Social Inclusion Program

[Mauricio467]

Is there an idea in my host community to create a Social Inclusion Program for our hosts with special needs?
There is already an inclusion section in the App, that can help us?

INCLUSION PROGRAM

[Sarah977]

@Mauricio467  I have no idea what "Social Inclusion" is supposed to mean. 

Could you put this in real terms, i.e. explain the concept, rather than using some abstract phrase?

[Mauricio467]

@Sarah977 , Of course, and an apology in advance, English is not my first language and I try to use the best language so that it can be understood.

SOCIAL INCLUSION, is when we invite a person with some physical weakness who, due to his condition, are called disabled. Try to make a program where we can include all the members of our community through our invitation to become hosts or co-hosts in our locality.

[Sarah977]

@Mauricio467  Is there anything presently preventing people with disabilities from being hosts or co-hosts? The whole concept of Airbnb is that it's supposed to be inclusionary. 

I suppose it could be actively encouraged- for instance a person who is wheelchair-bound could be encouraged to have a home-share listing for others in wheelchairs, because their home would already be set up to accommodate that. Or they could have an entire house rental they designed, based on their knowledge of the needs of others with mobility issues.

Is that the sort of thing you mean? Are you thinking that it's never occurred to them that they could be hosts?

I have a friend whose been in a wheelchair for almost 70 years- she had polio when she was 5. She's never let it stop her from doing anything, really. She gave birth to 2 daughters, she's a musician and was part of a comedy troupe. At one point, she lived way out in the countryside, where they couldn't park anywhere close to the cabin in the winter in the snow. Her boyfriend had to carry her in and out, at least 100 meters, or strap her to a sled. 

[Mauricio467]

@Sarah977 , So far I have not found any that do not allow them, but the reality that I see in my community is that it does not happen. And from that I formulated my initial question, if there is an option within the App where we can connect to get help and encourage this type of participation?

Great the story of your friend! A true fighter in life!

[Anonymous]

@Mauricio467   Airbnb's Accessibility-related features generally focus on guests who are differently-abled, rather than hosts. 

I'm not aware of a "social inclusion" program aimed at recruiting a specific kind of host, and I don't really see much reason for it. It seems to me that people who have a rentable property, as well as the time, resources, and skill to invest in starting a hospitality venture, are best off doing so on their own initiative. It's a business and a job, after all, not an after-school club.

If you could maybe identify some features that could be improved to make the app more usable for people with specific disabilities, that would be  one concrete way to make it more inclusive. For example, I don't know how compatible the platform is with browser adapters for visually impaired people.

[Mauricio467]

@Anonymous . Indeed we have only found related functions aimed at guests with different capacities.
And in my community we are not directing it as a recruitment, but we offer it as an option and an alternative for those interested to participate as hosts. And it would be great if they could do it as a company, but it is not the intention in this case, nor is it an Extracurricular Club.

On the other hand, your contribution for people with visual disabilities is great and I love that we touch on these issues.

Greetings.   : )

[Anonymous]

@Mauricio467   It's not clear to me whom you're referring to as your community - a local group of differently-abled people in your area? People globally who happen to have a disability that you have personal experience with? Or just everyone with disabilities in general?

Anyway, I've never personally encountered a community within which people thought there weren't enough Airbnb hosts. Usually it's quite the opposite. And Airbnb probably isn't the party you want acting on your behalf here. Their only interest is profit - they'd love nothing more than for big investors to displace people in your community from much-needed affordable housing that meets their accessibility needs, and convert it all into luxury holiday apartments.

That said, there are plenty of ways you can help aspiring hosts in your community to become better at hosting. Workshops to familiarize people with local STR regulations and restrictions. Action committees to counter the lobbying power of hotels that would like to shut you down. Cooperative advice on how to build better listings, strategize pricing, and find the right STR insurance plan. Visually impaired people might need help photographing their listings, people with mobility issues might need help finding affordable cleaning and maintenance service, or Co-Hosts who know how to work with their condition.

There's one feature in the "app" that actually does help with all this; it just so happens that this forum is it. 🙂

[Mauricio467]

@Anonymous , I really appreciate your comments, they will really help us.
When I say community, I mean the Community of Airbnb Hosts in my City, we are approximately 300 Hosts who continually get together to discuss these types of issues that you comment.

Once again, thank you very much.    : )