access and experience is essential. Ultimately, practising accessibility is for the benefit of everyone.

Accessibility and Exact Editions

Exact Editions strives to ensure that the platform can be used by the widest possible audience. Some of the assistive features that have been implemented so far include:

Plain Text
Each magazine is equipped with a plain text box below the magazine image. This allows for different reader softwares to read the text within the magazine. The font and font size can also be adjusted.

Text-to-Speech
The embedded ‘Read Aloud’ technology reads the digital text when users click the ‘Listen’ button. Users can choose the rate and pitch of speech.

Remote Access
An Exact Editions’ subscription can be accessed in public spaces (such as at a library), but also at home. This means that users can access fully-searchable magazine archives 24/7, without encountering a physical obstacle or barrier.

Keyboard Navigation
Most of the website can be navigated via a keyboard. It is possible to navigate the reader using mostly tab, shift+tab, return and the arrow keys. The platform also incorporates dedicated keyboard shortcuts to help when reading an issue, you can see these below:

Try out the features by accessing an issue of Positive News Magazine.

Exact Editions is committed to providing users with a seamless and accessible experience. The team will therefore work to solve any limitations where it is technically possible to do so. 

If you would like to highlight an inaccessible area of the site, please contact Exact Editions using the details below:

Email: info@exacteditions.com
Phone: +44 20 3116 0155

Learn More:

For further information, please read the Exact Editions Accessibility Statement.

Individual digital subscriptions to magazines are available in the Exact Editions shop. If you are looking to subscribe on behalf of an institution or library, you can view the wide range of digital magazines available.

Find out more about Exact Editions’ digital publishing solutions here, or contact us at info@exacteditions.com.

**All Reading Room links will expire on 16 August 2024.**