An iPhone makes life a lot easier. These wheelchair user apps take accessibility into account and take a lot of worry away.
The 5 best apps for wheelchair users
Anyone who relies on a wheelchair knows that not all places are equally accessible. You also often have to take all kinds of things into account. It is therefore nice that many apps do their best to make your life just that little bit easier. These 5 apps for wheelchair users help with (public) transport, navigation, finding fun outings and shopping.
1. Unhindered
Unhindered gives you an overview of the nearest wheelchair-friendly toilets, parking spaces, restaurants, hotels, shops and more. The big advantage of the app is that all places have been tested by wheelchair users and only places with an accessibility mark for accessibility are included in the offer.
Other wheelchair users can also share their experiences, so that Ongehinderd is always up-to-date. Moreover, you can immediately see whether a hotel has a suitable parking space (or not) and you can navigate there with the push of a button.
Unhindered has an active group of users, but Wheelmap is recommended when you go on holiday or regularly have to go abroad. This app basically does the same thing, but also works across borders. You can also use the app in the Netherlands and depending on your location, more or fewer places are assessed for accessibility than with Ongehinderd.
2. 9292
9292 is one of the most popular public transportation apps for iOS and has a special option for accessible travel. When you go by train, this means that the tracks and the station hall are on the ground floor, or that there is a lift. If you go with the NS, there must also be assistance available to help you get in and out.
For bus rides, the presence of a lowered entry or a gangway is taken into account. The driver will also always help you if necessary. Most metro stations are also easy to do in a wheelchair.
Unfortunately, this does not apply to trams, where there are differences between carriers and 9292 is not always accurate. Before departure it is useful to check the website of HTML, CFP, RET or U-OV check for accessibility of stops and stations.
3. Google Maps Map
Google Maps is the most popular navigation app and also shows the best wheelchair-friendly routes. This takes into account the presence of steps, height differences and blockades or road works.
The app is fairly accurate, but it does warn that the information is incorrect. Because Google Maps relies on user input, it can sometimes take a while to process a change, such as a broken road. This is how you find a wheelchair-friendly route in Google Maps.
4. Picnic
Not every supermarket is equally wheelchair friendly. For example, the peanut butter you want may be very high on the shelf, the paths are too narrow or you just think it’s a hassle. In situations like this, a ‘home delivery supermarket’ such as Picnic offers a solution.
You order what you need via the app, pay via iDeal or PayPal and indicate when it will be delivered. The delivery takes place within a time slot of one hour, so that you do not have to pay at home all day. Moreover, Picnic delivers the groceries to your kitchen and you don’t pay anything extra for this.
Unfortunately, the delivery supermarket works with a waiting list, so you may have to be patient for a while. The range is also more limited than you are used to from an Albert Heijn or Jumbo. Moreover, Picnic does not yet deliver everywhere in the Netherlands.
5. fuel Service
fuelService does exactly what you would expect from the name: the app helps you during refueling. You can quickly and easily find in advance which gas stations offer this service and submit a request for help. Once you have arrived, press the button, you will be given a wait and someone will come and help you.
You can see the payment options in advance, which also removes a concern. It is a pity that you cannot pay with iDeal or PayPal. As a result, you sometimes still struggle when the ATM is not movable, for example.
More about accessibility
On iPhoned we often write about accessibility. For example, we have compared the best Apple devices for people with a physical disability and listed apps for the blind and partially sighted. Your iPhone, iPad or Mac is also full of settings for people with a visual impairment.
- Apple Unveils 10 Accessibility Features for iPhone, iPad and Watch (20-5)
- Apple trains Siri to better understand people with speech impediments (26-2)
- Accessibility: Adjust iPhone Text Size and Use Bold Text (10-1)
- People with disabilities about their iPhone: “you are missing out on potential customers” (22-10-2020)
- Accessibility in iOS 14: 5 New Features for People with Disabilities (13-7-2020)