Disabled travelers using AI for accessing travel, celebrating 34th anniversary of ADA

MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Friday (July 26) is the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Technology has come a long way to help people with disabilities, including assistance with planning for vacations. The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council works with different state agencies to help advance the lives of people with disabilities and for them to become more independent. Planning for things like traveling takes self-starter skills and the usage of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

According to travel publisher Matador Network, one out of five people who used AI tools for travel used them to plan travel for someone with a disability – including themselves. The CEO Ross Borden of Matador Network said the company created a specific travel AI called GuideGeek that will be used to fit the needs of a person possessing a disability. Borden said the AI feels as simple as chatting with a friend.

“I think they all share the common challenge of the fact that it’s just really hard to plan travel – too hard to plan travel as a disabled traveler because you’re looking for information that is oftentimes feeling like a needle in a haystack of the internet. You’re clicking a bunch of sites. You’re looking for very specific information around wheelchair access or sensory-sensitive hours at a museum or attraction,” Borden.

Borden said overall, generative AI can imperfect, and sometimes it can give wrong information on a business in terms of opening and closing hours. But this new AI travel guide is trying to help cut down on confusion when people with disabilities are getting ready to go out of town.

“Fifteen months ago, we were at around 15% of all conversations had some sort of error or confusion. That’s now under 2% with GuideGeek. So, 98% of the answers that GuideGeek is giving travelers don’t have any errors,” said Borden.

The state Developmental Disabilities Council received a July 2024 report from one of its state agency partners – detailing how many financial abuse allegations were investigated in the state among adults. Borden said the AI platform is integrated into common social apps like Facebook and Instagram – making it free to use.

“Is really all about access; and sort of a frictionless experience. So, if you can text with a friend, you can text in chat with GuideGeek,” said Borden. “And I think some skepticism is healthy actually, but I think travel is kind of a harmless part of AI.”

July 26 is also known as National Disability Independence Day.

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