Accesso is world’s first app that gives disabled people a chance to report accessibility violations

It is called Accesso and the app could well show the way to the rest of the world on how to raise the bar when it comes to fighting for accessibility rights.

Fed up with the obstacles in his home country Portugal, wheelchair user Ricardo Teixeira has launched the app to give disabled people the chance to fight back and instantly report violation.

Accesso has been developed with Portugal’s disability charity Salvador Association. It is believed to be the world’s first app that allows users to file official complaints against public buildings and businesses that do not meet accessibility laws.

Teixeira, who is a digital entrepreneur has been a tetraplegic since the age of 18. He came up with the idea after a bad experience during his wedding anniversary party at a restaurant, which called itself accessible.

However, the restaurant was not accessible and it led him to think of developing a mechanism that would enable disabled people to complain about violations.

Accesso is a free app and covers all of Portugal. It identifies the user’s location on an interactive map that shows all nearby buildings. In a single click, the user can select a shop or restaurant and rate it based on its accessibility. He can mention if it has an adapted toilet, parking or a ramp, and fill in a complaint form.

While there are many apps that can be used to rate buildings in accessibility, Accesso lets you report violations, which is new.

Complaints sent through the app instantly reach the respective city councils and the National Institute for Rehabilitation, responsible for upholding accessibility laws. The process takes less than five minutes.

Since the app was introduced, 95 complaints have been filed.

Perhaps, an app like this in India would help disabled people exercise their rights to a barrier-free life too!

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