[GreaterPhilly] Fwd: Airbnb to Improve Services and Access for the Blind Community

[DENICE BROWN]

Sent from My IPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org>
> Date: June 30, 2021 at 11:30:21 AM EDT
> To: Denice Brown <dbrown8827 at aol.com>
> Subject: Airbnb to Improve Services and Access for the Blind Community
> Reply-To: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org>
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> Airbnb and the National Federation of the Blind Partner to Improve Services and Access for the Blind Community
> 
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2021
> 
> Airbnb is committed to making travel more inclusive. That’s why we’re excited to announce a new collaboration with the National Federation of the Blind, the largest consumer organization of blind people in the United States, to help improve our services and access for the blind community.
> 
> As part of this collaboration, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) will provide guidance and feedback on our products and policies as we work to better meet the needs of people who are blind or who have low vision. Part of this work will include continuing to make sure Hosts welcome guide dogs and other service animals and understand the critical functions they perform for people with disabilities.
> 
> The NFB will also continue to join quarterly Disability Advisory Roundtables convened by Airbnb and hosted by the National Council of Independent Living (NCIL), with a number of national and regional organizations, activists, advocates and leaders in the United States that represent a variety of people with disabilities. The NFB has participated in these roundtables since 2017. We will also work with the NFB to empower the organization’s members to access the financial opportunities of hosting on Airbnb.
> 
> “While we’ve made progress in our work to improve the accessibility and usability of Airbnb, there is more work to be done. Guidance from the National Federation of the Blind will be invaluable and by working together, we will strengthen our community.” - Janaye Ingram, Airbnb Director of 21st Century Community Initiatives.
> 
> “The National Federation of the Blind is delighted to collaborate with Airbnb to help this innovative company make its services and platform more accessible to blind people,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We believe this collaboration will facilitate better travel and accommodation experiences, as well as economic opportunities, for many blind people in America and beyond. The collaboration also represents the kinds of relationships we seek with businesses of all kinds in order to improve accessibility and opportunity for the blind.”
> 
> Insights from experts like the NFB are critically important as we continue working to improve accessibility on our platform and policies. We have taken a number of steps in recent years, including:
> 
> Dedicated teams focused on building more inclusive products
> Conducting research with people with disabilities to help inform product decisions
> Continuing to share and develop educational materials for our Host community about how to host guests with accessibility needs
> We are committed to learning and implementing more ways to improve our products and services for people with a variety of disabilities.
> 
> About Airbnb
> 
> Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 900 million guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.
> 
> About the National Federation of the Blind
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind, headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.
> 
> Media Contacts
> 
> Laura Rillos, Airbnb
> laura.rillos at airbnb.com
> 
> Chris Danielsen, National Federation of the Blind
> CDanielsen at nfb.org
> 
>  
>  	 	 	 	 	 	
> National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314
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