Two new blog articles

astro/src/content/blogs/gaad-2026.mdx

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+---
+title: Happy GAAD 2026!
+description: >-
+   Thursday, May 21, is Global Accessibility Awareness Day - also known as GAAD. It's a day dedicated to
+   encouraging people to think about digital access and the billions of people living with disabilities.
+published: 2026-05-21
+tags:
+  - announcements
+author: esther-klang
+---
+
+Thursday, May 21, is [Global Accessibility Awareness Day](https://accessibility.day/) - also known as GAAD. It's a day dedicated to encouraging people to think about digital access and the billions of people living with disabilities.
+
+GAAD started in 2012 and has grown into a worldwide effort. The idea is straightforward: if more people know about accessibility, more people will do something about it.
+
+Here are a few ways to mark the day:
+
+* **Try a screen reader** \- NVDA is free on Windows, and VoiceOver is built into Apple devices. Even 10 minutes gives you a real sense of what blind and low-vision users navigate every day.
+* **Run a quick accessibility check** - _ta11y.org_ has checklists and evaluations you can actually use, not just read about.
+* **Post about GAAD** \-use **\#GAAD** and **\#GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay** to add your voice to the conversation.
+* **Learn one thing** \- that's it. One new thing about accessibility today is a win.
+
+Discover relevant resources for your projects by visiting [_ta11y.org_](https://www.ta11y.org/).
+
+Happy GAAD from all of us at _Accessible Community_.

astro/src/content/blogs/what-blindness-is.mdx

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+---
+title: "What Blindness Is and How It Affects People"
+description: Blindness is part of human diversity. It affects how people access information, move through the world, and connect with others.
+published: 2026-05-25
+tags:
+  - education
+author: esther-klang
+---
+
+On _Accessible Community’s_ [A 'Day in the Life' podcast](/podcasts/), we have been exploring blindness and low vision. This post shares clear information about what blindness is and why **inclusion matters**. Blindness is part of human diversity. It affects how people access information, move through the world, and connect with others.
+
+## What Blindness Is
+
+Blindness is a spectrum of vision loss. It is not one single experience. Definitions vary, but blindness generally refers to severe vision loss that affects how a person accesses the world. It can involve:
+
+* How clearly a person can see (visual acuity)
+* How much of their visual field they can use
+* Whether any vision remains after correction, such as glasses or contacts
+* How the brain processes visual information
+
+You may also hear **low vision**, which refers to vision loss that interferes with daily activities and cannot be fully corrected. And **legal blindness** is a legal category in the U.S. used to determine eligibility for certain services. It does not fully describe what someone can or cannot see in everyday life.
+
+**There is no single way to be blind.** Many blind people retain some vision. The details matter.
+
+## How Blindness Can Look Different
+
+Blind and low-vision people experience the world in many different ways. Not everyone experiences all of the following.
+
+### Vision and Perception
+
+* Some people have no usable vision.
+* Others have light perception, limited central vision, or limited peripheral vision.
+* Vision can change over time or vary depending on lighting and environment.
+
+### Access and Information
+
+* Some use screen readers, braille, or audio output to access digital content.
+* Others use screen magnification, high contrast settings, or large text.
+* Many use a combination of tools depending on context and preference.
+
+### Navigation and Orientation
+
+* Some use a white cane, a guide dog, or orientation and mobility training.
+* In digital spaces, people rely on keyboard navigation, skip links, and well-labeled menus.
+* Barriers often come from poor design, not from the person.
+
+**These differences are not deficits.** Most barriers arise from environments that were not designed with blind and low-vision people in mind.
+
+## Blindness Across the Lifespan
+
+Blindness is often discussed as if it only affects a small or specific group. But blind and low-vision people are children, teens, adults, and elders. They work in every field and live in every community.
+
+Vision loss can be present from birth or develop over time. It can be caused by a health condition, injury, or aging. Some people lose vision gradually. Others experience sudden change. Support needs, tools, and strategies can shift throughout a person’s life.
+
+Access to assistive technology, rehabilitation services, and inclusive spaces is important at every age. Blindness does not define what a person can do. Access does.
+
+## Language Matters
+
+Many blind people prefer identity-first language, such as “blind person.” Others prefer person-first language, like “person with blindness” or “person with low vision.” **The most respectful choice is to use the language a person chooses for themselves.**
+
+Avoid language that frames blindness as a tragedy or loss. Steer away from phrases like “suffers from” or “confined to” darkness. Focus on **access, tools, and inclusion.**
+
+**Use:** blind person, person who is blind, low vision (when accurate)
+
+**Avoid:** “the blind,” “suffers from,” “lost their sight,” or framing blindness as tragedy
+
+## What Inclusion Looks Like in Daily Life
+
+Inclusion is practical. It shows up in design choices, communication habits, and how we build digital and physical spaces.
+
+* Use real headings in the right order so screen readers can navigate.
+* Write descriptive link text. Avoid “click here” or “learn more.”
+* Add useful alt text to images. Describe the purpose, not just the appearance.
+* Label all form fields and buttons with an accessible name.
+* Make sure all functions work with a keyboard alone.
+* Do not rely on color alone to convey meaning.
+* Make documents accessible: use real text, not images of text, with real headings and lists.
+
+**These practices help blind and low-vision people thrive.** They also make content clearer and easier to use for everyone.
+
+## Listening to Blind and Low-Vision Voices
+
+Blind and low-vision people are the experts on their own lives. **Their voices improve** the media, products, research, and services we all use when we include and compensate them for their expertise.
+
+The [A 'Day in the Life' podcast](/podcasts/) brings forward real experiences from people living with blindness and low vision. These stories remind us that there is no single blind experience. **There are many stories, told by those who live them.**
+
+## What You Can Do Next
+
+Listen to this month’s **Day in the Life** episodes focused on blindness and low vision:
+
+* [Blindness with Mike Hess](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568061/episodes/18851844)
+* [Blindness with Diogo Melo](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568061/episodes/19059896)
+* [Blindness with Florian Beijers](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568061/episodes/18934277)
+* [Blindness with Cori Perlander](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568061/episodes/19016052)
+* [Blindness with Beth](https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568061/episodes/18991873)
+
+**Blindness is part of our community.** When we design for access, everyone benefits.