We are excited to promote and celebrate the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD is dedicated to raising awareness of digital accessibility and inclusion, which is not just a priority but a driving force at NNELS. The importance of digital accessibility must be highlighted today and every day. 

The barriers preventing persons with disabilities from accessing content and websites are still commonplace across the web and within the reading landscape. Our work helps ensure the digital reading experience is accessible for all, particularly for persons with print disabilities. Our many undertakings are making a significant impact on the accessibility landscape. Some highlights are: 

• We provide a collection of content in alternative formats for readers in Canada with print disabilities. NNELS users from funding provinces can request books, and we produce them thanks to the exception in the Copyright Act of Canada or obtain them through exchanges with other authorized entities under the terms of the Marrakesh Treaty.
• The content in the NNELS collection is available in various accessible formats, including EPUB, DAISY202, and BRF (Braille Ready Format). Much of our content contains accessibility metadata, such as alt text for images and text heading navigation, to help people find materials that meet their accessibility reading needs. 
• We believe that testing should be performed by people with disabilities. Testing is vital to digital accessibility, and NNELS has a team of testers to do this work. We encourage all vendors and developers to include people with disabilities in all stages of creating their digital platforms and websites. Some of our testing reports on the accessibility of library reading applications are available on the Accessible Publishing website. 
• NNELS provides tutorials on various reading systems with an array of assistive technologies. When an accessibility barrier is known, the tutorial includes information to ensure readers can “workaround” the issue and continue reading. 
• A project co-led by the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and NNELS, in partnership with eBOUND, Accessible Libraries provides resources and training materials such as guidelines for procuring accessible content, best practices for digital accessibility, and training modules for library staff. These materials are designed to create an accessible library experience for all patrons. Many of the materials are available in French on Bibliothèques Accessibles.

NNELS is dedicated to creating an accessible reading experience, but we know more work still needs to be done. Please join us in celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and we look forward to continuing towards a more inclusive world where digital accessibility is built into every aspect of the reading landscape.