Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2021

Thursday 20 May is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Accessibility is all about making digital resources easy for everyone to use, no matter what disabilities or impairments people may have.  

There are over 1 billion people globally who have disabilities/impairments. At the OU we have more than 30,000 students with a declared disability, plus staff and enquirers too. We have a huge responsibility to ensure our digital presence is accessible, and it's a responsibility we take very seriously.   

GAAD aims to raise awareness of accessibility, to get us thinking more inclusively, and to empower us so that we can continuously improve digital access. This year, there are over 70 GAAD events, covering everything from accessible PDFs to assistive technologies, digital innovation to digital exams. There are webinars, bootcamps and panels taking place throughout the rest of May. 

The OU's very own Accessibility, Usability and Evaluation team (AUE) are celebrating Accessibility Awareness for the full week of Monday 17 to Friday 21 May, sharing links and resources with OU staff throughout the week. 

To learn more about GAAD, or to attend an accessibility event, visit the GAAD website.