The TravelAbility “Fabulous 50”
MOBILITY
The Action Trackchair is an all-terrain wheelchair. The electric tilt mechanism allows the user to easily stay level in their Trackchair while traversing hills and uneven terrain. http://actiontrackchair.com/
Adapts is portable transfer sling that can be used when traveling,in emergencies or just around the home. https://www.adapts.org/about
Antikythera Technologies successfully implemented an Indoor navigation and tracking at (LAX) Los Angeles World Airport within the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) to track the wheelchair and agents inside the airport https://www.antikytheratechnologies.com/
The AvTech Connect platform was developed to provide a comprehensive mobile dispatching solution for assisting special service request passengers in airports https://www.avtechcorp.com/platform accessibility
Beach Trax is a lightweight, foldable and easily transportable pathway for individuals to gain access over uneven terrain. Beach Trax is universally designed for all pedestrians and is wide enough to accommodate a full 360 degree turn using most wheelchairs including power chairs.
The Free2Go Rollator is he first product to combine the benefits of a raised toilet seat, toilet safety frame, and rolling walker. https://free2gomobility.com
The Bed Phrame Lift levels the height of a wheelchair to a custom bed making any hotel bed more accessible. https://bedphramelift.com
Go Anywhere Portable Commode, Shower and Chair is a lightweight (24 lbs) travel accessory, invented by Go Mobility Solutions, that enables all mobility-impaired individuals to bathe and toilet conveniently, comfortably and safely when they travel.
GoMuve offers accessible, reliable on-demand and pre-booked transportation services through our mobile, desktop, and kiosk applications, for door-to-door, arm to arm assistance. http://gomuve.com/
Google Maps has added a long-overdue feature that puts details about a location’s accessibility facilities front and center that has been gathered from input from 120 million users.
Hot Wheels Fitness. The adaptive gym that has developed home fitness videos for people with disabilities, including a beach workout with water-filled one gallon milk cartons
Mobility Lifter The LIFTKAR PT is a product designed to benefit the family, the professional and the commercial marketplace. Because it is attendant operated, easy to use, battery operated and lightweight, this stair climber is completely mobile and usable anywhere, in or out, up or down almost any stairs. http://mobilitylifter.com/index.html
Mobi Mat is a semi-rigid roll-out portable ADA pathways and temporary roadway and boat ramps mat systems. In addition, DMS Inc. offers the Mobi-chair®, a high quality amphibious floating beach wheelchair that provides a seamless transition from boardwalk-to beach-to water
Mobility Mojo created the first software solution (available on a subscription basis) that help hotels give an accurate snapshot of accessible features they provide. www.mobilitymojo.com
Scootaround Personal Transportation Solutions rents wheelchairs, scooters and other items for disabled travelers at cruise ports and airports throughout the USA.
ShowerBuddy’s product line focuses on bathing aids for less-abled individuals of all ages. Their products can make regular tubs or showers fully accessible in just minutes! https://myshowerbuddy.com/
Stepless Lite: a portable ramp that is both affordable (models start at $75) and appealing to any hotel or attraction or even individual that wants to increase their access. https://www.stepless.com/int/about/
WHILL is the brand name for the next generation of “smart” self driving wheelchairs that can be used through an app.
VISION
Aira connects people who are blind or low vision to a remote trained professional agent who can provide hands-free assistance at the touch of a button. https://aira.io/
Alexa Blueprint is a feature of Amazon’s Alexa personal assistant that will allow hotels to provide an audio blueprint of a room so that it can be navigated by a guest who is visually impaired. www.amazon.com
BBeeps is a rolling suitcase that warns users of obstacles and helps blind people navigate through crowds and airports. https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/cmu-researcher-designs-suitcase-app-to-help-the-blind-at-airports/
Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low-vision individuals with sighted volunteers and companies from all over the world through a live video call. They have over 2,000,000 volunteers worldwide.
BrainPort Vision Pro translates digital information from a wearable video camera into gentle electrical stimulation patterns on the surface of the tongue. Users feel moving bubble-like patterns on their tongue which they learn to interpret as the shape, size, location and motion of objects in their environment. Some users have described it as being able to “see with your tongue.” http://www.wicab.com
The BuzzClip is a small and discreet wearable for people living with blindness or partial sight. The device uses ultrasound to detect obstacles that may lie directly in one’s path. It then notifies the user of these obstacles through intuitive vibrations, allowing the user to safely navigate around any objects that they may encounter. https://www.imerciv.com/
Indoor Explorer is an app that uses beacons and indoor location information stored in the OpenStreetMap® to allow people who are blind or visually impaired to independently navigate through a venue and easily locate entrances, elevators, restrooms and other points of interest. https://www.accessexplorer.net
Jaws Talking Kiosk. An attachment affordable device that attaches to existing kiosks found in Visitor Centers, hotels and attractions that make information available for those who are blind.
