Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Disabled Host Balks After Airbnb Demands She Refund Guests Who Didn't Like Her Accessible Doorbell

Disabled Host Balks After Airbnb Demands She Refund Guests Who Didn't Like Her Accessible Doorbell
@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

It's an unfortunate truth that some people continue to not be supportive of the disabled community.

But some are so anti-disabled people, or ableist, they will literally demand a refund for being "exposed" to a disabled person.


Jade—@thisworldcanbeaccessible on TikTok—shared her experience with two allegedly ableist people when she opened up her home as an Airbnb location to them.

Jade has shared an upwards of 60 videos on TikTok, describing the incident involving the ableist couple.

The video for which TikTok really started to take notice was one simply featuring Jade's doorbell.

In a voiceover, Jade explained:

"So I've contacted Airbnb Help, and they aren't getting back to me, so I've just decided I'm going to upload on here and hoping with the help of social media, I'll finally get somebody from Airbnb Help to contact me about this awful, discriminatory situation."

You can see Jade's first video here:

@thisworldcanbeaccessible

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

As it turned out, the incident began with Jade's accessible doorbell, which looked like any other doorbell, except it rang and lit up when touched.

Allegedly, the customers Jade had staying at her residence were prejudiced against the use of accessibility tools and demanded their immediate removal or for the three men to be fully refunded for their terrible experience with the doorbell and other accessible tools in the house.

Jade captioned the video:

"Really hoping this will get Airbnb's attention and get them to call me back. The guests are demanding that I remove all disability aids from my own home and if not removed, that I leave."

"I have offered a refund if they leave but they are saying they shouldn't have to leave when they have booked and that I am wrong for not 'warning them' that I have a disability."

Jade later posted three videos that more thoroughly detailed the incident, as well as Airbnb's assistance in the moment, or their lack thereof.

The three people were presumably difficult to work with even before they arrived, as they had changed their arrival time multiple times and later did not appear at their scheduled time.

When they did arrive, however, they ended up submitting a report, because they were unwilling to touch Jade's doorbell.

One of the customers later alluded to being able to "catch" someone's disability, which presumably would explain why they would be unwilling to utilize the same doorbell as Jade.

@thisworldcanbeaccessible

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

In the second video of the detailed account, Jade described the group actually entering her home. While they repeatedly addressed her disability, Jade simply gave them a tour of the facilities she was providing as well as the room they would be staying in.

Jade was really taken aback by the experience:

"I know ableism exists, but I've never had someone be so aggressive in my home and yelling at me."

@thisworldcanbeaccessible

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

As soon as Jade left the three customers in their room, she closed herself into the back room of her home and contacted Airbnb.

While the employee assisting her seemed concerned, they suggested either refunding the customers in full and asking them to leave or leaving her own home while they were staying there to distance herself from them.

In the third video, the customers were more insistent about knowing more about her disabilities and what they could "catch" off of her in regards to her disability.

Jade contacted Airbnb, and they recommended relocating the guests if she was unwilling to leave her home for the duration of their stay, and if she would "foot the bill" of relocating them by refunding them in full.

Jade was upset by the suggestion:

"I still don't think it's right that these guests get refunded."

"The guests even made it clear that it's not the place, it's me."

@thisworldcanbeaccessible

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

TikTok was furious on Jade's behalf and hoped that she would not provide a refund.

@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

@thisworldcanbeaccessible/TikTok

After the guests left the next day, Jade reached out to Airbnb again and was redirected to their safety team, who did not return her calls at the time.

Jade has since discovered disabled hosts are not covered by their safety team, but only their customer service team who primarily provide refunds rather than safety solutions.

In the last update as of this writing, Jade stated Airbnb has still not responded in an appropriate manner.

@thisworldcanbeaccessible

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

Hopefully Jade is able to get a satisfactory resolution.

Demanding disabled people segregate themselves or warn the public of their existence or apologize for being disabled isn't it.

More from Trending

Kristi Noem
Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images

'Hunger Games'-Style Immigrant Reality Show Pitched To Homeland Security Sparks Outrage

According to a report in The Daily Mail, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reportedly reviewing a pitch for a reality television show where immigrants would compete for a chance to fast-track their path to U.S. citizenship.

DHS is reportedly collaborating with writer and producer Rob Worsoff on a proposed reality television show titled The American, which risks turning a serious and often traumatic process into entertainment. The concept comes as the Trump administration continues to clamp down on asylum access and prepares to implement a sweeping deportation plan targeting millions of undocumented immigrants.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of a sleeping Blake Moore
CSPAN

GOP Rep. Has To Be Woken Up During Roll Call After Pulling An All-Nighter—And Oops

Utah Republican Representative Blake Moore had social media aghast after video showed he had to be woken up by one of his GOP colleagues to vote during a House Ways and Means Committee meeting early Wednesday morning after pulling an all-nighter.

The House Ways and Means Committee worked through the night Tuesday as Republicans pushed forward key elements of President Donald Trump’s plan to extend tax cuts in ongoing budget negotiations. The marathon session extended into the early hours of Wednesday, and just before 5 a.m. ET, cameras caught Moore asleep in his chair as his turn to vote arrived.

Keep ReadingShow less
A mid-shot of a line of people in the park, looking into their cellphones. One phone and hand in particular is clear while the others are blurred.
Photo by ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash

Things People Secretly Found On Their Partner's Phone That Changed The Relationship Forever

I've always felt it prudent to heed the warning of some of life's oldest shared pearls of wisdom.

Such as... "Careful, curiosity killed the cat."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @cassidykaschmitter's TikTok video
@cassidykaschmitter/TikTok

Woman Horrified After Surgeon Repeatedly Pretends To Push Her Into Lake On First Date

Let's face it: Dating is supposed to be fun, but it can actually be an emotional, draining, and possibly dangerous experience.

Women, especially now, have to take special precautions in order to date safely.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @reheatedcoffeeclub's TikTok video
@reheatedcoffeeclub/TikTok

Florida Mom Shares 'Dystopian' Experience After Touring Connecticut Elementary School

Educational expectations vary from state to state in the public school system of the United States—and even within states there are often extreme variations between school districts in different counties.

Though we might know that in theory, it's still jarring to witness the differences for yourself.

Keep ReadingShow less