Two entrepreneurs, Srin Madipalli and Martyn Sibley, have created a website Accomable.com which can be described as a disabled-friendly AirBnb.
Madipalli and Sibley are avid travelers who both have spinal muscular atrophy, which means they are both reliant on motorized wheelchairs for mobility. On their travels they have encountered unexpected problems and mishaps with accommodation, such as unadvertised steps blocking off bathrooms and other areas of the room.
In a column he wrote for the BBC, Madipalli said,
“ravel shouldn’t have to be a risk or a major leap into the unknown just because you have a disability or are elderly. We believe it is possible to create a platform to find and inspect accommodation before traveling, and to find providers of support and equipment around the world, so if things break down it never has to be a terrible nightmare.”
From their personal experience traveling with a disability the website, Accomable.com was born, which lists disability-friendly and accessible rental properties around the world. It currently has listings in more than 30 countries, including 16 properties in U.S and Canada.