Airbnb added new search filters to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
A disability doesn’t stop people from traveling and enjoying their life. Many individuals with disabilities travel all over the world, despite possibly facing challenges while flying, lodging or other accessibility issues. Airbnb has become wildly popular over the last few years, and while they have always had a search filter for “wheelchair accessible,” the search has been known not to meet the traveler’s individual needs.
Earlier this month, Airbnb announced 21 new accessibility filters to make their search more narrow and fit specific disability needs. The filters are another step Airbnb has taken to make the app more accessible. They have recently worked with California Council of the Blind, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers and more to help with the development of the filters to ensure proper terminology and accuracy and to advance their accessibility policies. In the future, Airbnb will continue to work with outside vendors to keep the information accurate and up-to-date, with the goal to expand the filters.
The new search filters that are available include:
- Step-free access (for entering the home, bedroom, bathroom and common areas)
- Wide doorway (for entering the home, bedroom, bathroom and common areas)
- Well-lit path to entrance of the home
- Flat path to front door of the home
- Wide hallways, at least 36″ (90cm) wide.
- Elevators If needed, contact hosts about the width.
- Accessible-height bed
- Wide clearance to bed
- Roll-in shower with chair
- Bathtub with shower chair
- Accessible-height toilet
- Wide clearance to shower, toilet
- Fixed grab bars for shower, toilet
- Handheld shower head
- Disabled parking spot, or there is a city-approved parking spot or a parking space at least 8ft (2.4m) wide.
Srin Madipalli, Accessbility Product and Program Manager at Airbnb says, “as a person with disabilities and passionate traveler, I am hugely excited by the changes we’re making at Airbnb. With these new filters, we are making it easier for everyone to share their adapted homes with travelers with disabilities around the world. Our mission is to enable anyone to belong anywhere, regardless of disability.”