How Engadget’s parent company is making sites like ours easier to use

Today, May 17th, is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, but in fact, this entire month has been an eventful one for people with disabilities. Two weeks ago, Google and Microsoft pledged to commit $20 and $25 million to the cause, respectively, to acc...

Innovative wheelchair design isn’t for all wheelchair users

You'll often see positive news stories coming out of the tech press involving robotics projects that are designed to help people with mobility issues. Exoskeletons, like Toyota's WelWalk, ReWalk, and Ekso Bionics' eponymous walking frame, help people...

Making sliding doors more user-friendly!

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I know we’ve got a long way to go before we can end world hunger and save the environment, but baby steps will get us there. For now, we’ve successfully ended the need to use only your hands to open sliding doors. The Smart Slider allows you to, in the event your hands are unavailable, use your feet to open or close sliding doors!

Excellent for literally anywhere you’d use a sliding door, the Smart Slider works great for the disabled, or if your hands are occupied. Sliding is something that can’t really be done without a level of dexterity which only comes from hands, but the Smart Slider sits at the base of the door, giving your foot the ability to push the door open sideways. Yes, it’s literally that simple. I’m stunned we’ve been living without this all this while.

Designer: Smart Slider

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Uber faces lawsuit for denying rides to woman with service animal

Uber is facing still more legal trouble over its accessibility issues. Texas resident D'Edra Steele has sued the ridesharing company for allegedly denying her 25 rides due to the service dog she needs for her cerebral palsy. Reportedly, drivers would...

Airbnb buys startup to help you find disability-friendly rentals

Airbnb knows its hosts haven't always been kind to people with disabilities, and it's taking some definitive steps to fix that weakness. The company just bought Accomable, a startup that helps you embark on disability-friendly travel. While Accomable...

Xbox Elite controller opens up games to people with disabilities

AbleGamers program director Craig Kaufman knows he's done his job when a kid comes running up to him on a busy convention show floor and screams, "I can stab people now!" "And I'm like, you shouldn't yell that in public -- but it's exciting," Kaufma...