UGM students have developed a mobile application that can inform the accessibility of a place for people with disabilities such as physical disabilities, the elderly, sick people, and others called Accessive.id.
“We developed this application to facilitate the mobility of people with disabilities and their plans to visit a place. This application also helps those who are physically weak, such as pregnant women, the elderly, and the sick,” said the application’s developer, Muhammad Faqih Husaen, on Monday (30/1).
Faqih recounted how his condition and late brother motivated him to create this app. He and his brother had limited mobility due to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which causes decreased muscle function resulting in paralysis of the legs.
“The background to the development is from my condition as a person with a physical disability who often encounters inaccessible places with no facilities for people with disabilities. The absence of facilities and access for people with disabilities limits their activities,” he said.
The Computer Science student began developing the app in 2020 from the Ministry of Communication and Information’s 1,000 Startup Digital program funds. Faqih designed it with his two colleagues, Bima Indra Permana (Master of Business Administration) and Gaksa Gantara (Vocational College alumnus). The application is still in a beta test and is available on PlayStore at no cost.
Accessive.id has four main features: place search, place accessibility details, reviews, and collaborative data sharing on place accessibility. The place search feature enables users to browse locations through maps and lists, whilst the details part describes disability-friendly facilities available in a place, such as ram facilities, audio descriptions, and others.
The review feature allows users to tell stories and share experiences of places they have visited. Users can also input various information on disability services provided by a place.
“A total of 80 accessibility data in places, such as campuses, restos, hotels, stations, places of worship, etc., in Yogyakarta Province have been collected. We will continue to add information on other places,” Bima added.
In addition to helping people with disabilities get information about location accessibility, Accessive.id is expected to increase public awareness and sensitivity to the needs of people with disabilities, one of which is by providing accessible and inclusive facilities.
Accessive.id represented Indonesia in the International Intellectual Property (IPITEx) in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 1-7, 2023. IPITEx is an invention exhibition that brings together inventors and researchers from around the world to showcase new ideas and products to manufacturers, investors, and the wider community.
Author: Ika
Photo: Firsto