To Table of Contents have created a toolbox featuring universal design principles that include accessibility standards for transport services , plus cybersecurity and privacy guidelines to encourage more accessible and inclusive digital mobility solutions for all .
While significant achievements have been made , mainly in terms of improving the physical accessibility of transport , digital accessibility and inclusion have not been fully addressed .
Imre Keseru , Urban Mobility Assistant Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and
INDIMO lead .
While the first version of this toolbox is being tested in Antwerp with the intelligent traffic light system , four additional pilot projects ( in Spain , Italy , Germany and Israel ) are exploring innovative solutions such as on-demand ride sharing in tandem with multimodal route planning .
What all research projects have in common is a call for better digital services to aid disabled users ’ mobility and overall quality of life . They also highlight the need for better digital education and tools to enhance social inclusion for those at risk .
Online holiday booking site for travellers with a disability Planning a holiday or businessrelated travel is usually more challenging for those with disabilities , who may worry about whether their accommodation will have access ramps for wheelchairs or information in braille , for example .
A unique online booking system for accessible accommodation may help solve this problem . Developed by a Swedish father whose son suffers from a muscle disease and needs a wheelchair when travelling , Handiscover aims to simplify the search for special accommodation . Simply put , it ’ s a communitybased holiday accommodationbooking website with a unique classification system that allows users to search based on their level of mobility .
‘ We take into account issues like the number of stairs , distance to the parking space , the width of doors ,’ said Sebastien Archambeaud . ‘ This information makes it easier to choose where to stay .’
Building on Handiscover , he has also launched a secondary website to assist hotels , retail shops and other businesses to better understand accessibility and disability through education workshops .
70 % of disabilities aren ’ t visible . We tend to associate disability with a wheelchair , but don ’ t forget the visually and hearing impaired .
Sebastien Archambeaud , Founder & CEO , and
Handiscover leader .
‘ With half of the 65 + age group having some form of disability , and 70 % of all disabilities not visible , it ’ s important not to associate disability with a wheelchair ,’ noted Archambeaud . ‘ Let ’ s not forget the visually and hearing impaired .’
By placing technology at the heart of building and revamping our cities and transportation systems , digital technology and innovation now have the potential to make life easier for people with disabilities .
If you liked this article , please consider sharing it on social media .
The research in this article was funded by the EU . This article was originally published in
Horizon , the EU Research and Innovation magazine . Read the
original article .