Disneyland Goes Accessible

Well, Disneyland has always been accessible. They have always had a way for those with disabilities to navigate around the park and enjoy their attractions. But, this is another step in the right direction for them.

Disneyland has launched a device called “Audio Description” that lets blind visitors hear about many of the attractions at the park! The handheld device was initially launched at Disney World and also offers accessibility for those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

I haven’t personally tried the new technology yet but I plan to. Even being partially sighted there are things that I’m sure I miss while going through the park.

My first thought was “Well what about attractions such as Splash Mountain and even Pirates of the Caribbean? The Audio Description device is meant to withstand such things. It’s also sturdy enough to withstand being dropped. This is a good thing as sometimes a day at a theme park can be brutal on electronics.

The technology behind the Audio Description device is pretty cool. There are a number of infrared sensors that send the signal to the handheld device.  My question would be could they possibly extend this technology to include restaurant menus in the parks? When I head to Disneyland my main issue is reading the signs and menus. If these could be included in this device it would really be accessible.

I think Disneyland is going in the right direction and could really do great things with this Audio Description device. The really cool thing is that they are leasing the technology to other tourist attractions. I know of a few places where this could REALLY come in handy.