A new web app developed at the University of Melbourne is empowering those with disabilities to confidently engage with their community by simplifying the process of finding accessible venues.
Not-for-profit startup 'EnAccess Maps' connects Australia's disability community with venues that match their needs.
Founder and University of Melbourne alumni Sabrina Leung began building the platform while studying a Bachelor of Psychology and Sociology and working part-time as a disability support worker.
"Planning a trip to a café or restaurant can be extremely anxiety-inducing and time-consuming for people who rely on mobility aids as it involves emailing and calling businesses to make sure they're wheelchair friendly and often the information provided can be wrong," Ms Leung said.
"When I was working in the disability sector, the person I cared for was a foodie who had a spinal cord injury and she would tell me horror stories of arriving at venues that claimed to be accessible only to find the ramp was unstable or there was a step at the entrance, and these experiences can be so demoralising."
EnAccess Maps is designed to take the stress out of organising disability friendly outings and prevent wasted trips.
When entering the app, the user is asked to specify the type of experience they're looking for as well as the accessible amenities they require and location. The app then generates a list of suitable businesses that match the user's criteria.
The team has partnered with disability service providers across Australia who help collect data.
When disability support workers are out with their clients, they will vet businesses and leave detailed public reviews on the web app if the venues are deemed accessible.
EnAccess Maps Impact Advisor Jacob Darkin said at least 700 independent venues had already been mapped.
"This wouldn't have been possible without the help from our University of Melbourne student volunteers, who go out vetting venues once a month. During a recent session, our volunteers mapped 70 restaurants in Melbourne's CBD in just two hours, which was a huge achievement," Mr Darkin said.
"As there's currently no other service that offers such a comprehensive and detailed list of disability friendly venues, our app is filling a major gap, and with approximately 750,000 people in Australia using mobility aids, this information is incredibly valuable," Ms Leung said.
"Given 1 in 5 people have a disability, our app is also beneficial for business owners as it allows them to tap into a customer sector that's been forgotten."
The team has run free trials with five Melbourne councils, two of which have become paid clients.
The paid pilots with Merri-bek City Council and Yarra City Council funded assessors to go out and review a total of 67 council-owned venues across the two local government areas.
The team has received significant support from the University of Melbourne and was recently awarded $20,000 in funding through the Melbourne Accelerator Program to help scale up the not-for-profit.
Download the app via www.enaccessmaps.com.
Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) is one of a range of entrepreneurial programs run out of Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre (MEC) at the University of Melbourne.
