Independence, designed in
What if the vehicle adapted to you?
Modern vehicles can recognize us, unlock themselves, steer, park and update overnight. Yet accessibility is still too often added after the vehicle is designed.
Accessible With Design is working to change that.
The Problem
The technology exists. The integration doesn’t.
A modern vehicle can already automate many individual tasks. But for a person with limited mobility, independence may depend on an entire chain working together:
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01Approach the vehicle.
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02Open the door.
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03Lower the vehicle.
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04Transfer into the seat.
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05Load a mobility device.
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06Drive safely.
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07Park.
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08Retrieve the vehicle later.
If one link fails, independence can fail with it.
Accessible With Design looks at the complete journey rather than isolated features.
North Star Vehicle
Nine actions. One accessible journey.
Step 1 of 9
Driver approaches and the vehicle recognizes them.
Proximity, phone or credential recognition confirms the driver before they reach the door, so nothing has to be operated by hand at the curb.
We do not need nine science-fiction inventions. Much of the enabling technology already exists. The opportunity is to design it around the person.
WAVI
Introducing WAVI
The World Accessible Vehicle Index
Traditional vehicle reviews measure horsepower, acceleration, range and luxury.
WAVI asks different questions:
- Can I get into it?
- Can my mobility device come with me?
- Can the vehicle reduce the physical effort of driving?
- Can it be adapted safely?
- Can automation increase my independence?
Scoring categories and weights
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Access & Transfer25%
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Mobility Device Compatibility20%
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Driving Accessibility15%
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Assistance & Automation15%
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Comfort & Fatigue Reduction10%
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Safety10%
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Ownership & Support5%
Sample vehicle comparison
Every WAVI entry carries three separate scores from 0 to 100 and a visible data confidence level. These sample entries illustrate the format while the index is being built.
Sample entry · Minivan
Full-size accessible van
Data confidence: Measured
Verified in person by the project.
What the vehicle provides today.
What can realistically be added through qualified vehicle modification.
How emerging automation and software may increase independence.
Measured
Verified in person by the project.
Manufacturer specification
Published by the manufacturer.
Estimate
Informed estimate pending verification.
The full index is in development. Reach the project team through the form below to follow its release.
Why This Matters
Accessibility is an engineering requirement.
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Independence
Reduce dependence on another person for transfers, loading and transportation.
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Better Design
Design for human variability from the beginning instead of relying entirely on aftermarket solutions.
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Innovation
Apply robotics, automation, AI and advanced vehicle systems to a problem with enormous human impact.
New Mexico
Designed in New Mexico. Built for a global problem.
Accessible With Design is a New Mexico initiative exploring the intersection of accessibility, transportation, engineering and emerging technology.
New Mexico has deep capabilities in science, engineering, national laboratories, advanced computing, robotics, manufacturing and entrepreneurship. Accessible transportation represents an opportunity to apply those strengths to technologies that improve independence while addressing a global need.
Founder
Founded from lived experience and engineering curiosity.
Nicholas Seet is a New Mexico entrepreneur, engineer and founder of Accessible With Design. His perspective combines technology entrepreneurship with lived experience as a mobility scooter user.
Accessible With Design began with a simple observation: increasingly intelligent vehicles can perform extraordinary tasks, yet the basic journey of getting a person and their mobility device into a vehicle can remain difficult.
The project asks what transportation might look like if accessibility were part of the original engineering brief.
Collaborate
Help design the vehicle that doesn’t leave anyone behind.
We want to hear from vehicle manufacturers, mobility specialists, engineers, researchers, designers, disability advocates and people with lived experience.
Reach the project
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Email
support@example.com -
Mailing address
Accessible With Design
a DBA of SIVI LLC
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States