Tourism season has begun and both accessible destinations and disabled travelers are ready. Check out what Visit Richmond, Explore Prineville, and the National Park Service have done to prepare, then read about how our travelers kicked off the season.
Technology
Innovation of the Month: Aira
Aira – Empowering Independence Through Visual and Sign Language Interpretation
Company Background & Mission
Aira (pronounced eye-rah) has been operating for over 10 years, building a reputation as a trusted accessibility partner primarily focused on serving the Blind and Low Vision (BLV) community. The company’s approach to innovation is grounded in co-creation—developing solutions hand-in-hand with the community to ensure services are genuinely aligned with users’ needs and expectations.
Over the years, Aira has built strong partnerships with more than 270 organizations, including national brands such as Target, Wal-Mart, Bank of America, and Starbucks. Aira also partners with airports, state and local government agencies, higher education and museums across the United States.
The very core of everything that Aira does is simple: we believe that ACCESS IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
The very core of everything that Aira does is simple: we believe that ACCESS IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
The Problem Aira Solves
Every day, individuals who are blind or have low vision face countless barriers when accessing visual information in real time. Whether navigating a busy airport, reviewing printed materials, or managing visual tasks at work, many situations require immediate, human-based visual interpretation that traditional assistive technology can’t provide. Aira bridges this gap by offering on-demand, live human support via a mobile or desktop application.
Recognizing the broader need for inclusive communication, Aira expanded its services in 2024 to include on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, furthering its mission of accessibility by also serving the Deaf community.
Deaf community members face a variety of communication barriers throughout the day. Oftentimes, all that is needed is a quick connection with an interpreter so that they can communicate freely, without barriers to gain important information in the classroom, in the workplace, while shopping or out enjoying vacation.
How Aira Works
Through Aira’s mobile or desktop apps, users connect with trained Agents or certified ASL interpreters who provide real-time visual or sign language interpretation. The apps are available for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, and can be flexibly deployed through a number of different methods. Agents assist users by seeing through their device camera, offering descriptions and guidance to complete visual tasks. ASL users can initiate video sessions to connect with interpreters directly from the app, tailored to the meeting type or communication need.
Use Cases for Aira
- Navigating complex environments like airports or office campuses
- Reading printed and digital text (e.g., menus, signs, forms, emails)
- Workplace accommodations and support during meetings or presentations
- Home tasks such as organizing, labeling, or troubleshooting
- Real-time communication in ASL for Deaf users during remote or in-person meetings; literally anywhere
Pricing Information
Aira’s services are available through multiple access models:
- Free Access: Provided by Access Partners such as airports, universities, and businesses who sponsor usage for the public.
- Subscription Plans: Individuals can purchase plans with a set number of minutes per month, suitable for different levels of personal or professional use.
- Enterprise and Organizational Licensing: Companies and institutions can offer Aira as a workplace accommodation or customer support tool, with custom integration options.
