Accessible Sydney provides detailed information to people with a disability about the accessibility of venues within the City of Sydney. This information can be used spontaneously while out and about, to find the nearest accessible toilet or restaurant, for example, or it can be used to plan an outing in advance. It is designed for use by people with a disability, older people and their care-givers, to give them greater independence and enable them to get the most out of their visit to the city.
How it works:
• The app allows users to search for venues within the following categories – Toilets, Food & Drink, Accommodation, Attractions, ATMs and Parking – either closest to the current location or in a particular area. An area can be chosen by suburb name or on a map. Categories are colour coded for easy recognition.
• Venues are listed in order of proximity to the user’s current location.
• A detailed page for each venue provides information such as its address, its phone, email and web contacts, opening hours and any other relevant information. Accessibility symbols provide detailed information about the accessibility features of the venue. Clicking on these displays more information about what the symbol means.
• A map showing the location of the venue can be displayed, as well as directions to the venue.
• The app can be customised to an individual’s needs. Filters can be set to limit the information shown to only those venues that meet the accessibility needs of the user.
• Users are able to comment on and add to the information available. In this way the database of information will be refined and expanded over time.
• The app has an easy to use interface designed specifically with the needs of people with a disability in mind.
Ultimately, this app will empower people with a disability by giving them greater independence and greater confidence to venture out from their homes and into the City of Sydney. It will help them to participate more fully in the life of the city and thus help build a more inclusive community.