TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Innovation of the Month

How RightHear Is Changing the Way Blind Travelers Navigate the World

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From an interview with Idan Meir

A young man walking down a tree covered sidewalk using a white cane to navigate and holding a phone up as if he is listening.

The Problem: When Compliance Is Not Communication

RightHear was founded, Meir explains, on a clear conviction. “Spatial independence is a human right.” That belief came from recognizing a persistent gap between legal accessibility requirements and the lived experience of blind and low vision visitors.

Under the ADA, venues are required to provide “Effective Communication.” In practice, Meir says, the industry has relied heavily on Braille as the default solution, even though it often fails to meet that standard.

“Fewer than 10 percent of the blind community reads Braille,” Meir says. Even when Braille signage exists, locating it can be more difficult than reading it. “If a message cannot be found or read, the communication is not ‘effective.’”

“We believe that if a venue has a Braille sign, it must have a Talking Sign to truly fulfill the ADA’s mandate,”

Idan Meir

That disconnect led RightHear to rethink what accessibility communication should look like in real environments. “We believe that if a venue has a Braille sign, it must have a Talking Sign to truly fulfill the ADA’s mandate,” Meir explains.

RightHear addresses this by transforming physical spaces into an audible interface. “We are not helping venues check a compliance box,” Meir says. “We are making sure they are genuinely communicating with 100 percent of their visitors.”

Time for Change

RightHear is no longer an experimental solution. “We have moved way beyond proof of concept,” Meir says, noting that the platform is now widely deployed across top-tier travel destinations.

The technology is active in airports and hotels, but Meir points to parks and nature reserves as a defining area of leadership. “Everyone deserves to experience the outdoors,” he says, “yet nature trails are often the most difficult environments to navigate blindly.”

RightHear is currently deployed in parks around the world, allowing users to self-navigate trails while accessing wayfinding and educational content through their phones. “Users do not need to touch physical surfaces,” Meir explains, which is particularly important in outdoor and high-traffic environments.

More about our work in parks can be found here.

Putting Accessibility Within Reach

Affordability is central to RightHear’s strategy. “Our mission is to make accessibility the standard, not the exception,” Meir says.

Compared to physical infrastructure changes, RightHear is designed to be a cost-effective and scalable solution for venues of any size. The company offers a flexible subscription model that allows destinations to implement the technology immediately.

“Our pricing starts at $360 a year for a very small facility,” Meir notes. The goal, he says, is to remove cost as a barrier so venues can focus on delivering meaningful accessibility rather than minimum compliance.

For Meir, the distinction is clear. “If communication is not usable, it is not accessible,” he says. RightHear’s approach reframes accessibility as an operational and guest experience priority, not just a regulatory requirement.

ADAPTS Transfer Sling: Faster, Safer, Emergency Evacuations

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Two people demonstrate an evacuation assistance device, supporting a seated woman at an accessibility and safety exhibit.

Imagine an emergency that requires an evacuation. The general feeling of panic and uncertainty. The rush to get to safety. Now imagine your wheelchair is stowed…somewhere else. People with disabilities have enough obstacles to overcome while traveling. Safety during an evacuation shouldn’t be one of them.

ADAPTS to the Rescue

ADAPTS reduces the risk of injury and speeds evacuation. Use it to transfer the passenger from a wheelchair to their seat, leaving it on the seat. Then, during an emergency evacuation, ADAPTS can be carried by two crew members or by the passengers immediately behind and across the aisle from the disabled passenger.

Our dream is that ADAPTS will someday be readily available on every airline, cruise line, passenger train and bus—just like life vests, oxygen masks and other safety equipment.

Not Just for Evacuations

Because it’s portable, compact and lightweight, ADAPTS can be used for everyday transfers around the home and anywhere!

Check out some of the ways others are using ADAPTS here.

The ADAPTS Story

Yellow adaptive evacuation seat secured in an airplane aisle seat, designed for passenger mobility assistance.

The seed that would become ADAPTS was first planted in Robin Wearley’s mind in 2005, as she sat in the window seat during a flight home to San Francisco. Filling the other two seats were an elderly man and his wife, who was brought onto the plane in a wheelchair. At the conclusion of the flight, Robin and her two seatmates were required to remain in their seats until all other passengers had deplaned and a wheelchair could be brought on board.

As they wheeled the elderly woman off the plane, a flight attendant thanked Robin for being patient, adding that he hoped it hadn’t been too much of an inconvenience. It wasn’t, but it got Robin thinking—what if the outcome of the flight had been different? What if they didn’t have the luxury of time? How would that woman—or her husband and Robin, who couldn’t move until she did—have gotten safely off the plane?

A dozen years later, after more flights and several conversations with a travel-savvy friend who happens to be a triple amputee, Robin’s idea began to take root. She grabbed her yoga mat and some rope, and fashioned the first prototype of the ADAPTS sling. Convinced she was onto something, she cut up a Slip-n-Slide® and refined her design. She created a third prototype from light cotton muslin, before turning the design over to a seamstress, who created the pattern and instructions for mass production. 

