Today (15 May 2025) is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, launched in 2012 to shine a spotlight on digital accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. The theme this year is "Committing to Change", emphasising the importance of making digital products accessible to all.
Digital accessibility isn’t optional, it should be considered from the start – removing barriers and providing equal opportunities and inclusion in the digital space so everyone can access, use, and benefit from digital technologies and services.
There are 2 million people with sight loss in the UK and this number is set to double by 2050 (Deloitte, 2017)
Assistive technology can support people with sight loss to access digital information and operate devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and PCs easily.
Digital accessibility at Guide Dogs: spotlight on our Technology Champions
Our team of Vision Rehabilitation Specialists (VRS) help people with sight loss with a whole range of skills and ambitions. A Habilitation Specialist supports vision-impaired children and young people, aged from birth up to 25 years, to become as independent as possible in their day-to-day lives. Both roles include understanding how technology can help with everyday tasks and within these roles our Technology Champions embed technology across our services.
I have, for a long time, seen technology as an essential and integral part of the VRS role. I started with Guide Dogs in early 2023 as the Tech Champions were being formed so it felt like a natural fit for me to volunteer for. Jamie, Vision Rehabilitation Specialist and Technology Champion
Vision Rehabilitation Specialist Naomi helps people use technology to navigate daily life; from getting from A to B, to cooking and introducing new technology that can open up the world to people with sight loss. Assistive tech user Pete works with Naomi to access and train with adaptive technology that helps him be as independent as possible, using apps such as Soundscape and Moovit.
I use accessibility technology to level the playing field and help me do things that other people can do. Pete, assistive tech user
15-year-old Rhys works with Habilitation Specialist Kim and uses assistive technology via navigation and public transport apps such as Google Maps and First Bus. Kim supports Rhys on learning how to use these, aiding his confidence and helping him get out and about independently.
Since Rhys’ Habilitation Specialist, Kim, has done sessions with him, he has gained a lot more confidence. It’s helped him in school, and he’s been able to navigate a lot more. Rhys' mum
In the video below, meet Kim, Naomi, and Tommy, Technology Champions in the Guide Dogs team, as well as Pete and Rhys, two tech users with vision impairments who work with them to access new technology.
Top tips for accessible digital content
How do we make our digital content accessible at Guide Dogs? We've pulled our three of our top tips, and you can learn more from our content and video producers by watching the video!
Use simple colours and good contrast in design
Keep visual descriptions short
Use concise and informative audio description
If you'd like to learn more about assistive technologies and how they could support you, a friend, or a family member, you can visit the Technology pages on our website. Our content is created with and periodically reviewed by our Technology Champions.
