Today is the sixth annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! Recognition of this day began after a blog post by Joe Devon circulated the Internet in November 2011. According to the GAAD website, “the purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital (web, software, mobile, etc.) access/inclusion and people with different disabilities.”
In one of ProctorU’s recent blog posts, The Future of Accessibility in Higher Education, Front- end Developer Scott Thigpen says that “to ensure that ProctorU’s services are easily utilized by students with vision impairment, ProctorU took it upon ourselves to make sure we cover the major VPAT/WCAG compliance requirements. We also have 24/7 phone and live chat support to accommodate most ADA needs.’”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about one in five people has a disability. The 20 percent of the American population who live with disabilities every day deserve to have unrestricted access to life just as their peers sans disability do.
Why is it so important for companies to adhere to accessibility rules and regulations? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about one in five people has a disability. That’s 20 percent of the American population who live with disabilities every day and deserve to have unrestricted access to life just as their peers sans disability do.
Losing customers is obviously not what businesses strive for, but Apple CEO Tim Cook has never thought about that aspect. Cook stated in a recent interview, “accessibility is a human right. . . We feel strongly that everyone deserves equal opportunity and equal access.”
If you or someone you know has a disability, tweet us (@ProctorU) to let us know which product has changed your life or that of your friend for the better! Be sure to use the hashtag #GAAD