Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)
Technology has the power to connect, empower, and transform lives, but only if it's built for all. Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is a reminder of that promise to build solutions that's inclusive for everyone.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is celebrated on third Thursday of each May. Started in 2011, the idea for accessibility awareness began with a blog post by Joe Devon (you can read it here). GAAD encourages tech companies to enhance accessibility through improved design, audits, and awareness programs. Many organizations now integrate accessibility features in their software, ensuring a more inclusive digital experience for all. It ensures someone using a screen reader, navigating with a keyboard, or needing high-contrast visuals can access the same solutions with the same experience as everyone else. While technology has evolved through the years, it is imperative to keep pace with innovation while staying rooted in empathy.
Accessibility isn't optional; it's essential. What is VPAT?
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) is a document that outlines how a product or service meets accessibility standards like WCAG, Section 508, or EN 301 549. It’s a standard guideline that is important for organizations that prioritize inclusive technology and need to meet regulatory requirements.
As a testament to GAAD, we are proud to take a significant step forward by publishing our Accessibility Conformance Reports following the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) in our suite of finance solutions—Zoho Books, Zoho Invoice, Zoho Expense, Zoho Billing, and Zoho Inventory. The documents offer a transparent, standardized overview of how our products align with the key accessibility standards. At its core, accessible design isn't a checkbox; it’s a commitment to inclusion and innovation.
How are we making our solutions accessible?
Over the past few months, we’ve taken concrete steps to make our solutions more accessible, guided by established standards like WCAG 2.1 and feedback from our engaged user community.
Improved keyboard navigation: Most interactive elements across the Zoho Finance products are now navigable via keyboard, improving usability for individuals who rely on assistive technology.
Screen reader optimization: We've reviewed and refined our content structure and Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) attributes to provide a smoother experience for screen reader users.
Color contrast enhancements: Visual design updates now meet or exceed WCAG 2.2 Level AA contrast requirements, supporting users with visual impairments or color perception differences.
Alt text & semantic HTML: We have ensured images have descriptive alt text and that layouts use semantic HTML for better compatibility with assistive technologies.
We are committed to building an experience that is not only functional but also welcoming to all.
Our VPAT is now available
To bring transparency and accountability to our accessibility journey, we’ve published a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) that outlines how our finance products align with global accessibility standards.
Checkout our ACR reports in VPAT format: in Zoho Books, Zoho Invoice, Zoho Billing, Zoho Inventory, and Zoho Expense. As we continue the journey, we welcome your feedback to help us build a more inclusive digital future.
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