Many people first encounter public information online. They may visit a website, open a PDF, fill out a form, watch a video, register for an event, read an email or join a public meeting.

When digital information is accessible, people can find what they need, complete tasks and participate more independently. When it is not accessible, people may miss information, deadlines, services, meetings or opportunities that should have been available to them.

That is why digital accessibility is not only a technology issue. It is a matter of public service.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

This year, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, or GAAD, is observed on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The day is an opportunity to talk, think and learn about digital access and inclusion for more than 1 billion people with disabilities worldwide.

GAAD is a reminder that digital access affects everyday life and everyday public service. It asks us to notice where digital barriers show up and whose participation may be limited when they do.

Awareness matters, but it is only the starting point. In public service, the goal is not just to recognize digital barriers. The goal is to reduce them before they affect someone’s access to information, services or participation.

Awareness Should Become Routine Practice

Digital accessibility improves when it becomes part of routine work.

That doesn’t mean every person needs to become a technical expert. It does mean common digital tasks should include accessibility from the beginning. Writers can use clear headings and meaningful link text. Video creators can include captions. Staff can make documents, forms, registration pages and meeting materials accessible before they are shared.

These choices may seem small, but together they can meaningfully improve accessibility. The point is not to do everything at once. The point is to make accessibility part of the way digital information is planned, created and shared.

Accessibility Is More Than a Requirement

The federal Title II web and mobile accessibility rule brings renewed attention to digital accessibility for state and local governments. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires state and local governments to make their services, programs and activities accessible to people with disabilities, including those offered online and through mobile apps.

That legal context matters. It sets accessibility requirements, but it also reinforces something broader: public information should be reachable, understandable and usable by everyone.

Digital accessibility is not a separate project from public service. It is one way public service happens. A public notice is only meaningful when it can be read, a meeting is only open when it can be attended, and a form is only useful when it can be completed.

For state and local governments, accessibility is not only about meeting a requirement. It is about making sure digital services do not create unnecessary barriers between people and public information.

Keep Learning

GAAD happens once a year, but digital accessibility improves through ongoing learning and practice.

Minnesota has strong implementation guidance to support this work. The MNIT Office of Accessibility offers practical resources for people who create, manage or publish digital content for the State of Minnesota. On its website, you’ll find information about accessible documents, meetings, multimedia, procurement and more.

MCD’s Digital Accessibility page offers public-facing technical assistance and connects Minnesotans with resources that explain digital accessibility and why it matters for people with disabilities.

This GAAD, take the time to look at the digital information you create or share. Explore digital accessibility resources from MNIT and MCD. And remember: digital access is public service.