Ocutech received international attention when it developed the first ever autofocusing bioptic telescope for the visually impaired. https://ocutech.com/
OrCam’s mission is to harness the power of artificial vision by incorporating pioneering technology into a wearable platform which improves the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, and have reading difficulties. http://www.orcam.com
Right-Hear has developed an app that turns public spaces into accessible environments for blind and visually impaired people.
Seeing AI is a free app developed by Microsoft that narrates the world around you. Designed for the low vision community, this research project harnesses the power of AI to describe people, text and objects.
Using echolocation technology and augment reality, the Sunu Band smartwatch enables people who are blind and low vision to travel with confidence http://www.sunu.com
The Aware app from Sensible Innovations is a new way for people who are visually impaired and print challenged to thrive in mainstream daily activities negating the need for memorizing routes and landmarks because of inaccessible labels and signs. https://www.sensible-innovations.com/
Touch Graphics creates products and exhibits that are accessible to everyone, from 3D models that talk when you touch them; to diagrams that you tap with a smart pen to hear spoken descriptions of each feature; to pedestal-mounted building directories that provide wayfinding and orientation information in accessible formats. http://www.touchgraphics.com
State of Tennessee has worked with Enchroma, the maker of cutting edge lens technology and eyewear for colorblindness to develop viewfinders so that colorblind travelers can see fall foliage.
WeWALK is a revolutionary smart cane developed for people with a visual impairment. The cane detects obstacles above the waist and can also be paired with your phone for navigation. https://wewalk.io/
HEARING
AVA is an app and API that does live captioning for virtual meetings, conferences and events.
Jeenie is a language assistance app that connects travelers with on-demand sign-language translators through three party video chats.. www.jeenie.com
Livio® AI is the world’s first hearing aid to provide both superior sound quality and the ability to track body and brain health. Featuring integrated sensors and artificial intelligence, Livio AI can detect if you’ve fallen and act as an assistant. https://www.starkey.com/hearing-aids/technologies/livio-artificial-intelligence-hearing-aids
Otojoy makes earbuds that allow access the sound from any hearing loop with your smartphone. Simply download the LoopBuds app, walk into a looped airport, and receive crystal-clear audio directly into your ears without the need for a hearing aid. https://otojoy.com/
sComm is the creator of the UbiDuo 2. The UbiDuo 2 communication device enables a deaf/hard of hearing and a hearing person to communicate with each other face-to-face without an interpreter http://www.sComm.com
AUTISM
Infiniteteach is a Chicago based company that develops apps to improve autism education and increase autism accessibility within the community. They have developed apps for institutions such as the Shedd Aquarium and the Houston Museum of Natural History https://infiniteach.com/accessibility/
Magnus is an app that empowers people with autism and other cognitive special needs to live with independence and inclusion. https://www.magnusmode.com/
Traxfamily.com makes GPS tracking bands that include augmented reality for autistic kids
Threshold 360 is the leading platform for creating and distributing 360° video experiences to help families with autism preview a destination or hotel. www.threshold360.com
PAN DISABILITY
AbiliTrek provides a platform for the disability community to rate and review the accessibility of any establishment. This service not only allows people to complete reviews of hotels but is more inclusive allowing people to review the accessibility of almost any place someone can trek (locally or afar). https://abilitrek.com/
AccessiBe. The first fully automated accessibility solution for WCAG and ADA website compliance. Pricing begins at $495/year and activation takes place within 48 hours.
Accessible Pods and Cabins. Flexibly adapted “glamping” pods and cabins to suit guests with and without disabilities.
AccessibleTravel.On Line has eleven offices worldwide and provides a comprehensive website (over 3,000 pages) for accessible travel.
AXS Map is an app was created by filmmaker Jason DaSilva and provides accessibility ratings for locations around the world. https://axsmap.com/
AccessibleGo. Online Travel Agency (OTA)—similar to an Expedia for accessible hotels with over personally verified information for over 4,000 hotels in the United States and a “club” concept with over 60,000 members who receive promotional rates.
CLDesign created the first website that talks to the user and is purposely designed only for people with disabilities. http://cldesign.co/
Handiscover.com is the first community based Holiday accommodation-booking website, dedicated to people with special needs and disabilities. https://www.handiscover.com/en-US/
iAccess is an app that rates the accessibility of establishments such as restaurants, hotels, concert venues, and sporting arenas. https://www.iaccess.life/
Neatebox has created 2 apps to assist people with disabilities. With Button you can use your mobile phone or smart watch to press the buttons at pedestrian crossings. Welcome addresses the issue of inadequate customer service for visitors with specific accessibility requirements caused by a lack of disability awareness and confidence of staff members. https://www.neatebox.com/
Simpleview, which has developed websites and CRM software for over 500 destinations, has partnered with Audioeye to make DMO websites more accessible-friendly.
Pegasus is a platform for making fully accessible hotel booking and browsing experiences for users with disabilities.
Photo courtesy of Access Trax, makers of Beach Trax. Access Trax specializes in cost effective universally designed products for anyone in need.