diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e99923e..9cf0c84 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -90,6 +90,14 @@ Bounce the right component to alert swiping is possible. `onDone` is an optional
 
 Bounce the left component to alert swiping is possible. `onDone` is an optional callback.
 
+#### openRight(onDone)
+
+Programmatically open the right component. `onDone` is an optional callback.
+
+#### openLeft(onDone)
+
+Programmatically open the left component. `onDone` is an optional callback.
+
 ## Example
 
 To run [the example](https://github.com/jshanson7/react-native-swipeable/blob/master/example/swipeable-example.js):
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 244bf99..a4fd568 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -212,6 +212,46 @@ export default class Swipeable extends PureComponent {
     animationFn(pan, animationConfig).start(onDone);
   };
 
+  openRight = (
+    animationFn = this.props.swipeReleaseAnimationFn,
+    onDone
+  ) => {
+    const {pan} = this.state;
+
+    this.setState({
+      lastOffset: {x: 0, y: 0},
+      leftActionActivated: false,
+      leftButtonsActivated: false,
+      leftButtonsOpen: false,
+      rightActionActivated: true,
+      rightButtonsActivated: true,
+      rightButtonsOpen: true,
+    }, () => {
+      let animationConfig = this._getReleaseAnimationConfig();
+      animationFn(pan, animationConfig).start(onDone);
+    });
+  };
+
+  openLeft = (
+    animationFn = this.props.swipeReleaseAnimationFn,
+    onDone
+  ) => {
+    const {pan} = this.state;
+
+    this.setState({
+      lastOffset: {x: 0, y: 0},
+      leftActionActivated: true,
+      leftButtonsActivated: true,
+      leftButtonsOpen: true,
+      rightActionActivated: false,
+      rightButtonsActivated: false,
+      rightButtonsOpen: false,
+    }, () => {
+      let animationConfig = this._getReleaseAnimationConfig();
+      animationFn(pan, animationConfig).start(onDone);
+    });
+  };
+
   _bounceOnMount = () => {
     if (this._canSwipeLeft()) {
       this.bounceRight(this.bounceLeft);