Rating app marks venues on how disability friendly
FIRST GLOBAL TOOL OF ITS KIND
THE first global app that asks people to rate services and businesses according to how disability-friendly they are has been launched.
Simon Sansome, who is paralysed from the waist down, has campaigned for better access for several years, including during his time as a journalism student at De Montfort University (DMU).
He is also part of the team that records Grumpy Gits, the world’s most listened to disability podcast.
He started developing the app, Snowball, while studying at DMU and after six years of “hard slog”, said he was delighted with the results.
The app has already won support from GB Paralympians and journalists.
Snowball allows users to find businesses such as restaurants, tourist attractions, supermarkets or coffee shops by selecting their location wherever they are in the world before rating them.
Disabled travellers and locals can add venues they have found welcoming and accessible for people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and sensory issues.
The more people that add suggestions, the bigger the app grows.
Simon said: “Snowball will have a significant impact in giving people with physical disabilities, mental health issues and learning disabilities successful journeys and great days out.
“The app will give people the confidence to socialise with ease as they will be able to see what facilities and venues are available in their immediate location.
“They will also be able to plan days out, giving people more freedom to access communities and explore and travel with confidence.”
Simon, 40, a former council worker and rugby player from Leicester, became paralysed from the waist down following a sudden injury in 2014. After a year of recovery, he took his wife to their favourite restaurant, only to realise there was no wheelchair access.
He set up the Facebook page Ability Access, while at DMU, to highlight good and bad examples of accessibility.
It quickly gained 100,000 followers and is now the most-read disability page in the world.
The feedback to the page inspired him to set up Snowball.
Snowball has been endorsed by GB Paralympic gold medallists Hannah Cockroft and Aaron Phipps.
Hannah, a wheelchair sprinter
and world and Paralympic record holder, said: “An app like Snowball has been a long time coming.
“I am repeatedly told that disability access in the UK has improved out of sight, and while things are getting better, they are still not accessible.
“Snowball will change the everyday lives of many disabled people.”
Aaron, a wheelchair rugby player and marathon racer, said: “Snowball will give me an accessible world and I won’t have to worry about going out anymore with friends and family because we will all know where we can access thanks to the app.”