Introducing updates to make it easier for guests with disabilities to travel

Key Takeaways

  • Under our new accessibility review process, Hosts simply submit photos of the accessibility features in their home, which are then manually reviewed by a specialized team of Airbnb agents.
  • We’re also making it easier to find these stays with updates to 13 search filters, including step-free bedroom access and accessible parking spot.
A person in a wheelchair having a conversation with two fellow travelers in an open floor plan kitchen at their Airbnb. Dining table set for a meal is in the foreground.

Key Takeaways

  • Under our new accessibility review process, Hosts simply submit photos of the accessibility features in their home, which are then manually reviewed by a specialized team of Airbnb agents.
  • We’re also making it easier to find these stays with updates to 13 search filters, including step-free bedroom access and accessible parking spot.

As the world undergoes a travel revolution brought on by the way people live and work, we continue to focus on making it easier for people with disabilities and other accessibility needs to also enjoy the flexibility of this new approach to travel. To better serve the estimated 1.2 billion people in the world who have a disability, we’re introducing new ways to help guests find and book accommodations and activities that meet their needs.

These innovations were announced as part of the Airbnb 2021 Winter Release, a suite of features that provide additional support and protection for our Hosts, while giving guests a better, more seamless approach to living and traveling on Airbnb.

Accessibility Review

Under our new accessibility review process, Hosts simply submit photos of the accessibility features in their home, which are then manually reviewed by a specialized team of Airbnb agents. This way, guests can be confident that the features listed by Hosts have been confirmed by our team of specialists.

This process is designed to give guests clear information to help them determine if a listing meets their needs. To date, Airbnb agents have reviewed and confirmed the accuracy of 100,000 accessibility features in 25,000 homes around the world. 

Improved search filters

We’re also making it easier to find these stays with updates to 13 search filters, including step-free bedroom access and accessible parking spot, which are more prominent on the search screen and include more specific details about the accessibility feature. For example, the “Wide entrance to bedroom” feature was changed to “Bedroom entrance wider than 32 inches.” 

A group of people in a red canoe sailboat as part of an Airbnb Experience that accommodates accessibility needs.

Experiences accessibility

With Experience Hosts around the world offering activities that accommodate a variety of needs, accessibility features for Experiences are now clearly displayed on each listing page. Guests can also select from 11 filters to find Experiences where Hosts offer sign language, an activity with no stairs or steps, or free admission for access providers who assist people with disabilities, among other features. 

Hosts of Experiences must submit a detailed written description of each accessibility feature, which are designed to help meet a variety of mobility, communication and sensory needs. These descriptions are manually reviewed by a specialized team of agents for description quality.

Several organizations have outlined their support of these new measures and Airbnb’s commitment to improving accessibility across the platform:

“It’s been a privilege to work with Airbnb to help develop a streamlined experience for their guests with disabilities. We’re especially thrilled that guests with disabilities will be able to make reservations with confidence, thanks to Airbnb requiring Hosts to provide photos of the accessibility features they advertise in their homes and now launching a process to review these photos for accuracy.” – Reyma McCoy McDeid, MA, Executive Director, National Council on Independent Living

“We commend Airbnb for advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities in all facets of our society. Its commitment to our community enables wheelchair users to participate in the joys of travel and live with greater independence.” – Vincenzo Piscopo, president and CEO, United Spinal Association

“We are pleased to create alliances that transcend borders and break down barriers, and that is why we are collaborating with Airbnb to offer new opportunities for leisure, recreation and tourism to people with disabilities, without limitations that restrict their rights to access destinations in our country on equal terms. Through its platform, and its new Accessibility Review process and updated search filters, Airbnb is promoting accessibility in accommodations, and as the governing body of disability in Costa Rica, Conapdis, has had the joy of being part of this process that is undoubtedly a fundamental step so that no one is left behind.” – Francisco Azofeifa Murillo, executive director of the Costa Rican National Council of Persons with Disabilities (Consejo Nacional de Personas con Discapacidad – Conapdis)

“We are delighted to continue collaborating with Airbnb because they are truly committed to developing and offering more accessible options on their platform. Costa Rica Tourism Accessible Network believes in the right of leisure and recreation for all, so our vision is that accessibility is the route for a healthy coexistence and we love the path Airbnb is working towards achieving it.” – Stephanie Sheehy, Executive Director of Costa Rican Accessible Tourism Network (Red Costarricense de Turismo Accesible) 

A green house with a wheelchair accessible ramp leading into the entryway.
A bathroom with a step-free shower and toilet.
An outdoor step-free hallway leading towards a doorway entry to a home.
A wheelchair accessible ramp leading towards the driveway alongside a long planter with hanging grass.
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Filters for Stays

  • Step-free guest entrance
  • Step-free path to the guest entrance
  • Guest entrance wider than 32 inches
  • Accessible parking spot
  • Step-free bedroom access
  • Bedroom entrance wider than 32 inches
  • Step-free bathroom access
  • Bathroom entrance wider than 32 inches
  • Shower grab bar
  • Toilet grab bar
  • Step-free shower
  • Shower or bath chair
  • Ceiling or mobile hoist

Filters for Experiences

  • Accessible parking spot
  • Mainly flat or leveled ground
  • No steps or stairs
  • Accessible bathroom
  • Sign language
  • Deaf aware techniques
  • Designated sighted guide
  • Audio/verbal information
  • No extreme sensory stimuli 
  • Quiet retreat space
  • Free admission for people assisting guests with disabilities

For more information on these filters and our continued work to improve accessibility across our product and platform, visit airbnb.com/accessibility.

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