Starbucks celebrates the 13th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), on May 16 from 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. PT with a live internal broadcast showcasing an Accessibility Awareness Lab as part of Starbucks Innovation Expo (SIX): Flow internal conference. Brought to you from the Digital Accessibility team and the Starbucks Disability Advocacy Network (DAN), and in partnership with digital accessibility tech partner Deque Systems, the Accessibility Awareness Lab is a way to help people understand and experience alternative ways of interacting with technology and other environments through hands-on access to different tools and assistive technologies. Starbucks Digital Accessibility team members, members of DAN, and leadership will welcome participants to the Accessibility Awareness Lab, host a coffee tasting, and explore the lab stations. In person partners (employees) will also be exploring the Accessibility Awareness Lab stations throughout the day to increase their awareness and deepen their understanding of how people with disabilities use technology and how they are impacted by inaccessible technology. Since the earliest days of the company, Starbucks has worked to create a culture of warmth and belonging in its stores – a place where everyone is welcome. This includes Starbucks collection of artwork featured at stores that celebrate community, 24 Signing Stores across the globe, free access to free Aira services in U.S. stores that help blind or low vision customers navigate the cafes and Disability Advocacy Partner Network (DAN employee resource group) which has contributed to the success of Starbucks partners and the company since 2016, and prior to DAN the Starbucks Access Alliance. Learn more about How Starbucks is Building Inclusive Spaces here.