Hosts play an important role in making Airbnb more inclusive for guests. Pauline Aughe, a Superhost and former Host Advisory Board member in Hawaii, shares her personal experience in this article to help build understanding and celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day.
Aloha! My name is Pauline. I’m a wife, mom, entrepreneur, and adventure lover. I’ve traveled in my home country of the United States and internationally to Mexico, Canada, and the Philippines. I’ve observed natural and human-made wonders, tasted foods that made my palate dance, and met many beautiful people—all from a wheelchair.
I was born without arms and legs, and I was raised to believe that I’m worthy of experiencing everything life has to offer. Instead of asking whether I can do something, I ask how I can do it. As a result, I’ve led a beautiful life. But that beauty hasn’t come without challenges, including moments of anxiety and fear.
Traveling can help us grow by expanding our knowledge and testing our limits. My limits are not tested by climbing up mountains or trekking through rainforests. My limits are often tested by finding a place I can sleep and take a shower.
That’s because, as a wheelchair user, any space I’m in can either enable or disable me. When choosing a place to stay, I want to know what to expect. Questions like these swirl in my head:
My limits are also tested by anticipating how I’ll be received.
These are the mountains that I—and many people with disabilities—climb. We want to explore the world and meet new people. As an Airbnb Host, you have the power to make our travel adventures possible.
What can you do to become a more inclusive Host? You can find tips for hosting guests with disabilities in my next article.
