In Lutsk, veterans and IT specialists have developed a mobile application called Better Mobility that allows people with disabilities to assess the accessibility of various locations in the city, from cafes to pharmacies. The initiative was born out of the real-life experience of Viktor-Mykola Havryliuk, a veteran who was seriously injured during the war. After a long treatment, he faced numerous barriers in public space: steep slopes, narrow doorways, faulty ramps, and unsuitable hospitals, according to Shotam media.
According to the developers, there are many people with disabilities in Ukraine who want to lead an active life after being injured or traumatized, but are forced to stay at home due to inaccessible infrastructure. That is why the app is based on the experience of the users themselves. People who use wheelchairs helped test the route, took photos of entrances to establishments, and evaluated the real convenience of ramps, curbs, and toilets.
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The BM Tech IT team, which initiated the project, created a simple assessment algorithm: the user takes a photo of the entrance to the premises, selects answers to several questions, and the system generates an overall accessibility assessment. Currently, the assessment of the entrance area is available, but the development of tools for analyzing internal accessibility, such as corridors, stairs, and toilets, is underway.
Unlike Google Maps, Better Mobility provides users with structured and practical information. For example, you can find out not only whether a ramp is available, but also its angle, handrails, and coating material. Veterans who were previously unable to plan their routes can now check in advance where they can get to on their own.
The developers emphasize that accessibility is not only a matter for people with disabilities. It is also important for parents with strollers, the elderly, and anyone who appreciates a comfortable urban environment. In the future, they plan to expand the map to other Ukrainian cities and add new categories of establishments. Currently, the main task is to fill the database with users. Anyone can take a photo of a location in their city and add it to the app, contributing to a barrier-free Ukraine.
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