Thursday, May 21, 2026, is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)—a chance to celebrate the progress made at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) and to reaffirm our commitment to creating digital experiences that work for everyone. GAAD reminds us that accessibility is about access and opportunity—not just compliance or deadlines.
While the federal digital accessibility deadline has been extended, the work happening now continues to make a real difference. Every accessible document, course, and webpage creates a better digital experience for students, employees, and community members—and that progress is worth celebrating.
Where to Start
Any new content created moving forward must be accessible at the time it is shared. Designing with accessibility in mind from the beginning saves time and reduces the need for remediation later.
Beyond new content, the next priority is digital content that is actively used. This includes current course materials, syllabi, active webpages, and documents that support ongoing instruction, services, or business operations.
Your Tools
Microsoft Accessibility Checker
Many Microsoft tools used at GGC—including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and OneNote—include a built-in Accessibility Checker. Running this checker periodically during content creation helps identify common issues early and makes fixes faster and easier.
Panorama and DocHub
Panorama, integrated into MyCourses, and Panorama DocHub, available outside of MyCourses, help identify accessibility issues in common file types such as Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel files, HTML content, and PDFs. These tools provide clear recommendations, examples, and alternate formats that support inclusive access and universal design.
While some fixes can be completed directly in the Panorama interface, larger updates will need to be addressed in the original (native) software or application where the file was created. Using Microsoft Accessibility Checker first, during the creation stage, can reduce the need to move back and forth between applications later.
A Simple Accessibility Workflow
When designing new course or digital content, start with these straightforward steps to ensure materials are in their most accessible form before reaching their audience:
- Create content in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel.
- Run Microsoft Accessibility Checker and address any identified issues.
- Upload content to Panorama or Panorama DocHub.
- Review the accessibility report and remediate any remaining concerns.
- Do a final review for practical accessibility and usability.
This workflow may work better for some than others. By trying these steps, you may find simpler ways to incorporate accessibility checks into your existing writing and design processes.
Building On Our Progress
Although the deadline has been extended, federal accessibility requirements remain in effect. The expectation that digital content is accessible applies across formats—including documents, presentations, PDFs, images, audio and video files, links, and third-party resources.
Thank you to the faculty and staff who have already invested time and effort in this work. Meaningful progress has been made, and continuing these practices helps ensure accessibility becomes part of our daily experience and not an afterthought.If you need help or have questions, IT is ready to provide assistance.
Upcoming Workshops
Look for Creating Accessible Documents sessions near the end of every month. Each session focuses on a specific content type.
The next session is on PowerPoint and is on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 10 – 11 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. For additional information, visit the Events calendar.