Looking for Lodging? Accessibility Matters

Assistive technology is about accessibility. Recently, this idea was taken a step further. AirBnB announced a set of 24 filters enabling travelers with a physical disability to more easily find lodging accessible for their needs (e.g., if they use a wheelchair to get around). This feature saves these travelers the burden of having to call multiple places to inquire whether they are accessible to their needs, according to an informative blog piece that goes into detail about how to use the many features now available on the AirBnB app.

The user can obtain detailed information on the residence, as well as outdoor and common areas and whether an accessible (“handicapped”) parking spot is nearby. The accessibility filters can be set to one’s own specific disability.

With more and more people with physical disabilities enjoying travel, this new feature will be welcome news, especially to those using the AirBnB platform.

With Assistive Technology, Donna Is Able to Manage Important Everyday Tasks

 

Ever since a serious accident, Donna has had trouble with remembering things.  The single mother of three was referred to the Advancing Opportunities Assistive Technology Center through the New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury Fund.  Assistive Technology Specialist Kristen Russell worked with Donna to assess her needs and goals and find the most suitable AT tools.  Donna needed assistance to support her memory and organization skills, help her manage her daily schedule (e.g., pick up her children, when to take her medications, what to cook for dinner).  She already had much of the hardware: a smartphone and a laptop.  The smartphone already had several tools that could help someone like Donna with memory and organization.   Most notable was the reminders app, a place to keep to-do lists and items and alert the user to do those things.

“Advancing Opportunities has given me given me hope, learning to live with a traumatic brain injury and learning how to manage everyday stuff like shopping and taking medicine and paying bills, and just even leaving on time for a doctor appointment.  All that becomes extremely overwhelming,” said Donna.  “The technology and training that Kristen has provided for the technology makes some of these things more manageable….”

Added Kristen, “For most of us, using smartphones and tablets and computers makes our lives easier, but for people with traumatic brain injury it makes things possible.”