In 2015, Maayan Ziv, now 31, created a mobile app called AccessNow in response to her frustration trying to navigate inaccessible places in her wheelchair. Users can search for, review, and discover locations that meet their needs according to over 25 criteria, including step-free entrances and accessible parking and bathrooms. In 2021, AccessNow filed a patent application regarding its development of technology to detect accessibility features based on patterns “observed” in the built environment and collect and share that information. Using deep learning, AccessNow is training a data model that’s designed to deliver increasingly accurate, personalized accessibility information autonomously.
