Remote Accessibility Assessment

The practice of evaluating the physical accessibility of an unfamiliar environment without being physically present. Wheelchair users and others with mobility disabilities routinely assess spaces in advance to avoid dangerous, inaccessible, or frustrating situations. Current methods include checking websites for accessibility labels, browsing photos and reviews, calling venues to ask specific questions, viewing 360-degree virtual tours, or asking friends and family to visit and report. Each method involves trade-offs between effort and fidelity: photos are low effort but lack depth perception; in-person visits by proxies are high fidelity but require significant time and a knowledgeable delegate. Emerging approaches using VR and 3D digital replicas aim to deliver high-fidelity assessment with lower effort by allowing users to virtually explore spaces with personalized avatars.