Apps that ease your way
Finding the right mobile application can save time, money and stress for those with accessibility issues.
Of all the memories of my first trip to New Orleans, this stands out: wandering through the French Quarter in search of an upscale restaurant that offered wheelchair access.
After several attempts, I arrived at a lovely Bourbon Street establishment that had a level entrance, meaning no steps at the front door. Dinner was sublime, but the frustration left a sour taste.
If you want to enjoy the former and avoid the latter, there may be an app for that. In fact, finding the right apps may save you time, money and aggravation when accessibility is non-negotiable.
On a return trip in February, I was able to reframe my experience, thanks to my iPhone and a mobile app called Access LA (the “LA” stands for Louisiana) that provides disability access information on many businesses.
The app, launched in 2015 by the Advocacy Center of Louisiana (available for iOS and, soon, Android) aims to help people with disabilities avoid aimless wandering.
“We want to arm people with information that they can use to experience our openness and our welcoming environment, without pretending there aren’t some real barriers,’’ said Susan Meyers, director of policy and community engagement at the advocacy center.
When the hotel staff recommended a place for gumbo on my most recent trip, I consulted Access LA to see what locals with disabilities were saying. Although the entrance and interior were accessible, the restrooms presented some obstacles. I chose a different option.
Lots of savvy travelers use mobile apps to plan and manage trips. Some of those apps are designed for people with disabilities, but many others have features that make them useful in tracking a variety of accessibility needs.
I favor apps that have been developed, tested, reviewed or promoted by the disability community.
We are, after all, the experts on access.
To ensure you get the expertise you need for your trip, reach out to a local disability advocacy organization or assistive technology center in your hometown or your destination, and ask about mobile apps that facilitate sightseeing and help you find accessible transportation.
For example, in Chicago the Open Taxis app (iOS and Android) lets you request wheelchair-accessible cabs for immediate pickup (usually within 15 minutes) or prearrange your transportation. I used this app in 2016 and 2017, and it was solid.
Dispatchers booked more than 90,000 accessible rides in Chicago in 2017, said Eric Lipp, executive director of Open Doors Organization, a disability travel and tourism organization that developed the app.
Maybe you don’t have a specific trip in mind but just want to explore some mobile apps.
In that case, check Bridging Apps.com, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston that has a database of accessible apps that have been reviewed by people knowledgeable about various types of disabilities.
If you’re curious about an app not listed at BridgingApps, submit a request for the organization to review it through its Facebook page (face book.com/BridgingApps).
Access needs, like disability itself, are highly individualized.
Figure out what issue you’re solving — booking an accessible hotel, visiting attractions that have accessible features or planning a night out on the town — then look for an app that fits.
An ideal travel app for people with cognitive disabilities, for example, would have a simple interface, use plain language, and have reminders for food, water and meds, said Noor Pervez, community engagement coordinator with Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
Pervez recommends this list of disability-friendly apps: lat.ms/disa bilityfriendly.
If you are blind or visually impaired and plan to travel to a place you’ve never been, seek a full-featured app that provides more detail on the environment, said Aaron Preece, managing editor of AccessWorld Magazine, a technology news mag published by the American Foundation for the Blind.
“Everyone is going to be different,” said Preece, who is visually impaired and travels frequently for work and leisure, “but from my perspective I want to have a more concrete idea of the kind of obstacles I may encounter.”
As with any app, you can uninstall if it doesn’t work for you or when the trip is over.