I love to help people. In all ways. If there is a need, I want to help that person get their needs met. And it is very important that they are given the dignity to do so as independently as possible.
Back in August, in a comment, I promised @AdrianLunsong I would write a more detailed post about how I approach my accessibility reviews. I am a retired Registered Nurse. During my career, I was blessed to work in many varied facets of nursing, and with many specialized patient care populations. For instance, for several years, I worked with dual diagnosed children and teens, as a Registered Nurse Supervisor on the Developmental Neuro Psychiatric Unit at Southeast Louisiana Hospital, the State Mental Hospital in my town. These clients had been unsuccessful in all traditional forms of treatment. Their diagnoses were of severe behavior disorders and severe mental illness, along with cognitive dysfunction and developmental delay. They functioned at levels well below their chronological age, and were physically violent. While it was challenging, the rewards of helping these clients were immeasurable! It took our team’s careful planning, individualized care, and most of all excellent therapeutic communication skills to make huge differences in the quality of life for my clients. This is how I see mapping accessibility on Google Maps! Google Local Guides are the team!
FIRST: CAREFUL PLANNING:
When I do an accessibility review of a business, I’m actually doing my own mini site assessment. I attempt, with empathy, to put myself in the situation of the accessibility challenged individual. As I approach approach the POI, I scan the environment, making accessibility a priority. Parking - are there handicapped spaces, van included? How far away? After leaving the car park, I check sidewalks, streets etc. for maneuverability. Are they cobblestone, cracked, with potholes? Do I have to cross the street? Then, the presence of ramps or sloped entrances? I don’t believe it is enough to hashtag #ramp each time. Is the ramp in the front or back of the POI? Is there signage indicating where the ramp is located, if it is not obvious on arrival. And finally, a photo of the ramp. Many of the businesses in my little town are located in historic homes from the eighteenth and nineteenth century, so this information is crucial. I love lists! Here is one I have made called 
Accessible Old Mandeville Businesses.
Big one- automatic doors, very important for a mobility challenged person who is alone. Recently my husband fell off his road bike and broke his ankle in two places . He had to use a mobility knee scooter and crutches for many weeks. He was unable to open the door for himself, even if it was wheelchair accessible, during that time. (Being A Local Guide Helped Me Through One Of The Most Difficult Times In My Life! is a post, with video, showing him on his mobility scooter and how mapping got me through that time when I also had the shingles.) Knowing where automatic doors are available is so important to many! Next is Braille text data available? QR codes? How about the aisles, tables, or merchandise in the POI themselves? Are they too close together for easy maneuverability? What about the restroom? Does it have a designated handicapped stall? I don’t stop there! Is it clean and well stocked? If someone maneuvers their wheelchair into the stall, only to find a broken side rail and no toilet paper, then a hashtag is worthless. (One of my most recent posts, tells of my own struggle with an inaccessible restroom, and another one of the reasons I believe becoming Google Local Guide was a game changer in my ability to help make the world accessible: Accessibility: And Why Being A Local Guide Is The Game Changer! ) I document this in my review, with photos if appropriate, and hashtag! I now include accessibility in all my reviews. I’m succinct, a few words paint a picture .
NEXT- INDIVIDUALIZED CARE:
Is there anything special about the accessibility features of this POI? For instance, do they have Caroline’s Carts? Caroline’s Carts are shopping carts developed by Drew Ann Long’s nonprofit, for special needs children and adults, out her own need for her daughter Caroline. They allow a caregiver to take a child that has outgrown a regular shopping cart, or a disabled adult, or senior shopping, without having to push a cart AND a wheelchair. This is my passion project! If local guides around the world would hashtag #carolinescart everytime they see one, make a Google Maps list of where they can be found, take photos of the carts, and add this information to Google Maps, just think of all the lives that would be positively impacted! More information can be found in my posts Hashtag #carolinescart for accessibility! and Idea Exchange Add The Widespread Use Of #carolinescart And #automaticdoors to Google Maps For Accessibility. Additionally what category of POI is this? This would be an excellent time to highlight visual and hearing accessibility. For example, if it is a museum, is there a hearing loop? In my town, The “Explore Historic Mandeville Tour” is a QR tour of historic sites around our town, with more locations being added! I made another Google Maps listExplore Historic Mandeville QR Tour& 
to enhance this experience and make it inclusive. I have also spoken with the Old Mandeville Historic Association, and emailed their contact at City Hall, about adding accessibility features the city’s online map of the tour. This is a wonderful asset for the visually impaired! I wrote this post on QR codes recently:Accessibility Uncovered : Assistive Tech - QR Codes. Then, I combine all areas of accessibility into the review. And I don’t forget photos!
LASTLY - EXCELLENT THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Here is where Google Local Guides really shine! I have explained how I see mapping accessibility on Google Maps. Now write those beautiful, fun, creative reviews, with ratings, you always do! Accessibility is one spice in your dish that is your total review! Add all the ingredients, and you will be help inclusivity for all people! The disabled, whether temporarily or permanent, young and seniors alike. Local Guides help people. We help people find the things they need. And when you add detailed accessibility information, you make sure that everyone make safe and informed choices about where to go to get those needs met! You guide! #letsguide
If you enjoy reading about accessibility, I invite you to read my series on The Hidden Faces Of Accessibility The Hidden Faces Of Accessibility, Yasmin’s Story, The Hidden Faces Of Accessibility Pt II , Cystic Fibrosis, The Hidden Faces Of Accessibility Pt III , Local Guides, The Hidden Faces Of Accessibility Pt IV: Edema (Swelling) or maybe by engaging senior citizens, like myself, encouraging them to become Local Guides, and begin mapping accessibility like me
.
.