Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026

Each year, the third Thursday of May marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Join Guiding Eyes on May 21, 2026, in recognizing the importance of accessibility for our community.

We often notice accessibility in physical spaces: a public restroom or ramped entrance that accommodates wheelchair users, an accessible parking space, or a crosswalk signal that offers both visual and audio cues. The same principle applies online. Digital content should be intentionally designed so that everyone can access information.

According to the GAAD Foundation, an estimated one billion people worldwide live with a disability – whether visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive. Many rely on assistive technologies that help them navigate, and in the digital world, these technologies are only effective if the content itself is accessible. By removing barriers through tools such as screen readers, voice recognition software, and other assistive technologies, we create a more inclusive digital world for everyone.

To learn more about screen readers and accessibility from the perspective of blind users, explore a previous Global Accessibility Awareness Day blog post, written by graduates Melissa Carney, Community Outreach and Graduate Support Manager, and Meka White, Client Services Specialist. You may also want to visit our 2025 blog post, Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2025, which highlights five effective ways to enhance digital content and includes a quiz to test your “accessibility” knowledge. This year, we’re focusing specifically on Alternative Text.

What is Alt Text?

Alternative, or “alt,” text is a written description of an image that makes visual content accessible to people with vision loss. When you look at an image, how would you meaningfully describe it to someone who can’t see it?

Consider how you would explain:

• The subject(s) in detail
• The setting
• The actions and/or interactions taking place
• Other relevant information

Guidelines for Writing Effective Alt Text

• Writing image descriptions isn’t an exact science:  It’s a subjective exercise. Descriptions can vary based on the image, the creator, and the context.
• Focus on what’s significant: Consider your audience and which details are essential for them to know. Highlight elements that are crucial to understanding the image and supporting your content goals.
• Include context: Provide context when needed so the description is meaningful and aligned with your audience’s needs.
• Skip unnecessary details: Avoid describing every minor detail. Focus on what creates an accurate and relevant mental picture.
• Write out text overlays: If your image contains text superimposed over the photo, write that text out in full to ensure accessibility.
• Avoid “A photo of” or “An image of”:  It’s already assumed it applies to a photo. Specify the type only if it’s unique, like an illustration, painting, graphic, or screenshot.
• Consider Positional View: Think about the view someone has when looking at your image. Directional and positional information can add important context to your image description.
• Do not use abbreviations:  This can be confusing, especially for people, places, organizations, or breeds.