MiraCosta College is proud to announce the availability of free access to the Aira app on its campuses, enhancing accessibility for individuals who are blind or have low vision.

The Aira app offers on-demand, remote visual interpreting services. Users can download the app, press a button, and their phone's camera streams a live video to Aira’s professional visual interpreters. These interpreters can explain surroundings, describe scenes, navigate, or read out loud. Aira also features Access AI, which allows users to upload an image and receive a detailed AI-generated description verified by a human interpreter.

This service is available to anyone on MiraCosta College campuses, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Users on any of the college’s four campuses can make free calls to visual interpreters by downloading the app for Android or iPhone. This initiative empowers individuals to navigate campus life more independently and fully participate in the college community.

Aira can assist with various tasks, such as locating building entrances, finding seats in lecture halls, or reading printed materials in the library. In the cafeteria, users can take a picture of the menu with Access AI to receive an instant text response, which can be listened to or enlarged. Aira is available 24/7, 365 days a year, without reservations.

MiraCosta College student Erik Garcia, who is blind, said Aira will allow him to safely navigate around campus, which is particularly useful while several buildings are under construction. 

“They can guide us the way that we need to go,” he said. “It’s a pretty cool thing that we’re getting access to.” 

Garcia, whose partner Jasmine Sanchez is also a blind MiraCosta student, said obtaining Aira is just one way that MiraCosta serves students with disabilities.

“The general consensus is that if you need accessibility help, MiraCosta is where it’s at,” he said. 

"At MiraCosta College, we are deeply committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the tools to succeed. This implementation reflects our ongoing dedication to fostering a campus culture that values diversity, equity, and accessibility for all," said Dr. Wendy Stewart, Associate Vice President of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) at MiraCosta College.

Aaron Holmes, an Access Specialist at MiraCosta College, added, "The work of the Accessibility Workgroup has been instrumental in bringing the Aira service to our campuses. This collaboration reflects our commitment to identifying and implementing practical solutions that enhance accessibility for all. The availability of Aira is a testament to our ongoing efforts to ensure that every member of our community has the opportunity to engage fully with the college's resources and environment."