Airbnb Unveils New Online Experiences on Global Accessibility Awareness Day
As people around the world celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Airbnb is highlighting new Online Experiences which have been designed by hosts with accessibility in mind – and is continuing its work to improve accessibility across the Experiences platform in partnership with disability organizations and advocacy groups, including the Royal Association for Deaf people, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and The Arc.
Whether you want to join an audio guided cardio boxing class or try adaptive yoga with a pro dancer, guests can now book Online Experiences designed by hosts to suit a range of accessibility needs, including many hosted across the UK. Want to learn more about accessibility? You can try learning sign language or go virtually on the Farm with mini horses and donkeys, and find out more about the benefits of equine therapy.
For a limited time, UK television presenter, entrepreneur, artist, and disability advocate, Sophie Morgan, will host an exclusive animal drawing class, with proceeds benefiting UK disability charity, Leonard Cheshire. Former American college footballer, motivational speaker, sports analyst and author, Eric LeGrand, will offer an exclusive session on public speaking with proceeds supporting the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Designed by hosts to meet a variety of accessibility needs, these new Online Experiences are also ideal for friends and family to book and reconnect with loved ones over a shared activity. Whether it’s a unique celebration or casual get together, guests can also opt for private bookings, all from the comfort and safety of home. Other Online Experiences include:
- Cooking class with a Deaf teacher (Cotswolds, United Kingdom)
- Working up a sweat with a Paralympian (Salida, Colorado)
- Wheelchair workout with a pro trainer (Poole, United Kingdom)
- Mindful meditation with horses (Freetown, Canada)
- Training session for all abilities (Kitchener, Canada)
- Fitness, fun, and sign language (Caterham, United Kingdom)
- Sunrise movement with a Paralympian (Sydney, Australia)
- Adapted dance class (Northampton, United Kingdom)
- Shark photography with attack survivor (Kilauea, Hawaii)
As part of our efforts to improve accessibility across the Experiences platform, Airbnb has partnered with disability organizations and nonprofits including the Royal Association for Deaf people, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and The Arc, to enable more people to access and enjoy Online Experiences.
Partners and global disability organizations outlined their support of the Airbnb Experiences platform:
One of RAD’s key ambitions is to create a better, more accessible future for deaf people. We are therefore incredibly proud to partner with Airbnb who share our aspirations. We’re thrilled to see Online Experiences hosted in sign language and welcome this opportunity for deaf people to access Experiences in their first language – in addition to workshops for beginners.
Joint Chief Executive, Amanda Casson Webb, Royal Association for Deaf people
As part of our care mission, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to helping create a more accessible world. Airbnb’s Online Experiences bring exciting innovation to this effort and make it possible for people with disabilities, including paralysis, to embark on a wide range of adventures and opportunities that once may have been closed to this community. We applaud Airbnb’s first move to improve accessibility and are proud to partner on this initiative
Peter Wilderotter, President and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
A key part of our mission at The Arc is to ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can participate in their communities as fully as possible. It’s important that Airbnb is highlighting these new Online Experiences. We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with Airbnb on accessibility across Experiences.
Peter Berns, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc
“As a regular wheelchair tennis player, I am delighted about these new Online Experiences designed for the disability community”, says Suzanne Edwards, Accessibility Lead at Airbnb Experiences. “Not only do I think many of these Online Experiences are valuable to address my own needs but they’re also a great way to connect with friends and family. At Airbnb we are always looking for ways to improve accessibility across our platform. Our goal is to ensure Experiences are inclusive of as many needs as possible.”
To celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day, guests can connect with hosts around the world and try something new. To book, visit airbnb.co.uk/oeaccessibility
Launched in April 2020, Online Experiences unlock unprecedented access to inspiring hosts across the world, including Olympic medalists, Buddhist monks, magicians, and more. Whether visiting the dogs of Chernobyl, wine tasting in Portugal, or making coffee with a professional coffee taster, guests have the chance to connect with new people and travel virtually, all from the comfort of their own living room.
The Airbnb Press Room is aimed at journalists. All Homes and Experiences referenced on the Airbnb Press Room are intended purely to inspire and illustrate. Airbnb does not recommend or endorse specific Home listings or any other Homes or Experiences on the Airbnb platform.