Structured accessibility data for the physical world.
Covering mobility, sensory, cognitive, and environmental needs so people, businesses, and technology can make informed decisions.
wheelchair_accessibilityyesaccessible_restroomlimitedstep_free_entranceyesquiet_area_availablenononverbal_orderingyeslighting_glarelow
What is Open Accessibility?
A shared standard for accessibility, made for the real world.
Just as GTFS standardized transportation data and unlocked an ecosystem of navigation products, Open Accessibility is building a shared, machine-readable data layer for the physical world — so apps, maps, businesses, cities, and AI systems can describe what access actually means at a specific place.
We go beyond a single “accessible” checkbox. The schema covers mobility, sensory, communication, cognitive, and environmental conditions, and is designed to be refreshed continuously as physical spaces change.
Why this matters
Accessibility should be infrastructure, not guesswork.
- 01
Independence should not depend on guesswork
Millions of people make decisions about where to go without knowing whether a place will actually work for them. Reliable accessibility data gives people the confidence to navigate the world independently.
- 02
Accessibility is much more than wheelchair access
Most existing accessibility information focuses only on mobility, leaving out blind users, deaf communities, neurodivergent individuals, people with sensory sensitivities, respiratory conditions, temporary injuries, and older adults.
- 03
Cities are missing critical infrastructure data
We have structured data for roads, transit, maps, and traffic, but almost no standardized machine-readable data about whether buildings are actually usable by everyone.
- 04
AI cannot help without trustworthy physical-world data
AI assistants are increasingly helping people make real-world decisions, but they cannot safely recommend restaurants, venues, or services if the accessibility of those places is unknown.
- 05
Businesses lose customers because discoverability is broken
When accessibility information is incomplete or unreliable, customers simply avoid uncertain places. Better data helps businesses become discoverable, trusted, and inclusive to a much larger audience.
- 06
The physical world changes constantly
A place that was accessible six months ago may not be accessible today. Furniture moves, entrances change, construction happens, policies shift. Accessibility data must be continuously refreshed.
Help build the accessibility data layer.
We're building this in the open. Whether you work in accessibility, mapping, civic tech, or AI, there's a place for you.