  • $199
  • ADAPTS is made of the material used for life-vests and is water-resistant and flame-retardant to comply with FAA safety standards.
  • ADAPTS weighs 1.15 pounds. It measures 11″ x 11″ x 2″ when folded into a tote. Industrial tested to hold at least 450 pounds!
  • Hand wash or wipe with a soapy sponge and air dry.
  • When unfolded it fits the seat on an airplane or a chair and attaches at the top.
  • There are six handles, two on each side, one at the top, and one at the bottom so that two to six rescuers can move a person swiftly to first responders. 

Want to know more? Check out these videos! 

Watch ADAPTS InnovatAble Pitch below!

Innovation of the Month: Koda – Breaking Barriers in Live Communication

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Koda, the third-place winner of this year’s InnovateAble Showcase, is an AI-powered accessibility platform transforming live events, travel, and public spaces by providing real-time captions and translations for the deaf, hard of hearing, non-native speakers, and anyone navigating noisy environments.

When Saida Florexil set out to create better communication tools for the deaf and hard of hearing, she was motivated by lived experience. Born deaf, she wanted technology that could support her daily interactions as a college student. At the same time, co-founder Aakriti was watching her grandfather transition to hard of hearing and saw how isolating and frustrating everyday conversations became for him.

Together, they developed Comunify, an early version of their accessibility tool designed to make everyday conversations more inclusive.

“As users began adopting Comunify at events and providing feedback, including event organizers who saw the value, it became clear that the technology could have a much broader impact,” Florexil recalls.

In the summer of 2023, the project relaunched and rebranded as Koda, shifting focus toward making live events, travel, and transportation more accessible and inclusive for all.

The Problem: Missing Out on Key Moments

Communication access in public spaces is often inconsistent or nonexistent. For the deaf and hard of hearing community, as well as non-native speakers or even people struggling to hear in noisy environments, critical information can easily be missed.

“Koda solves the problem of inaccessible communication in public spaces and live events,”

Florexil explains. “Whether it is someone who is deaf, hard of hearing, a non-native speaker, or simply struggling to catch announcements in a noisy environment, people are often excluded from key moments of information and engagement.”

The result can be anything from minor inconveniences—like missing a punchline—to serious challenges, such as misunderstanding flight announcements or safety information.

The Koda Solution: Real-Time, AI-Powered Accessibility

Koda is designed to bridge those gaps with live, scalable, AI-powered accessibility.

  • Conferences and Festivals: Real-time captions and translations help attendees follow along, network effectively, and stay engaged.
  • Sports Arenas and Public Transit: Travelers and fans never miss critical announcements, regardless of disability, language barriers, or the noise of the venue.
  • Entertainment Settings: From comedy shows to theater productions, Koda ensures audiences don’t miss a word, joke, or performance cue.

By providing instant communication access, Koda not only improves accessibility but also enhances engagement for all audiences.

Pricing Model

Koda’s pricing is designed to be flexible based on scale and event type.

  • Base rate: $50 per hour
  • Additional daily costs: Applied for remote support depending on event needs

This makes Koda accessible to a wide range of organizations, from small community events to large-scale festivals and conferences.

Building a More Inclusive Future

Koda may have started as a personal solution, but it is rapidly becoming a platform with global potential. By focusing on accessibility first, Florexil and her team are showing how inclusive technology can create better experiences for everyone.

Innovation of the Month: Lotus’ Wearable Access Ties for First Place

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Lotus, a first-place winner in this year’s InnovateAble Showcase, is reimagining what it means to access and control your environment. Lotus is a fabulously simple idea: a wearable ring that allows users to point and click to control lights, fans, TVs, and more—without Wi-Fi, apps, or rewiring. Founder Dhaval Patel’s journey to creating Lotus is both personal and innovative.

A sleek, ring-shaped smart device with a metallic silver and black finish floats in mid-air above a dining table, with a blurred home interior featuring warm lighting and plants in the background.

From Personal Struggle to Universal Solution

“The story of Lotus starts with me,” Patel explains. “I was born with twisted knees, and over the years I’ve been on and off crutches a lot.”

One night, exhausted after a long day, Patel realized he had left the lights on. “Too tired to get up, I slept with the lights on—the entire night,” he recalls. The next morning, he had a revelation: if even an Apple electrical engineer like me didn’t have smart home tech at home, who did?

That moment became the seed for Lotus.

The Problem: Homes Not Built for Smart Tech

Smart home technology often feels out of reach—especially for travelers, renters, and people with disabilities.

“Turns out 91% of homes in the U.S. were built before smart homes existed, with no easy way to upgrade,” Patel says. Even adopting an Alexa often requires rewiring switches, installing multiple speakers, and downloading additional apps. For homeowners, the time and cost can be daunting; for travelers and renters, solutions are virtually nonexistent.

