Starbucks on Monday rolled out a handful of announcements related to its accessibility efforts, including news that it will now offer free access to Aira, a service that connects blind and low-vision people to remotely located agents who share visual information through an app. The service is available in all company-operated and licensed Starbucks stores in the United States.

When a customer enters a Starbucks location, they can open up the Aira app, which is free to download for iOS and Android. They will then be connected with someone who can see their surroundings through their phone’s camera and provide needed descriptions, such as what’s in a pastry case or what a sign says.

The service can also help people navigate COVID-19 protocols like social distancing by letting users know how far away someone is from them, whether there are makers on the floor for where to stand and if there’s plexiglass at the registers, for instance.

Starbucks will also roll out new large-print and Braille menus in all U.S. and Canadian stores this summer, which were developed through a partnership with National Braille Press. Additionally, the company updated their webpage menu and the Starbucks app to improve accessibility by adding features like image descriptions and information on whether a Starbucks location is a drive-thru or a cafe, which can help someone with a disability plan their visit.

(SD-Agencies)