This Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’re not here for bare minimums
- keziabeautyman5
- May 14
- 3 min read
What GAAD is really about
Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day a moment to pause and reflect on how digital spaces serve everyone… or don’t.
It’s about sparking conversations, asking better questions, and raising the bar for inclusion in tech. With over 1 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, many are still being excluded from tools and spaces that should be built for all of us, including learning platforms.
We were reminded of that loud and clear back at Tech for Inclusion in March, where accessibility in tech was a major focus. The panel featuring Chloe Coleman, Musab Hemsi, and Paul Cunningham was a powerful reminder of how technology can still create real barriers for so many, and how legislation, awareness, and inclusive design all play a role in making digital spaces genuinely accessible.
It brought home the point that accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity. And it’s long past time for it to be treated that way.
Why learning has to change
Let’s be honest, a lot of digital learning still isn’t built for real life. It assumes everyone learns the same way, at the same speed, with the same brain. It’s inaccessible, overwhelming, and often... kind of joyless. We know that needs to change.
Because learning should be human. It should meet people where they are, not where a developer assumes they should be. Whether you're neurodivergent, disabled, overstimulated, short on time, or just doing your best between meetings, you should still be able to show up and learn in a way that works for you.
Some platforms are starting to get that. Others still haven’t caught up.
When we built Neve Learning, we set out to reflect the messy, brilliant diversity of real people. We're proudly self-professed snowflakes, not because we’re fragile, but because we all learn differently, and we are all unique. And we believe good learning should flex to fit that.
Historically, workplace learning has tried to force everyone into one box, lengthy slide decks, fixed-format training, classroom-style sessions. In fact, research from McKinsey & Co found that just 25% of managers reported measurable business results from traditional training. The old model isn't just inaccessible, it’s ineffective.
What accessibility looks like to us
For us, accessibility isn’t just about font sizes and screen readers (though those matter a lot too). It’s about choice. Can someone pause and come back later? Can they listen instead of read? Can they use a keyboard instead of a mouse, or turn the volume down without missing key points?
And more importantly, do they feel welcome in the experience?
Accessibility is also for the tired, the overwhelmed, the neurodivergent, the anxious, the distracted, the “I’ll do this at 2am” crowd. It’s for everyone, at some point. And when you design for that reality, everything gets better, not just for some people, but for all people.
Building with accessibility in mind doesn’t lower the standard. It raises it. It makes learning smoother, more thoughtful, more usable. It gives people dignity, not just content. It’s not just about compliance, it’s about care.
This isn’t just a day
GAAD is a great reminder, but for us, this isn’t a once-a-year message. It’s every design decision, every new feature, every course layout. It’s about building something better from the ground up, not bolting it on later.
When accessibility is baked in from the start, something shifts. People want to learn. They finish things. They feel seen. They come back for more. And isn’t that what learning’s actually for?
So yes, it’s a day to shine a light. But it’s also a day to act.
Let’s build platforms, products, and learning experiences that include everyone, on purpose.
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