For individuals with disabilities, technology serves as an invaluable travel companion, significantly simplifying the navigation of new cities. As travel planning becomes increasingly reliant on digital solutions, several apps and services stand out for their ability to facilitate safer and more accessible journeys.
AccessibleGO: A Personal Touch for Accessible Travel
AccessibleGO, founded by Miriam Eljas, offers a dedicated platform for booking accessible flights and hotels across the United States. The service was inspired by Eljas’s mother, Emma, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair. A unique feature of AccessibleGO is its commitment to ensuring that every booking is followed up with a personal call to the provider. This approach reassures customers by confirming that their specific accessibility needs are understood and accommodated.
Eljas emphasized the importance of this extra step, stating, “So you know someone understands your accessibility requirements and has personally spoken to your hotel, airline, or car company to ensure a smooth trip.” Recently, AccessibleGO expanded its offerings to include manually controlled rental cars, wheelchair rentals, accessible rides, and mobility devices. The site also features city guides that highlight accessible attractions for various disabilities. While currently an online platform, AccessibleGO plans to launch a mobile app in the near future.
iAccessLife: Crowdsourcing Accessibility Ratings
Another innovative tool in the travel landscape is the iAccessLife app, co-founded by Brandon Winfield. Following an off-road motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, Winfield sought to create a resource that helps users navigate accessibility in various locations. Launched in 2019, the iAccessLife app enables users to rate and review places based on their accessibility features.
The app boasts accessibility ratings for over 10,000 unique locations across all 50 states and more than 30 countries. It is available for both iOS and Android devices. In addition to location ratings, the company offers a service called Voice by iAccess Life, which allows users to provide anonymous feedback to businesses regarding their accessibility practices. This feature aims to foster improvement in customer service within the industry.
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