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Integrated, Not Siloed
Accessibility cannot be addressed in isolation. Physical access, digital usability, communication, organizational culture, and experience design are interconnected. GAC addresses all five dimensions together.
About GAC
An Independent Voice for Accessibility Excellence.
Global Accessibility Council is an independent advisory organization dedicated to advancing accessibility excellence across industries, organizations, and destinations worldwide. We bring rigorous, research-informed expertise to organizations committed to building accessibility into the fabric of how they operate, serve, and lead.
Mission
Our Mission
To advance accessibility excellence — helping organizations build environments, experiences, and cultures where everyone participates fully, with dignity and independence.
Excellence Over Adequacy
We hold ourselves and our clients to a standard of genuine excellence — not minimum adequacy. The goal is not to pass a test. It is to build something exceptional.
Independence & Integrity
GAC is an independent advisory organization. Our guidance is driven by evidence, expertise, and the interests of the people we ultimately serve — not by vendor relationships or commercial incentives.
Rigor & Evidence
Our work is grounded in research, recognized standards frameworks, and deep practical expertise. We bring intellectual rigor to every engagement.
Human-Centered
Accessibility is ultimately about people — their independence, dignity, participation, and experience. Every recommendation we make is grounded in that reality.
Practical Impact
Research and strategy only matter if they translate into real-world change. We are committed to guidance that organizations can actually implement — and that makes a measurable difference.
Our Approach
Our Approach
GAC's approach is integrated, evidence-based, and grounded in the conviction that accessibility excellence requires more than isolated interventions — it requires systemic change.
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Standards-Informed, Not Standards-Limited
We use recognized international and national standards frameworks as a foundation — not a ceiling. Standards establish the baseline. Excellence requires going further.
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Research-Driven
Our advisory work is grounded in original research, evidence-based frameworks, and deep knowledge of how accessibility intersects with organizational performance, guest experience, and competitive positioning.
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Experience-Centered
The ultimate measure of accessibility is not a score or a checklist — it is the experience of the person using the space, service, or system. We design toward that standard.
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Long-Term Partnership
Accessibility excellence is not a project with an end date. GAC works with organizations as a long-term partner — building capability, measuring progress, and advancing performance over time.
Integrated Framework
Five Interconnected Areas of Accessibility
GAC's integrated framework addresses accessibility across five interconnected dimensions of organizational performance. Addressing one without the others produces incomplete results.
Physical Environments
The built environment — facilities, spaces, wayfinding, and infrastructure — must be designed for universal access, independence, and dignity. GAC assesses and advises on physical accessibility across all facility types, from hotels and attractions to transit hubs and public spaces.
- Facility accessibility assessments
- Universal Design consultation
- Wayfinding and signage
- Renovation and new construction advisory
Digital Platforms
Websites, mobile applications, booking systems, kiosks, and digital content must be genuinely usable by everyone — not merely technically conformant. GAC's digital accessibility work goes beyond WCAG conformance to address real-world usability for people with a wide range of disabilities.
- Website and app accessibility audits
- WCAG 2.2 AA and AAA guidance
- Digital accessibility strategy
- Procurement and vendor standards
Communication Systems
How organizations communicate — in print, digitally, verbally, and through signage — must reach every audience with clarity, accuracy, and respect. Multi-modal communication is not an accommodation; it is a design standard.
- Accessible marketing and communications
- Plain language and readability
- Alternative format provision
- Staff communication training
Organizational Practices
Accessibility must be embedded in how organizations operate — in leadership, procurement, HR, training, and service delivery. Without organizational integration, accessibility remains fragile and inconsistent.
- Accessibility policy development
- Leadership and governance advisory
- Procurement standards
- Workforce training and development
Cultural Commitment
Lasting accessibility excellence requires a culture that values it — where accessibility is a source of organizational pride, not a compliance burden. GAC works with organizations to build the values, mindsets, and practices that make accessibility sustainable.
- Culture and values assessment
- Leadership alignment
- Staff engagement and awareness
- Organizational change management
Our Independence
Independent. Evidence-Based. Trusted.
GAC is an independent advisory organization. We have no vendor relationships, no product to sell, and no commercial incentive to recommend one solution over another. Our guidance is driven entirely by evidence, expertise, and the interests of the organizations we serve — and the people those organizations serve.
GAC's work is informed by recognized international and national standards frameworks. References to standards are for informational and alignment purposes only and do not imply formal affiliation, accreditation, or endorsement by any standards body.
Leadership
Dr. Rebecca Williams
Founder & Principal
Scholar, researcher, and organizational leader with deep expertise in accessibility, Universal Design, and exceptional experience design.
Read Dr. Williams' full profileWork With GAC
Whether you are building your accessibility foundation or advancing toward recognized excellence, GAC provides the expertise, frameworks, and partnership to help you get there.