Accessibility app earns global acclaim

An accessibility app helping disabled people find suitable places to visit has been recognised among the world’s most innovative inventions.

Snowball, founded by entrepreneur Simon Sansome, has been named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026, marking a landmark achievement for the business as it prepares for international expansion.

The free app provides accessibility assessments, reviews and practical information to help disabled people make informed decisions about visiting restaurants, hotels, shops, attractions and other destinations.

It also includes a stimulation rating designed to help neurodivergent users assess whether particular environments are suitable for their needs.

Simon said: “When I found out that Snowball had been selected as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026, I was absolutely blown away.

“If you’d told me 12 years ago, when I was lying in hospital wondering what my future would look like, that something I’d created would one day be recognised by TIME as one of the world’s best inventions, I wouldn’t have believed you.

“I didn’t set out to create one of the world’s best inventions, I set out to solve a problem that was making my life, and millions of other people’s lives, unnecessarily difficult.

“That’s what makes this recognition so special.”

Simon developed the idea after suffering a spinal injury in 2014 that left him paralysed from the waist down.

His experiences of struggling to find reliable accessibility information inspired him to create a platform that would help others plan visits with greater confidence.

He added: “I’ve been disabled for 12 years now, and I know how frustrating and isolating it can be when the world simply isn’t designed with you in mind.

“I’ve been refused access to transport, struggled to find accessible hotels and missed out on experiences that other people take for granted.

“Snowball came from wanting to change that, not just for myself but for millions of other disabled people.

“To go from that experience to being recognised by one of the world’s most famous media platforms is quite extraordinary.

“What makes it especially meaningful is that something created out of a difficult personal experience is now helping other people.

“If Snowball gives one disabled person the confidence to leave home, travel somewhere new or do something they previously thought was impossible, then we’ve achieved something worthwhile.”

The recognition follows a period of growth for Snowball, including Simon’s appearance on BBC's Dragons’ Den in October 2025, when all five Dragons made investment offers.

The business subsequently joined Google for Startups and has continued developing its technology, accessibility assessments and commercial partnerships.

Snowball now reaches around 170,000 people through its app and social media platforms, with partnerships including mobility retailer CareCo, which is introducing Snowball assessments across its 41 UK locations.

A further partnership with Ambassador Cruise Line is also due to launch, while the business works with local authorities and other organisations to help venues improve accessibility.

Simon said: “There are more than 1.3 billion disabled people worldwide, yet accessibility has historically been treated as an afterthought.

“I think we’re beginning to understand that it isn’t a niche issue, and that disability innovation can be commercially successful, technologically advanced and genuinely transformative.

“What excites me most is that TIME has recognised Snowball as an invention.

“Disabled people aren’t just consumers of innovation, we can be the innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders creating solutions that make a difference.”

Attention is now turning to international expansion, with Snowball planning to establish a presence in the US, beginning in New York.

As part of its growth strategy, the company hopes to recruit up to 1000 self-employed accessibility assessors across America, creating earning opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent people.

Assessors will receive training and could earn the local equivalent of £200 for each completed assessment, using their lived experience to help businesses and organisations better understand accessibility requirements.

The initiative is intended to expand Snowball’s coverage while providing flexible employment opportunities for people who may face barriers to traditional work.

Simon, who studied journalism at De Montfort University in Leicester following his injury, previously won the Santander X UK entrepreneurship competition in 2023.

He has credited his wife Kate, chief operating officer Clive Cooper and Snowball’s community of accessibility assessors and users with helping develop the business.

Looking ahead, Simon added: “Our ambition is to make Snowball the global standard for accessibility information, so that wherever you are in the world, you can make informed decisions about where you can go.

“We want to help people travel with greater confidence, help businesses understand their customers better and create opportunities for disabled people along the way.

“Our message has always been: Everyone Deserves Everywhere.”

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