Airbnb is implementing some new features to its room-booking app, aimed at making its services more accessible to people with disabilities. It’s added 21 new search filters, which give prospective lodgers more information and greater ability to account for which rooms are best suited to their individual accessibility needs.
As TechCrunch notes, Airbnb previously allowed searches for wheelchair accessibility but didn’t have any more specific accessibility filters for people to choose from. Now, however, the number of options has jumped up sharply, and people who have special and particular needs for their safety and comfort stand to benefit from the change.
21 new accessibility filters make it easier for guests to find exactly what they need, from wide entryways to roll-in showers. https://t.co/yv2DgSwSFH pic.twitter.com/FuaXE22MDz
— Airbnb (@Airbnb) March 15, 2018
The new filters Airbnb has rolled out on its app are as follows. It covers entering the home, movement within the home (including bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms), and parking accommodations.
- Step-free home access
- Wide doorway
- Well-lit path to entrance
- Flat path to front door
- Wide hallway clearance
- Elevator
- Step-free bedroom access
- Accessible-height bed
- Wide bedroom doorway
- Wide clearance to bed
- Step-free bathroom access
- Roll-in shower with chair
- Accessible-height toilet
- Fixed grab bars for shower, toilet
- Wide bathroom doorway
- Bathtub with bath chair
- Wide clearance to shower, toilet
- Handheld shower head
- Step-free common area access
- Wide common-area entryway
- Disabled parking spot
On the company’s official blog, Accessibility Product and Program Manager Srin Madipalli noted his own disabilities and trumpeted the addition of the new filters.
“As a person with disabilities and passionate traveler, I am hugely excited by the changes we’re making at Airbnb,” Madipalli said. “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.”
“The introduction of the new accessibility features and filters to all hosts and guests is just the first stage in our journey to improve accessibility at Airbnb,” he continued. “We encourage everyone to use them and send through their feedback.”
Anyone who wants to make use of the new filters doesn’t need to wait; they’re currently live on the Airbnb app.