Living with a disability means you often struggle to do what most people would consider “normal” things. You have to get used to the idea of a “new normal” and find ways of coping with what you’ve been dealt in life. It sucks, but many people live extremely fulfilling and gratifying lives – even with severe disabilities.
What’s more, we now live in a world that’s full of modern technology, and this can be extremely helpful for individuals with disabilities. Whether it’s a physical or mental disability – or even a chronic medical condition – here are some of the top tools and resources that are very quickly changing the game and allowing people to live better lives.
1. ParkingMD
Best platform for handicap parking permit help
People underestimate the stress and annoyance that come with applying for a handicap parking permit. This should be easy to do, particularly if you require the extra space and convenience of a handicap space. ParkingMD recognizes this, which is why it helps anyone apply for their handicap parking permit.
The entire system is built online and guides you through three simple steps. Download the necessary forms online, book a telehealth appointment with one of their licensed medical providers, gain approval for your parking permit application, and receive the completed forms. You’re now ready to send them to the DMV so you can get your handicap parking permit.
Super easy, and it transforms this whole procedure. If you need a handicap parking permit, this is the simplest way to get one within a handful of days.
2. Access Now
Best for finding accessible places
Access Now is a wonderful tool that you can use online or via an app on your smartphone. Effectively, it lets you search for accessible places near you. You can find restaurants, coworking spaces, bathrooms, stores, and so much more.
Anyone with a disability knows the annoyance of going somewhere, only for it to have terrible accessibility. This platform lets you check places before you make an effort to go there – and you also see reviews from other users.
An excellent tool that everyone should have in their back pocket, as it allows you to enjoy life without that nagging anxiety in the back of your mind.
3. fuelService
Best for refueling your car
When you get your handicap parking permit, thanks to ParkingMD, you’ll feel more confident driving around and parking. However, you still have to deal with the stress of filling up your car when the fuel gets low. It’s a challenge for anyone with a physical disability that impacts their mobility.
With fuelService, you no longer have to worry. This platform lets you search for the nearest fuel stations with accessibility assistance. You can even use it to call ahead and request help when you pull in.
It’s very easy to use and gets rid of the awkwardness of entering a fuel station and trying to signal that you need help filling up.
4. Smart Assistants
Best for general daily activities
This is the odd one out on the list because it relates to a whole category, rather than one specific thing. The reason for that is simple: there are too many smart assistants to choose from, and the one you use will mainly depend on the devices you already own.
For instance, if you have an iPhone, then you’ll use Siri. You can ask Siri questions and get it to do things on your phone without needing to type anything. The same goes for Alexa if you use Amazon products around your house – you can speak to a device and get it to set timers, make a list, call someone, etc.
Smart assistants are changing the game for people with disabilities because they make inaccessible tasks accessible. It’s a feature people don’t think about with AI assistants like these, but any handicapped person will tell you they’re worth their weight in gold.
5. Be My Eyes
Best tool for the visually impaired
Speaking of AI, it plays a big role in many disability tools, including Be My Eyes. This is a fascinating platform that helps people with sight issues understand what’s around them. You can take pictures or videos with your phone, and the Be My Eyes AI will analyze them, then explain what you’re seeing.
But here’s the best part: the platform also has loads of volunteers in over 150 countries. Users can contact these volunteers and ask them for help in different situations. Again, you can send them pictures – or, you can video call them and let the volunteer guide you or explain what’s ahead of you.
A truly revolutionary idea that lets people with visual impairments see more of the world.
6. ava
Best resource for people with hearing difficulties
ava is another platform or tool that can be considered truly revolutionary. It empowers deaf and hard-of-hearing people by generating live captions for them to read. You can download ava on your computer and let it caption any video you’re watching – including live video calls.
What’s even more impressive is that ava has a mobile app that will caption things for you in real life. All you have to do is download and open the app, then engage in conversation with someone. You’ll see a live transcription of what they’re saying, allowing you to reply without feeling lost.
The whole ava system is brilliant, but that mobile app can legitimately change people’s lives. Imagine being able to go to a cafe or grocery store and pay for things without feeling any awkwardness? It can encourage more social behavior in people with hearing difficulties, which is a wonderful thing to see.
What can you take from this list? For one, there are already a great number of tools and resources out that that change the game for people with disabilities. Help is now readily available in various forms for a multitude of things. Furthermore, technology is getting even better and more and more people are speaking up about disabilities, so this is just the beginning. Expect to see many more tools and resources like these in the future.
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