Around the Web
Information and inspiration from around the web
How a Paralyzed Man Moved a Robotic Arm with His Thoughts
This Open Caption Technology Creates a Better Experience for Both Hearing Impaired and Hearing Audiences
Collaborate with Our Designing for Accessibility Project
EpilepSki Returns to Vermont Making Winter Sports Accessible for All
From Accidental Tourist to Adaptive Travel Host
British Airways Launches a Dedicated Customer Service Team for Disabled Passengers
Noble County Spotlights Accessibility Through New Project
‘Making Our Parks More Welcoming and Inviting’: Tennessee State Parks Hires Accessibility Coordinator
Travel and Leisure Shares how Blind Travelers See the World in Ways Beyond the Visual
Best Practices Travel Accessibility Page of the Month: Discover Lancaster
Here’s what sets Discover Lancaster apart when it comes to accessible landing pages…
TravelAbility’s Accessibility Playbook provides a basic guide for building an accessibility landing page that welcomes all to discover your destination. Discover Lancaster’s website is entering the advanced level because of its extensive listing of all types of attractions and resources. They’ve done a great job of working with their partners to build a platform of information on anything a disabled traveler could be looking for. Here’s how they measure up:
Creating an Accessible Landing Page: A Three-Level Guide
| Level | Key Elements | Details |
| LEVEL ONE: BASIC | Statement ✔️ | “We are pleased to welcome visitors of all abilities. This page features a variety of accessible attractions, museums, recreational activities, and hotels to help visitors and local residents with disabilities discover what they can do in [Destination].” |
| Things to Do✔️ | Identify accessible attractions and experiences, and provide direct links to their accessibility pages. | |
| Hotels & Lodging✔️ | List accessible hotels, highlight hotels with pool lifts exceeding ADA requirements, and survey hotels for detailed accessibility info. If partnering with Wheel the World, link directly to their booking page. | |
| Additional Resources✔️ | Build an accessible itinerary with state/provincial/national stakeholders, and include links to relevant articles and media coverage. | |
| Transportation✔️ | Link to accessibility pages for airports, public transportation, taxis & van services, and car rentals. | |
| Medical Supplies & Services | Provide links for wheelchair/scooter rentals and medical equipment rentals (Hoyer lifts, shower chairs, etc.). | |
| LEVEL TWO: INTERMEDIATE | Recreation✔️ | Provide accessibility links for nearby parks, hiking trails, points of interest, botanical gardens, and zoos. |
| Sports Venues✔️ | Link to accessibility pages for college/professional stadiums, arenas, and racetracks. | |
| Performance Venues✔️ | Accessibility links for symphonies, ballets, operas, theatres, and prominent nightclubs. | |
| Dining & Food✔️ | List ADA-compliant restaurant chains and coffee shops (e.g., Starbucks). | |
| LEVEL THREE: ADVANCED | Enhanced Engagement✔️ | Incorporate video testimonials from visitors with different disabilities. |
| Industry Collaboration & Drop-Down Menus | Survey industry partners to uncover accessibility features, and build a user-friendly drop-down menu for mobility, blindness/low vision, deafness/hard of hearing, and autism/neurodiversity. | |
| Tagging & Search Optimization | Tag accessibility links by disability type, allowing users to filter and search. Locations with multiple features should appear under each relevant category. |
How does your accessibility landing page measure up? How can you bring it up to the next level?
Innovation of the Month: Be My Eyes – Changing the Game for Visual Assistance
Most great ideas start with a problem. Be My Eyes was no different. Founded by a Danish furniture craftsman who was losing his vision, the app was born out of a simple yet powerful idea: create a seamless way for blind and low-vision individuals to get visual assistance in real time. What started as a volunteer-driven network has now evolved into a game-changing accessibility tool that serves both consumers and businesses alike.
A Solution for Everyday Challenges
For consumers, Be My Eyes is a lifeline for just about any visual challenge. Need to find the right can of soup in the pantry? Check. Navigating an airport to catch a flight? Done. Searching for a lost parakeet in the house? Believe it or not, that’s happened too. With live volunteers and AI-powered assistance, the app provides immediate, reliable support for a wide range of visual needs.
Beyond the everyday, Be My Eyes also offers a company directory, connecting users directly to accessible customer support lines. That means blind and low-vision consumers can get real help—whether it’s booking a hotel, managing an airline ticket, or troubleshooting a product—without the usual back-and-forth frustration.
A Game-Changer for Businesses
Be My Eyes isn’t just making life easier for consumers—it’s also rewriting the script for corporate customer service. For businesses, the impact is undeniable: call handle times reduced by up to 68%, customer satisfaction scores skyrocketing, and AI-powered automation resolving issues with an impressive level of accuracy. In a world where accessibility is often an afterthought, this platform gives companies a competitive edge by providing real, meaningful support to an underserved market.
The Future of Accessibility in Business
The potential for brands to integrate accessible, seamless support is enormous. And the best part? It’s scalable.
For enterprise customers, pricing starts at $12,000 per year and goes up to over $100,000 for global brands looking to lead the way in accessibility. As more businesses wake up to the value of serving blind and low-vision consumers—not just as a compliance checkbox, but as a key demographic—Be My Eyes is proving that innovation in accessibility isn’t just good ethics; it’s good business.
Watch the InnovateAble pitch here.