The IAAP Impact Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions within the accessibility and inclusion community. Presented annually by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), the award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing accessibility within their organisations and beyond.
What the IAAP Impact Award Represents
The Impact Award recognises professionals whose work has created meaningful, strategic, and lasting change in accessibility. It honours individuals from the private, non-profit, education, or government sectors who have gone above and beyond their roles to champion inclusive digital transformation.
Awardees are those who not only meet compliance standards but also inspire others to integrate accessibility as a core value within their teams, products, and organisational culture.
Nomination Criteria
To qualify for the IAAP Impact Award, nominees must:
- Be an IAAP individual member or employed by an IAAP organisational member in good standing.
- Be nominated by a manager or departmental lead within their organisation.
- Hold a current IAAP certification (such as CPACC, WAS, CPWA, or ADS).
- Be in good standing with the IAAP Code of Conduct.
- Demonstrate clear, measurable contributions to accessibility awareness, implementation, and leadership.
The 2025 IAAP Impact Award Winners
Each year, IAAP recognises outstanding accessibility leaders whose work makes the digital world more inclusive. The 2025 awardees are shining examples of dedication, innovation, and global collaboration.
Morgan Busch
Morgan was recognised for his outstanding contributions to accessibility, including leading the revamp and implementation of UDOIT (Universal Design Online Content Inspection Tool).
With vision and determination, he guided the transition from a PHP-based scanner to IBM Equal Access, transforming UDOIT into a more robust, intuitive, and effective tool.
His leadership empowered faculty to proactively identify and resolve accessibility challenges in online courses, providing actionable insights that fostered continual improvement in digital learning environments.
Temitope Somuwa
Temitope Somuwa’s visionary leadership has advanced digital accessibility and inclusion across Africa and beyond. Through his work at United Bank for Africa (UBA), he has driven compliance, innovation, and user-centred design—ensuring accessibility is integrated into the organisation’s digital transformation strategy.
Temitope championed accessibility training across his team, significantly increasing awareness and adoption of inclusive design principles within UBA. His voluntary support for international teams, particularly in preparing for the European Accessibility Act, demonstrates his global perspective and dedication to creating an inclusive digital future.
Jan McSorley
Jan has dedicated her career to advancing accessibility in education. From securing a $2.2M grant to improve equitable digital learning in Austin schools to leading accessibility initiatives for major assessment platforms, Jan has been a consistent force for inclusion.
Her influence extends across global accessibility communities—serving in the COGA Task Force, contributing to the Education and Outreach Working Group, and co-chairing the Accessibility Community Group on Global Inclusion. Today, as Director of Strategy at Knowbility, she continues to strengthen accessibility programs and mentor future advocates.
Why the IAAP Impact Award Matters
The IAAP Impact Award not only recognises individual excellence but also highlights the collective progress toward a more inclusive digital world. It showcases how leadership, advocacy, and collaboration can drive sustainable accessibility practices that benefit everyone.
As accessibility continues to gain momentum globally, recognitions like the IAAP Impact Award serve as a powerful reminder that inclusion is not just compliance—it is compassion, innovation, and responsibility in action.
Be Part of the Next Chapter
Nominations for the 2026 IAAP Awards will open soon. To stay informed about upcoming opportunities and celebrate leaders shaping the future of accessibility, subscribe to our updates below.
Source: IAAP Awards Page
Related News: Nigerian Emerges as First African to Win Global IAAP Impact Award – The Sun Nigeria |. The Guardian Newspaper | Independent Newspaper
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