PathAble

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Inspiration

Roughly 16% of the world's population experience significant disability, yet most navigation tools are designed with an able-bodied default in mind. As a result, what is supposed to be a convenience often becomes a burden. This gap inspired us to create PathAble, a navigation tool designed around accessibility, not assumptions.

What it does

PathAble is an accessibility-focused navigation tool that helps users find routes that better match their mobility needs. Instead of only showing the fastest route, PathAble prioritizes routes that are safer, more accessible, and better aligned with a user’s mobility needs. It also uses crowdsourced data to generate accessibility ratings for different locations, allowing users to filter routes based on specific accessibility features. The goal is to reduce the mental and physical burden of navigating unfamiliar spaces and make getting around more inclusive.

How we built it

We built PathAble as a cross-platform mobile app using React Native, allowing users to navigate on both iOS and Android. For routing, we created a Python backend that calculates routes based on accessibility data and user preferences. We used Firebase Realtime Database to store user reports, route history, and accessibility ratings in real time. Each feature was designed to make navigation safer, more inclusive, and user-friendly.

Challenges we ran into

One of our biggest challenges was the lack of consistent accessibility data. Many maps and public datasets don’t include details like ramps, curb cuts, or elevator locations, so we had to rely heavily on crowdsourced reports and ensure data was structured for real-time use. Integrating React Native, Python routing logic, and Firebase was also tricky at first, especially handling live updates and route recalculations without slowing down the app.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

PathAble marks a milestone in turning accessibility challenges into practical tech solutions. We successfully combined React Native, Python backend, Firebase, and crowdsourced data into a working app that empowers users to navigate cities safely and confidently. Users can now filter by specific accessibility needs and rely on real-world data to make better decisions. We’re proud that our prototype demonstrates the potential of technology to make daily life more inclusive, and it’s exciting to think about how it could grow to help even more people.

What we learned

Working on PathAble helped us grow as full-stack developers, integrating React Native, Python, Firebase, and mapping APIs into a single system. We gained hands-on experience with real-time data management, learning how to structure and update crowdsourced accessibility reports efficiently, and strengthened our understanding of routing algorithms and how to integrate them with mapping services to deliver personalized, safe navigation paths.

What's next for PathAble

We plan to scale PathAble by expanding our accessibility dataset, incorporating more crowdsourced reports, and integrating additional public data sources. By improving the coverage and reliability of our data, we aim to make PathAble a real-world navigation tool that can empower as many users as possible. In the long term, we hope to partner with cities and accessibility organizations to ensure the app reaches those who need it most and continues to evolve alongside the communities it serves.