Every year, the third Thursday of May is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a global initiative that seeks to promote digital inclusion and raise awareness of the importance of making technology products usable by all people, including those with visual, hearing, cognitive or motor disabilities.

In an increasingly digital world, accessibility is no longer a "plus," it's a necessity. It means designing experiences that work for everyone, regardless of ability. This ranges from navigable websites with screen readers, to understandable forms, clear structures and designs that prioritize usability.

We are convinced that accessibility begins with awareness, and that every team member has the ability to make a difference. In the words of one of our PMs, this is the spirit that guides us:

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day and it is a time to remember, analyze and think about how we always have as a goal how we can bring the digital world closer to all people in an inclusive way, whether we are creating a new system or maintaining a current system, every time we are working in our day to day within the projects we are working on.

Accessibility should not be seen as an option, on the contrary, we must have it present from the beginning of each of our projects thinking of all people, including those with visual, hearing, cognitive or motor disabilities. This is not only an act of empathy, but a responsibility and part of the values we have as a company.

We have the great opportunity that our work has a direct impact on people's lives and that is why it is so important that in every job we are going to deliver we think about at least the following 2 questions:
- Will what I am working on really be usable by a person with a visual, hearing, motor and/or cognitive disability?
- Is what I am going to deliver really intuitive and clear for all levels of users with or without digital experience?

Including accessibility in our processes and in our day to day is also a way to innovate and to grow as professionals. It forces us to think differently and to collaborate more, focusing on what really matters to us, such as all the people who need to use the products we are creating.

Today is a good day for us to remember, but also tomorrow and the days to come. Let's continue to create with empathy, with awareness and with purpose...

"Let's make beautiful technology together".
Eleu Acuña - Project Manager
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How do we integrate accessibility into our projects?

Although there is always more to learn and improve, these are some of the practices we promote within our processes:

User-centered design: Include profiles of users with disabilities in our initial definitions.
Inclusive testing: Validate the experience with tools such as screen readers, color contrast and keyboard navigation.
Continuous training: Encourage internal training in good web accessibility practices (WCAG, ARIA, etc.).
Collaborative review: Incorporate designers, testers and developers in joint accessibility evaluations.

Technology should be for everyone

Our work impacts the lives of real people. When we make a product more accessible, we don't just make it better for one part of the population: we make it better for everyone.

Today is an opportunity to reflect, but also to take action: to question ourselves, to learn, to improve our processes and to listen to those who face digital barriers every day.

Let us continue to create with empathy, awareness and purpose.

To learn more about Global Accessibility Awareness Day and how you can get involved, visit: https://accessibility.day/.