This year the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) will be observed on the 21st May 2026. Every year on the third Thursday of May, GAAD invites people around the world to reflect on digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities. There are more than one billion people with disabilities worldwide. GAAD serves as a call to action for developers, business, educators, and governments to actively build a more inclusive digital environment.
GAAD began as a simple but powerful challenge. In 2011, Los Angeles-based web developer Joe Devon published a blog post urging fellow developers to take digital accessibility seriously. He teamed up with an accessibility expert, Jennison Asuncion. Together, they created the first GAAD in 2012. What started as a single day awareness has since evolved into a global movement.
For its 15th anniversary in 2026, the theme “Design, Develop, Deliver” underscored a critical message: accessibility must be embedded at every stage of digital creation. From the very first idea, through the design and building stages, to the final product. Inclusive digital services should be the normal way of doing things not an afterthought. Many events will follow this theme, including online conferences from the University of Minnesota and a special GAAD 2026 International Conference.
The Digital Accessibility Gap in South Africa
While GAAD is a global initiative, its relevance is deeply local. In South Africa, significant barriers continue to limit digital access for persons with disabilities.
- Many South Africans with disabilities do not own smartphones.Fewer than half of people with disabilities in Africa have a smartphone. In South Africa, smartphones are often too expensive, and data costs are high.[1]
- Internet access is still low. In many parts of South Africa, broadband is slow or unavailable. Load-shedding (power cuts) also makes it hard to stay online.[2]
- Data is expensive. For many families, buying data means choosing between food, electricity, and the internet.
- Most content is not in our languages. South Africa has 12 official languages, but most accessible digital content is only in English or other global languages. This leaves millions of people behind.[3]
These problems mean that many South Africans with disabilities cannot access online education, apply for jobs, use health services, or take part in government decisions online. Technology can help, but only if we design it properly for everyone. In South Africa, digital accessibility is not a favour, it is a right. The following laws and agreements protect that right:
- The South African Constitution (Section 9) says everyone has the right to equality and dignity. If a website or app is not accessible, that is unfair discrimination.
- The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA) also supports equal access.
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) – South Africa has signed this treaty. It says countries must make sure people with disabilities can access information and technology on an equal basis with others.
- The African Disability Protocol – This is a new African law that requires countries to provide information in accessible formats, support sign language, and remove barriers in public services.
These laws are clear: digital inclusion is not a charity project. It is a legal duty.
Furthermore, a problem that is often ignored is language. In South Africa, we speak many languages – isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana, English and more. But most accessible digital content is only in English. If a screen reader or voice assistant cannot speak your home language, you are left out. We need accessible content in all our languages so that no one is left behind.
How you can take action
You don’t need to be a tech expert to help. Here are simple ways you can get involved for GAAD 2026:
- Attend a free online event. Look for local or international GAAD events. Some are hosted by South African universities, NGOs, or the Internet Governance Forum.
- Test your own organisation’s website. Can a blind person use it with a screen reader? Can someone with low vision read the text? Can someone with a movement disability use the keyboard only? If not, ask for changes.
- Take a free accessibility course. Many online courses are simple and free. Learn the basics of accessible design.
- Use the GAAD Celebration Toolkit. It has ready-made social media posts and activity ideas.
- Pledge to improve WordPress accessibility. If you use WordPress, you can help fix accessibility issues in themes or plugins.
- Talk to your employer or school. Ask them: “What are we doing to make our digital tools accessible to everyone?”
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is more than a symbolic observance – it is a reminder that digital spaces do not become inclusive by default. If we do not design carefully, we build walls that shut people out. The 2026 theme – Design, Develop, Deliver – calls on all of us in South Africa to make accessibility part of every step of our work. Whether you build apps, run a business, teach in a classroom or work in government you have a role to play. As the Centre for Human Rights says: “Universal and meaningful access to the internet is not a luxury – it is essential for true and inclusive development.” This 21 May 2026, the question is not whether accessibility matters- but rather: What will you do to turn awareness to action?
Belinda Matore
Centre for Human Rights Faculty of Law
br.matore@up.ac.za
[1] Buthelezi, S.P., Zondo, N.M., Nxumalo, L.T.M. & Vilakazi, M., 2024, ‘Determining the digital divide among people with disabilities in KwaZulu-Natal’, South African Journal of Information Management 26(1), a1820.
[2] Vermeulen J, ‘Massive internet problems in South Africa’, MyBroadBand, available at https://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/648580-massive-internet-problems-in-south-africa-2.html (accessed 20 May 2026).
[3] Sundani, N. (2023). South African Indigenous Languages and Digital Technologies: Access, Promotion and Preservation. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review. 6. 41-51. 10.47814/ijssrr.v6i8.1385.
