Yelp Introduces New Accessibility Attributes for Local Businesses
In a move to make local businesses more accessible to people with disabilities, Yelp has introduced eight new business attributes that can be added to business pages. These attributes will help individuals with mobility, hearing, and vision accessibility needs discover businesses that can accommodate them.
The new accessibility attributes include options for mobility accessibility, hearing accessibility, and vision accessibility. Under the mobility accessibility category, businesses can now add attributes such as “Accessible parking near entrance,” “ADA-compliant main entrance,” “ADA-compliant restroom,” and “No steps or stairs.” These attributes will make it easier for individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility aids to identify businesses that are accessible to them.
For hearing accessibility, businesses can now indicate if they are “ASL proficient” or have “Closed captioning on TVs” (for restaurants, food, and nightlife businesses only). These attributes will benefit individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, enabling them to find businesses that cater to their needs.
In terms of vision accessibility, restaurants, food, and nightlife businesses can now specify if they have “Braille menus available” or “QR code menus available.” These attributes will be particularly useful for individuals who are blind or have low vision, as they allow them to easily access the menus of these establishments.
To add these attributes to their Yelp business page, business owners simply need to edit the Business Information section of their Yelp for Business account. Once added, the attributes will appear under a new Accessibility section on the Yelp business pages.
The introduction of these new attributes is significant as it provides a simple and convenient way for people with disabilities to search for local businesses that can accommodate their specific accessibility needs. By using phrases like “Wheelchair accessible,” “ASL proficient,” or “Braille menus,” individuals can filter their search results on Yelp to find businesses that have added these attributes.
Akhil Kuduvalli Ramesh, SVP of Product at Yelp, highlighted the importance of these attributes in helping people determine if businesses can accommodate their needs. He stated, “With these new accessibility attributes, we’re excited to help businesses more clearly indicate their inclusive practices to make it even easier for people to find the right business for them.”
Yelp’s commitment to improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities is commendable. By providing a platform that allows businesses to showcase their inclusive practices, Yelp is empowering individuals to make informed choices about where they spend their time and money.
The screenshot shared by Yelp demonstrates how the new accessibility attributes will appear on business pages, making it easy for users to identify businesses that have made efforts to accommodate their specific accessibility needs.
Overall, the introduction of these new accessibility attributes by Yelp is a step in the right direction towards creating a more inclusive society. It not only benefits individuals with disabilities but also helps businesses attract a wider customer base. By embracing inclusivity, businesses can create an environment that welcomes everyone and fosters a sense of belonging.
