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Instead of mindlessly chasing profits, some companies and entrepreneurs develop their products focusing on people with disabilities. They create swings for wheelchair users, versions of paintings that even the blind can enjoy, and their work is making the world a better place.

So, to celebrate society's advancement towards inclusivity, Bored Panda has collected pictures of some of the most brilliant accessibility inventions. Continue scrolling to check out the entries, upvote your favorites, and let us know in the comments if any of them could be improved!

#1

At The Uffizi Gallery In Florence, They Have Versions Of Paintings So That Blind Visitors Can Still Enjoy The Art

At The Uffizi Gallery In Florence, They Have Versions Of Paintings So That Blind Visitors Can Still Enjoy The Art

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if blind people would perceive this as beautiful, or if the same thing might be beautiful to the eye but not to the touch.

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One of the most iconic accessibility inventions is the Braille Alphabet. However, few know that it wasn't Louis Braille who actually came up with it. Rather, it was a French soldier who tasked with inventing a secret code for Napoleon, Charles Barbier, who created the raised and coded alphabet. In 1821, Barbier went to the school for blind children attended by Braille and brought his twelve-dot code with him. It was too difficult for soldiers in Napoleon’s army to use, but young Braille realized that it might work for blind children. He simplified Barbier’s code, reducing it to six dots, and invented one of the most popular reading systems we have today. 

#2

Ted Rummel, Amazing Doctor Paralyzed From The Waist Who Can Still Perform Surgeries Thanks To Remarkable Stand-Up Wheelchair

Ted Rummel, Amazing Doctor Paralyzed From The Waist Who Can Still Perform Surgeries Thanks To Remarkable Stand-Up Wheelchair

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Hearing devices, however, are a lot older. The first ones were created in the 1500s. They were made of wood and shaped like the human ear, facilitating simple amplification. The first official patent for a hearing aid invention was issued in Britain in 1836 to Alphonsus William Webster for a curved earpiece worn on the ear.

The first U.S. patent for an electric hearing aid belongs to Francis D. Clarke and M. G. Foster. In 1880, they created a device that amplified sound against the skull to transfer the vibrations to the inner ear.

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Meanwhile, hoping to help deaf children hear, Alexander Graham Bell was experimenting with conducting sound through electrical devices and ultimately invented the telephone. This paved the way for others. In 1898, for example, the Dictagraph company developed a hearing aid based on telephone design using a microphone to capture sound. Miller Reese Hutchinson, who was associated with Edison laboratories, is credited with inventing the first electrified hearing aid in 1901.

#3

This Carousel In Hong Kong Has A Sea Turtle Mounted To The Floor For Physically Impaired Children

This Carousel In Hong Kong Has A Sea Turtle Mounted To The Floor For Physically Impaired Children

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Sabse
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww. That is so great! You really should see this more often, as disabled kids cannot do so many funny things anyway.

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#4

This Park Has A Swing For Wheelchair Users

This Park Has A Swing For Wheelchair Users

The freefall that these swings provide is about 4.3 feet (1.3m) and they can safely take on a load of up to 4,400 pounds (2,000 kg). Moreover, the rope pull included within the design allows those with upper body mobility to swing themselves independently. 

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#5

This Retirement Home Has A Fake Bus Stop To Keep Residents With Dementia From Wandering Off

This Retirement Home Has A Fake Bus Stop To Keep Residents With Dementia From Wandering Off

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chi-wei shen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such fake bus stops are a rather common feature at care facilities in Germany.

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#6

Zack Nelson Designed An Off-Road “Wheelchair” So That His Wife Can Go Places She Never Imagined, It’s Now Up For Mass-Production

Zack Nelson Designed An Off-Road “Wheelchair” So That His Wife Can Go Places She Never Imagined, It’s Now Up For Mass-Production

notawheelchair.com Report

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chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This wheelchair was here at Bored Panda 3 weeks ago. https://www.boredpanda.com/man-created-off-road-wheelchair-for-girlfriend-jerryrigeverything/

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#7

A Color Blind Viewer

A Color Blind Viewer

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Tennessee State Parks have partnered to install “color blind” viewfinders at five state park locations across the state. In total, there are 11 of them installed in Tennessee.

