91̽»¨Global Accessibility Awareness Day ( 91̽»¨GAAD)
GAAD is an annual global event, designed to engage people around the world in talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion.
Each year, the 91̽»¨commemorates GAAD by offering a day of lectures, workshops, and other activities related to digital accessibility. In 2026 we have even more reason to celebrate GAAD – the incredible amount of hard work and dedication our community has devoted to making 91̽»¨a more accessible university for our students, our colleagues, and the public!
This year we will be celebrating with a hybrid event, in person and on Zoom. GAAD 2026 at 91̽»¨will highlight digital accessibility efforts from across our community and will feature presentations, panels, and guest speakers who represent a wide range of units and disciplines. We hope you’ll join us!
Save the date
UW’s 2026 GAAD celebration is happening on Thursday, May 21, from 10:00 am to 4 p.m. in room 250 at the HUB and online.
GAAD 2026 sessions are free and open to the 91̽»¨community, but registration is required. Join us for one session or attend them all!
Program details, including panel discussions and research presentations, are tentative and subject to change. The tentative schedule:
| Activity | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Community Partners: Working together to build digital accessibility (presentation) | 10:00 am | 10:50 am |
| Lightning Talks highlighting Accessibility Milestones achieved by teams across UW | 11:00 am | 11:50 am |
| Lunch (bring your own) and Networking | Noon | 12:45 pm |
Keynote address / Thoughts from Leadership:
|
12:45 pm | 1:45 pm |
| Digital Accessibility and Course Alignment (presentation and discussion) | 2:00 pm | 2:50 pm |
| Challenges and emerging solutions in accessible Math/STEM (panel) | 3:00 pm | 4:00 pm |
Evening Agenda
| Activity | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| The Office of Public Lectures presents: What Does Law Mean in Crisis? How Crip Feminist Technoscience Will Save Us – with Ly XÄ«nzhèn M. ZhÇŽngsÅ«n Brown | 6:30 pm |
Learn More
- | The GAAD Foundation
- 91̽»¨GAAD Archives
Questions?
Contact ATS Events at ats-events@uw.edu.