Why Accessibility Isn’t Optional: Celebrating GAAD at High Monkey

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) - a day dedicated to raising awareness about digital access and inclusion. Here at High Monkey, accessibility isn’t an afterthought or a checkbox. It’s a central part of how we design, build, and think about digital experiences.

One of the primary things we preach is that digital systems should work for everyone, regardless of ability. That means building with intention, testing for usability, and always considering the real people behind the screen.

accessibility is core to our work

Whether we’re redesigning a website, improving search systems, or optimizing collaboration tools, accessibility plays a central role in our strategy. We’ve spent years helping organizations build more inclusive, functional digital environments. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because accessible design is the best design!

Some accessibility resources worth reading

Want to learn more about accessibility and why it matters? Start here:

• ‍WebAIM: Introduction to Web Accessibility
• W3C Accessibility Fundamentals
• Digital.gov’s Accessibility Section

accessibility lessons from our podcast

We have talked a ton about accessibility on our podcast, Discussing Stupid. Here are a few episodes from our current season that dig into real-world accessibility challenges and how to fix them:

What separates good projects from great ones? Proper testing

‍Strong accessibility starts with consistent, methodical testing. This episode explores why proper testing processes are often skipped, and how that can screw up an otherwise solid project.

Keys to balancing aesthetics and accessibility in web design

‍Designers often wrestle with how to make things look good while staying accessible. We talk about how to strike the right balance without compromising either.

‍Bad mobile button design is driving us crazy

‍When mobile buttons are too small, too close together, or just plain confusing, people have sucky experiences - especially those with motor impairments. Here’s what to do instead.

If you want people to read your content, make your content readable!

‍Accessibility isn’t just about code, it’s about content. We break down how to structure and write content that more people can actually understand and use.

Your poorly written alt text doesn't go unnoticed...

‍Alt text is one of the simplest, yet most commonly messed up, aspects of accessibility. This episode covers the mistakes we see all the time, and how to fix them.

Also a bonus episode from the first season of Discussing Stupid for you:

Creating inclusive digital experiences – getting your content contributors onboard | Doug Burgett, University of Illinois

‍Doug Burgett shares how the University of Illinois tackles accessibility at scale by training content contributors, maintaining consistency, and using practical tools to monitor and improve accessibility across their sit

Let's all do our part

Accessibility isn’t a just a feature or a compliance box to check off, it’s a foundational piece to the internet. And while there’s always more to learn, we’re proud to keep showing up, asking questions, and building with everyone in mind. Happy GAAD from all of us at High Monkey.

Let’s make the digital world better for everyone.