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#8

If You’re An Elderly Or A Person With Physical Impairment, You Will Receive A Card That Enables You To Cross The Road With A Longer Countdown Time (Singapore)

If You’re An Elderly Or A Person With Physical Impairment, You Will Receive A Card That Enables You To Cross The Road With A Longer Countdown Time (Singapore)

Caesar95 Report

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#9

My Daughter Is Blind And For Her 9th Birthday Party We Made Braille Chocolate Message Slabs - "I Love You" And "Happy Birthday" In Braille

My Daughter Is Blind And For Her 9th Birthday Party We Made Braille Chocolate Message Slabs - "I Love You" And "Happy Birthday" In Braille

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#10

This Kettle Fits In To A Tilting Mount To Help People With Arthritis Pour

This Kettle Fits In To A Tilting Mount To Help People With Arthritis Pour

reddit.com Report

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chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's actually useful for many people without Arthritis. Old people often lack the physical strength to properly handle a kettle.

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#11

This Picnic Table Has Seating For Adults, A High Chair, Kids Table And Table Accecible With A Wheelchair All In One

This Picnic Table Has Seating For Adults, A High Chair, Kids Table And Table Accecible With A Wheelchair All In One

FatTortoise Report

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Wolfstar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...why do I not see this everywhere??? this is sooo smart!

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#12

Emergency Alarm Chords Running Along The Floor Of The Disabled Toilet In Berlin Airport In Case Someone Falls Over And Requires Assistance

Emergency Alarm Chords Running Along The Floor Of The Disabled Toilet In Berlin Airport In Case Someone Falls Over And Requires Assistance

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Jo Choto
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes so much more sense than the long pull cord hanging from the ceiling.

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#13

In The City Of Kızkalesi, Turkey, This Beach Includes An Access Ramp So That Physically Impaired People Can Swim

In The City Of Kızkalesi, Turkey, This Beach Includes An Access Ramp So That Physically Impaired People Can Swim

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great idea, and helpful for those struggling to walk on sloped sand as well.

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#14

This Man Lost His Legs So He Built A Ramp Onto His Trike To Use His Motorized Wheelchair To Drive It

This Man Lost His Legs So He Built A Ramp Onto His Trike To Use His Motorized Wheelchair To Drive It

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#15

This Wearable Microphone One Of My Students Gave Me To Beam Directly To His Hearing Aids

This Wearable Microphone One Of My Students Gave Me To Beam Directly To His Hearing Aids

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Jo Choto
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wish all children in schools had access to this kind of assistive technology.

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#17

This Chair Allowing People With Disabilities To Go In The Sea. Free For Anyone To Use, Santa Cruz, Portugal

This Chair Allowing People With Disabilities To Go In The Sea. Free For Anyone To Use, Santa Cruz, Portugal

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#18

The Town Next To Mine Just Installed An Accessibility Matt On The Beach For Wheelchairs And Strollers

The Town Next To Mine Just Installed An Accessibility Matt On The Beach For Wheelchairs And Strollers

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#19

My Uncle Didn't Like Being Unable To Do Higher Up Chores After Becoming Disabled So He Designed And Made His Very Own Automatic Wheelchair Lift

My Uncle Didn't Like Being Unable To Do Higher Up Chores After Becoming Disabled So He Designed And Made His Very Own Automatic Wheelchair Lift

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#20

This Sink And Tilted Mirror Is Perfectly Adapted To A Help A Disabled Person

This Sink And Tilted Mirror Is Perfectly Adapted To A Help A Disabled Person

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nanashi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's really the small things that an able-bodied person wouldn't think twice about..

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#21

This Park Has Ramps Throughout It So Kids In Wheelchairs Can Play Too

This Park Has Ramps Throughout It So Kids In Wheelchairs Can Play Too

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#22

This Tesco Branch Offers A Lanyard To People With Hidden Disabilities To Signal To Staff That They Might Need Extra Help While Shopping

This Tesco Branch Offers A Lanyard To People With Hidden Disabilities To Signal To Staff That They Might Need Extra Help While Shopping

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Emily Davis
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sunflower lanyards are recognised all over the U.K. which is fabulous. Too long in coming.