This gap disproportionately affects nearly 30 million people with limited mobility—including veterans, older adults, and disabled individuals—who may already spend up to four hours a day on self-care.

The Lotus Solution: Point. Click. Control

Lotus sidesteps these barriers with a portable, plug-and-play design.

  • Step 1: Put on the Lotus ring.
  • Step 2: Snap the Lotus switch cover onto any wall switch. Simple magnets eliminate the need for rewiring.
  • Step 3: Point and click. Infrared technology works like a TV remote—no app, smartphone, or internet needed.

“Control lights, fans, appliances. Even fireplaces and TVs,” Patel explains. “And take it with you wherever you go—hotels, Airbnbs, visiting family. It’s portable.”

Who Benefits from Lotus?

Patel envisions four distinct customer groups:

  1. People with limited mobility (30M in the U.S.)
    Those with acute, permanent disabilities—such as veterans with injuries—need immediate solutions.
  2. Older adults (61M in the U.S.)
    Gradual conditions like arthritis make movement more difficult, and fall prevention becomes critical.
  3. Renters (110M in the U.S.)
    Lease restrictions and temporary housing often make rewiring impossible. Lotus offers smart-home convenience without permanent upgrades.
  4. Mass-market convenience
    Everyday users—from pregnant parents to anyone who’s simply cozy in bed—can benefit from the silent, point-and-click control.

It seems that Lotus falls right into the curb cut effect with technology that benefits everyone. “In other words, our mission is ‘to build technology anyone can use, by optimizing for disability first,’” Patel says. 

Pricing and Practicality

A Lotus starter kit (1 ring + 3 switch covers + charging accessories) retails at $399, or $349 for organizational bulk purchases. Individual pieces are also available:

  • Ring: $199
  • Switch Cover: $75

Every device is compatible with others, so users can easily expand their setup. Patel notes a fun side effect: “Your ring will even work in your parents’ home, and vice versa. It has network effects—like a telephone, the more people that have it, the more beneficial every person’s device becomes.”

Practical features add to the appeal: the ring is waterproof, and its battery lasts six months on a single charge.

A Legacy of Accessibility

For Patel, Lotus is about more than convenience—it’s about impact.

“My favorite quote is from Hamilton: ‘What is legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see,’” he shares. “That’s why I started Lotus—to build something that continues helping people, even after we’re long gone.”

This tech could instantly transform an accessible hotel room or short term rental, going beyond ADA to welcoming. The low-cost set up makes it possible to install in multiple locations, with rings available for users who need them.

Innovation of the Month: Scan Me Home

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ScanMeHome’s QR Code that Can Save Lives

The seventh annual INNOVATEAble highlighted groundbreaking ideas transforming how people with disabilities live and travel. The competition was close, with judges noting how tough it was to choose among such strong pitches. Taking second place was ScanMeHome, already making a huge impact for families living with autism. Below, founder Justin Behnke shares the story behind his innovation.

How ScanMeHome Came About

The idea for ScanMeHome came from my son, Jaxon. He’s nonverbal and autistic, and like many on the spectrum, he has intense sensory sensitivities. That meant wearables like GPS trackers or bracelets weren’t an option — he simply couldn’t tolerate them. Yet the fear of him wandering off and not being able to tell anyone who he was or how to reach me kept me awake at night.

I realized there was nothing in the marketplace that could meet his needs. Families like mine were left without a practical, immediate way to reconnect if their loved one got lost. That’s when I started building ScanMeHome: a simple, universal solution that doesn’t rely on batteries, devices, or apps — just a QR code that anyone can scan to instantly connect to a parent or caregiver.

The Problem it Solves

ScanMeHome bridges the dangerous communication gap when someone can’t speak for themselves. In those critical moments — whether it’s at an airport, a beach, a theme park, or even a neighborhood walk — a quick scan of the code gives first responders, staff, or good Samaritans immediate access to contact details and instructions to help reunite families.

Use Cases

  • Families: Parents of children with autism or other communication challenges.
  • Seniors: Those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
  • Travel & Tourism: Airports, hotels, and attractions offering ScanMeHome to guests, creating safer and more inclusive travel experiences.
  • Schools, camps, and events: Adding a layer of safety in group settings where wandering risks are high.

For families
Memberships start at $9.95/month or $99/year, with a 7-day free trial. During the trial, families can immediately access ScanMeHome by printing their own digital QR code or ordering iron-on tags.

For destinations & organizations
ScanMeHome also offers bulk membership programs as well as flexible short-term visitor passes, making it easy for destinations and partners to provide added safety and inclusion to the communities and travelers they serve.

At its heart, ScanMeHome was built so families like mine can experience the world with less fear and more freedom — knowing there’s always a way home.

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