GIC Accessibility Newsletter: Issue #3

Posted on November 10, 2025

Special Dates in November Highlight Accessibility Awareness

November is a special month in the world of digital accessibility! There are two days that have been designated for awareness that have spawned literally hundreds of events around the world.

World Usability Day, Thursday November 13th

This year’s theme is Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience.

Here’s how they describe the focus: “Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and immersive interfaces are transforming human interactions with digital systems and environments. As these innovations rapidly evolve, it is crucial to prioritize user privacy, build robust trust mechanisms, and maintain human-centered design principles. By thoughtfully integrating technological advancements with ethical considerations, we can create digital experiences that are not only powerful and innovative but also respectful of individual needs and rights.”

Here’s an extensive list of global events related to World Usability Day.

Blue Beanie Day, Sunday November 30th

Every year since 2007, November 30th has been informally designated as Blue Beanie Day. The goal is simple: As many people as possible are asked to wear blue hats of some sort as a sign of unity to raise awareness for web standards supporting accessibility. Everyone who participates is asked to post a photo of themselves to social media with the hashtag #bluebeanieday to spread the message!

---

Registration Opens for Delaware LIFE Conference

Delaware’s 27th annual LIFE Conference will be held on January 21, 2026 at Bally’s Dover Conference Center. LIFE is an acronym for Legislation, Independence, Families, and Education. The event is Delaware’s premiere disability conference, with a theme of “Moving Forward Together.”

Topics to be discussed include a panel discussion, Smart Home Innovations, Assistive Technology Use in Schools, How to Speak Up and Make a Difference, Parenting with a Disability, Achieving Financial Independence, and many others!

This event is in-person only, and registration is required.

Register for the 2025 LIFE Conference today!

Upcoming Accessibility Events

Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) Meeting
November 12
(Dover or Virtual) 6pm
In-person at 410 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, DE 19901 (2nd floor) AND on Zoom.
Topics of discussion include SNAP benefits, the upcoming LIFE conference, and enhanced behavioral residential services.

World Usability Day
November 13

Delaware Electronic Accessibility Standards Committee Meeting
November 14
State Council for Persons with Disabilities / Department of Safety and Homeland Security
(Virtual) 10am-11:30am
Delaware Electronic Accessibility Standards Committee Zoom link

Blue Beanie Day
November 30
Web standards celebration that strongly emphasizes accessible and semantic web design, with participants donning blue beanies on social media.

Lighthouse and Storybook

A reminder that the GIC is working hard to upgrade Delaware state agency sites to the Lighthouse Design System. This is in large part to address accessibility issues that are so common in government websites. If you’d like a look at Lighthouse and its Storybook documentation site, here’s a recent post that will help.

---

Question of the Week: Fonts and Accessibility

I like using different fonts when I’m creating flyers about fun things like an upcoming Book Fair.
Why does my accessibility checker keeps flagging this when I try to upload them to our website?

Font style and size are crucial for making any online content accessible. Software like Microsoft Word provides dozens of fonts including those that mimic cursive handwriting or in other whimsical styles, but most screen reading technology can’t accurately read those fonts. They can also be difficult for people with visual impairments who aren’t using any assistive technology. Try to use more mainstream fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or the Poppins font used in the Lighthouse design system.

Remember also:

• WCAG guidance recommends a minimum of 16 pixels for body text to ensure readability for most visitors.
  
• Try not to use different color fonts, as the contrast can also create issues for screen readers. If you have questions, use this free tool to check out Web AIM’S color contrast checker.
  
• Be sure to use adequate space between text for clarity.

---

Don’t forget, the GIC is here to help!

Use this form to ask us any digital accessibility question.

And don’t forget to subscribe to this newsletter and the blog at the top of this page!