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#23

This Apartment Complex Pool With Wheelchair Access

This Apartment Complex Pool With Wheelchair Access

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#24

Not My Van But I Finally Got To Drive An Adaptive Vehicle, Me Being Disabled. Crazy Dreams Come True

Not My Van But I Finally Got To Drive An Adaptive Vehicle, Me Being Disabled. Crazy Dreams Come True

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#25

This Surf Shop Offers Free Rental Of A Beach Wheelchair To Elderly Or Disabled People

This Surf Shop Offers Free Rental Of A Beach Wheelchair To Elderly Or Disabled People

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Monica Michelle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That it is free makes me cry. The standing wheelchair and off road are in the 5k-40k range. Insurance barely covers this.

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#26

These Shampoo And Conditioner Bottles Have Braille On Them To Identify What They Are For The Blind/ Visually Impaired

These Shampoo And Conditioner Bottles Have Braille On Them To Identify What They Are For The Blind/ Visually Impaired

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Ristina Nielsen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now seeing people have a sharp reason to learn braille too ;D this kind of bottles are often very similar, and the detail "is this shampoo, conditioner or lotion?" is often given in very small letters.

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#27

I Adapt Cars For Disabled People For A Living, A Guy Rocked Up On This Beast Today

I Adapt Cars For Disabled People For A Living, A Guy Rocked Up On This Beast Today

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#28

In Basel, There's A Model That Allows The Visually Impaired To Experience The Layout Of The City

In Basel, There's A Model That Allows The Visually Impaired To Experience The Layout Of The City

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Shelp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This exists in most cities, actually. I'm pretty sure that I already have seen such a thing in Milan (Italy), in Bordeaux (France), in Warsaw (Poland), in Liverpool I think (not sure about this one though) and somewhere in Germany as well

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#29

The Accessible Ramp Is Built Into The Staircase

The Accessible Ramp Is Built Into The Staircase

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Monica Michelle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nooooo!!!!! This is so dangerous for us! If you don't have your angle and turn perfect you are going down the stairs! Always have disabled people check designs first

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#31

This Truck Has A Slide Out Door And Elevator For A Wheelchair Bound Driver

This Truck Has A Slide Out Door And Elevator For A Wheelchair Bound Driver

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#32

This Shopping Cart For People In A Wheelchair (Spotted At Lidl In Germany)

This Shopping Cart For People In A Wheelchair (Spotted At Lidl In Germany)

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Maiun
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All supermarkets in the U.K. have these. Are they really so unusual elsewhere?

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#33

The Wheelchair Bumpable Buttons In The Elevator At A Spinal Cord Health Care Centre

The Wheelchair Bumpable Buttons In The Elevator At A Spinal Cord Health Care Centre

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Weishaar Jamie
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great idea. I use a motorized mobility scooter and it is very difficult to get close enough to the buttons.

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#34

Found At My Local Publix. This Grocery Cart Lets You Push Around Special Needs Adults Instead Of Children

Found At My Local Publix. This Grocery Cart Lets You Push Around Special Needs Adults Instead Of Children

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#35

This Wheelchair Bathroom Uses Impairment Friendly Buttons To Lock The Door

This Wheelchair Bathroom Uses Impairment Friendly Buttons To Lock The Door

Also outside the bathroom the button for the automatic door has a green/red ring to signify if the bathroom is occupied

liquid_bacon Report

#36

The Uni Where I Study Has A Special Chair For Disabled People To Go Down Stairs During An Emergency

The Uni Where I Study Has A Special Chair For Disabled People To Go Down Stairs During An Emergency

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#37

This Park Has A Nature Trail For The Visually Impaired

This Park Has A Nature Trail For The Visually Impaired

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#38

This Wheelchair Accessible Playground Carousel

This Wheelchair Accessible Playground Carousel

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#39

This Hotel's Rooms For Physically Impaired People Have A Second, Lower Peephole

This Hotel's Rooms For Physically Impaired People Have A Second, Lower Peephole

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#40

In Japan And Many Other Countries, Sidewalks Have Paths For The Blind

In Japan And Many Other Countries, Sidewalks Have Paths For The Blind

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Note: this post originally had 59 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.