Global North

A socioeconomic and political designation referring to countries that are typically wealthier, more economically developed, and generally located in the northern hemisphere — plus Australia and New Zealand. In accessibility research, the Global North dominates published findings, tool development, and standards creation, meaning accessibility practices and guidelines may carry implicit cultural assumptions from these regions. The counterpart, the Global South, is home to approximately 80% of people with disabilities worldwide, yet receives far less accessibility research attention.