Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025: turning awareness into action

Thursday 15 May marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a global initiative that shines a spotlight on digital access and inclusion for over one billion people with disabilities. For those of us working in the digital space, it’s a timely reminder that accessibility isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s a fundamental requirement for inclusive, user-first design. 

Why accessibility still needs awareness 

GAAD was co-founded in 2012 to start meaningful conversations and encourage practical action around digital accessibility. Yet, despite greater awareness, progress is still patchy. According to the WebAIM Million report, 96% of homepages continue to fall short of WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

That has real-world consequences. Barriers to access don’t just affect people with permanent disabilities, they also impact those with temporary impairments, situational challenges, or language limitations. The takeaway? Accessible design benefits everyone. 

Our commitment to accessibility  

At Quba, accessibility is part of our DNA. That’s why we partnered with Recite Me, a leader in on-demand accessibility solutions. Their technology helps organisations meet WCAG compliance while improving usability for a much broader audience. 

Our own website was the first to benefit, and the improvements were immediate. Since then, we’ve rolled out Recite Me's solutions across multiple client sites, including Birmingham Airport and the Education Development Trust. 

We're also proud of the fact that our Technical Director, Ben Franklin, has been appointed as a Recite Me Ambassador. In this role, Ben joins a network of specialists dedicated to creating inclusive digital environments. As he puts it: 

"It's an honour to be selected as a Recite Me ambassador. At Quba, we are deeply committed to accessibility, and this appointment reinforces our ability to support our clients in creating more accessible and inclusive digital experiences. Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025 is fantastic for raising awareness of this important issue" 

Furthermore, we continue to raise awareness of accessibility issues such as the European Accessibility Act (EAA) where Ben and Amy Willoughby, Quba’s Head of UX and Design, presented a webinar on the impact of the EAA for airports, you can watch it here. 

Accessibility as a commercial advantage 

Making your website accessible isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes sound commercial sense. Product such as Recite Me help clients widen their reach, reduce friction for users, and increase engagement across the board. Accessibility supports compliance, but it also boosts performance. 

How you can get involved 

GAAD is about action. Whether you’re just starting your accessibility journey or levelling up your current setup, here are a few steps you can take: 

• Review your website: Audit your digital platforms against WCAG guidelines 
• Upskill your team: Provide training on inclusive design and user testing 
• Use the right tools: Consider solutions like Recite Me to bridge key gaps 
• Talk to experts: Quba can support you at every step of the journey 

Let’s build a more inclusive digital world 

GAAD is a powerful opportunity to focus on inclusion. But the work doesn’t stop here. Let’s commit to embedding accessibility into everything we design, develop, and deliver. 

If you’re looking to make your digital content more inclusive, or want to learn how Recite Me can support your goals then get in touch. Our accessibility experts are ready to help.