Today marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an initiative that began in 2012 with a simple blog post by web developer Joe Devon, who noticed the lack of attention to digital accessibility. What started as a call to action has grown into a worldwide movement dedicated to raising awareness about digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people with disabilities.
Reflecting on this day, I'm reminded how accessibility affects all of us in ways we might not immediately recognize.
While GAAD specifically highlights digital accessibility for websites, apps, and software, these digital tools increasingly serve as gateways to physical experiences that affect everyone's daily life.
The Universal Experience of Disability
When we talk about disability, we're discussing something that touches far more lives than many realize. According to the CDC, about 26% of U.S. adults—that's one in four Americans—report having a disability. But the impact extends much further.
Disability touches a broader audience—families coordinating care, friends adapting plans, and caregivers providing support. Many of us will experience temporary disabilities through injuries or illnesses. I've watched friends and family navigate the world differently after bike accidents or surgeries, suddenly aware of barriers they'd never noticed before.
And as we age, what once seemed like accommodations become necessities. The curb cut that helps someone in a wheelchair today might be exactly what you'll rely on in 20 years.
The Business Case for Accessibility
Too often, accessibility is framed as a compliance requirement or charitable effort. In reality, it's a powerful business opportunity that many organizations miss.
Accessibility isn't about convenience—it's about safety, independence, and dignity. When businesses prioritize inclusive experiences, they aren't just serving the disability community; they're building customer loyalty that extends to friends and family.
According to the Return on Disability Group, the global disability market represents $13 trillion in disposable income, a market segment larger than China. Businesses that recognize this opportunity are positioning themselves for success.
Design Thinking and Accessibility
The most powerful shift happens when we stop thinking about accessibility as an accommodation and start recognizing it as good design.
From recreational facility websites with inaccessible registration forms to fitness apps that don't work with screen readers, digital barriers often prevent access to physical activities before people ever reach the front door.
People often envision accessibility as an aluminum ramp appendage on the side of a building, a separate entrance at the back of a facility, or a shower chair hastily bolted to the wall of a hotel bathroom. These afterthoughts not only stand out as different—they often create additional barriers rather than removing them.
Universal design principles challenge us to consider diverse needs from the beginning. Sloped entrances that work for everyone. Adjustable-height desks that accommodate different bodies. Digital interfaces that can be navigated by voice, touch, or assistive devices.
Solutions designed for people with disabilities often benefit everyone. Think about voice assistants, originally developed for blind users, now ubiquitous in homes. Or how remote work accommodations, long requested by people with disabilities, suddenly became mainstream during the pandemic.
Recreation's Critical Role
Recreation and physical activity offer vital health benefits, yet remain disproportionately inaccessible to people with disabilities.
According to the CDC, adults with disabilities are three times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than adults without disabilities. Regular physical activity can dramatically reduce these risks, but only if people can access appropriate opportunities.
This is where the work with Able Innovation begins. We're in the early stages of launching this nonprofit organization focused on maximizing engagement opportunities in social, recreation, and physical activity for people with disabilities. Our approach centers on connecting individuals with the organizations serving them to create more efficient pathways for everyone involved.
We recognize that digital accessibility is the first step in creating these opportunities. Finding information, registering for activities, and connecting with support networks all happen online before physical participation begins.
By addressing the fragmented landscape and improving organizational outreach, we're working toward a future where the benefits of physical activity are accessible to all. On this Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we invite you to join us in building this more accessible future—both online and in person."