Accessibility Week 2026
To celebrate the 15th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on Thursday 21 May 2026, we are raising awareness every day over the next week.
It is a chance for organisations around the world to focus on digital accessibility and inclusion. This helps us make sure everyone can access the digital services we provide. It reminds us that accessibility is not just a technical task, but something we all play a part in every day.
Why accessibility matters
Accessibility is about making sure that everyone can access information and services, regardless of their needs or circumstances. This includes disabled people, neurodivergent users, older people, and anyone who may use assistive technology such as screen readers, magnifiers or speech recognition software.
When we design content and services in an accessible way, we improve the experience for everyone. It is not limited to websites or systems. It also applies to documents, emails, meetings, forms, and everyday communication. Small changes can make a big difference.
Accessibility Week 2026 (18 to 22 May)
Colleagues are invited to take part in Accessibility Week 2026, running from Monday 18 to Friday 22 May. This is a cross‑government initiative, with a range of UK public sector organisations working together to share knowledge and good practice.
All sessions are free, online, and open to all colleagues. This is regardless of role or technical background.
Monday 18 May
- 10am to 1pm: Introduction to Accessibility (Home Office) - an interactive course covering the basics of accessibility and inclusion.
- 1.30pm to 2.30pm: An introduction to assistive software (Department for Work and Pensions) - overview of screen readers, magnifiers, visual enhancements, and voice recognition.
Tuesday 19 May
- 10am to 11am: Designing with autistic people: inclusive design that benefits everyone (HMRC) - focus on cognitive accessibility and inclusive design approaches.
- 2pm to 3pm: From access to confidence: the spectrum of digital media literacy (HMRC and Ofcom) - exploration of digital inclusion, confidence, and wider social factors.
Wednesday 20 May
- 1pm to 2pm: Common WCAG fails (Department for Work and Pensions) - overview of common accessibility issues found in digital services.
- 2pm to 3pm: An introduction to keyboard navigation (Companies House)- experience how services are used without a mouse.
- 3pm to 4pm: Running accessible meetings and events (Ministry of Justice) - practical guidance for inclusive meetings, both online and in person.
Thursday 21 May (Global Accessibility Awareness Day)
- 10am to 11am: Creating an accessible PowerPoint template (Department for Work and Pensions) – a practical session on creating accessible PowerPoint templates using Slide Master and layouts.
- 11am to 12pm: The quiet magic of accessibility regulations and guidelines (His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, HMRC) – an introduction to WCAG 2.2 and accessibility regulations, why they matter, how they are enforced, and how to encourage organisations to take them seriously.
- 1pm to 3pm: Digital accessibility fundamentals training (Deque) – a free two-hour training session focusing on what digital accessibility is, why it is important, what the important guidelines and regulations are, how those with disabilities navigate the web, and how you can get started with accessibility.
Get involved
Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility, and Accessibility Week is a great opportunity to learn something new and build confidence.
Whether you create content, run meetings, design services, or support customers, these sessions offer practical insights you can apply in your role straight away.
Take a look at the sessions and sign up for those that interest you. All events are available via the Connects homepage, found below Latest News within the ‘Events’ section.
Attending even one session can make a difference.
Published May 18, 2026
