Best apps for wheelchair users 2021

29th Sep 2021

One of the most significant innovations to come out of the last few years is the creation of a more accessible environment for the physically impaired and disabled. Smartphones have contributed enormously by being designed to help people with disabilities.

For example, nearly all smartphones now have helpful built-in accessibility features, such as screen readers. However, beyond your Android or Apple’s current operating system lies an app store that regularly adds useful accessibility app technology, particularly for people with mobility issues.

Apps like “AccessAble" – allowing users to discover accessible hotels, restaurants, shops, and museums – are becoming more popular for users with mobility issues to download and use.

Whether you need help finding disabled parking or you're looking for your nearest accessible toilet, we have compiled a list of our favourite apps that offer assistance and services to wheelchair users:

1. AccessAble

AccessAble helps you plan your days out.

It has a large, countrywide database of Wheelchair accessible shops, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions.

The team at AccessAble spend a lot of time researching and updating local amenities to ensure the users have the best experience possible.

So, before you head out for the day, take a look at the app, plan your trip and never have to worry about finding wheelchair accessible places in an unfamiliar location again.

View AccessAble app on the Apple App Store

View AccessAble app on the Google Play Store

2. Blue Badge Parking

Blue Badge Parking helps you find disabled parking spaces across the country. The apps data is generated via crowdsourcing, so the disabled community have really helped develop this app.

A quick search when you arrive at your destination will pull up all the disabled parking spots available and guide you to the nearest one.

View the Blue Badge Parking app on the Apple App Store

View the Blue Badge Parking app on the Google Play Store

Changing Places Toilet Finder

Don’t get caught short ever again.

Changing Places Toilet Finder is an app that shows you the disabled toilet facilities available to you at your destination.

Just enter your location and the app will direct you to your nearest facility.

View the Changing Places Toilet Finder app on the Apple Store

View the Changing Places Toilet Finder app on the Google Play Store

Red Panic Button App

Red Panic Button App

The Red Panic Button App allows you to set up emergency contacts, and with a tap of a button, the app will send an emergency text to your contact with your current location.

This can be very helpful if you get stuck somewhere or have an accident and can’t call for help.

View the Red Panic Button app on the Apple Store

Wheelmap

Wheelmap is an app designed to discover wheelchair-accessible places and rate them. The app is global and has details on 30 countries and is available in 32 languages.

Wheelmap helps support the needs of those who use wheelchairs as a mode of transport, and encourages users to join in and contribute information about places worldwide to create a better experience for everyone.

Apart from finding wheelchair-accessible places and rating them, users can update the information on entrances and restrooms of public places and upload images to show their quality and features. Although some countries have less information than others, the app is still a great resource to have and always welcomes contributions from its community.

View the Wheelmap app on the Apple Store

View the Wheelmap app on the Google Play Store

Wheel Fit

Wheel Fit is a workout app for the Android operating system, and it was created with a focus on boosting the mental and physical health of wheelchair users. The app gives workouts and training plans to help keep your body fit and healthy.

Professional trainers designed the exercises and plans and feature multiple courses depending on the user's fitness levels. They focus on various areas such as muscle and strength building, fat loss, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), and numerous more.

The fitness app also includes multiple prescribed nutrition plans, including tools to maintain one's calorie count through the tracker and calculator. The programs cater to various diets, including keto, paleo, vegan, and several more.

View the Wheel Fit app on the Google Play store

Google Maps

Google Maps is an excellent navigation tool that provides comprehensive routes and directions wherever you wish to go. The app is particularly useful, but a feature was introduced in Google Maps known as Accessible Places to make it more wheelchair-friendly.

This feature makes wheelchair accessibility information more prominently displayed in Google Maps. When Accessible Places is turned on, a wheelchair icon will indicate an accessible entrance, and you will be able to notice if a place has accessible seating, restrooms, or parking.

Information on which routes and stations are wheelchair friendly was not always readily available or easy to find. So, to make transit navigation easier for those with mobility needs, Google introduced a handy feature called Wheelchair-Accessible Routes.

Once you activate this feature, it will show you a list of all potential routes that suit wheelchairs. To access this, once you have selected your destination on Google Maps, tap Directions and then choose the Public transportation icon. Once you have done so, choose Route options. In these options, you will find Wheelchair accessible. Once you have selected it, it will show you a list of all the possible routes suitable for your needs.

View the Google Maps app on the Apple Store

View the Google Maps app on the Google Play Store

These are some of our picks. If you feel we have missed an app that you use every day or find helpful, please let us know.

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