How can we contribute to make a more Inclusive World with Google Maps?

[AlejandraMaria]

I really believe in the importance of an inclusive World and I love to find places that try to be accessible to all, or at least to many of us.

Since I have started to be a Local Guide, luckily, I have seen a positive evolution .

Spain has laws in this direction. For example, when a new restaurant opens, this place has to be accessible for wheelchairs (the old ones don´t follow these rules, so if you have special needs go to the newest establishments) .

The beaches started to have adapted showers, specials wheelchairs that can be used in the sea and and qualified staff… So when I find this facilities I feel the need to take photos to upload to Google Maps and review them. The storms of last year made the reconstruction of the beaches under the new laws that take into consideration the reduced mobility. So we could say that “every cloud has a silver lining”

Adapted playstructures with wide ramps enrich the parks. They are not very often, so when I find them I feel the excitement inside me.

Look what I discovered in a commercial center , needs to be shared!!!

My kids were looking at them carefully and they know now the difference between adapted and non adapted playstructures.

With this hobby, collaborate with Google Maps, and how I focus on accessibility I have discovered that my three kids have learned it too (and this is very important for me)

They are alert to accessible facilities, for example, my 8 years old kid, Alice, one day made me took a photo of how stars were adapted in a building; she told me: “mommy, mommy come and see, this is very important for you and for me; please take a photo and upload it to Google Maps” I can´t upload a photo of a house, even though I realized that she is very involved too. And from that moment until now they made me take a photos of important issues.

I feel extremely happy when I see that a place is adapted with Braille. One of the main brands of gas stations in my country has added this language to their stations.

One of the main brands of fast food has adapted their installations in an fantastic way.

I really love to see that there are true wheelchair adapted toilets for men and women, not just one restroom apart.

And in the same place there are baby changing tables in men and women restrooms. I love, extremely love to find this because it is a sign of social evolution. Daddies are ready to change diapers not just mommies!

Uploading photos to Google Maps I have an historic of how we are improving in recycling too.

I really think that making these contributions on Google Maps, we help the Society to evolution in the right direction. Our photos, videos, reviews help to visualize these topics and sometimes … the owners make changes.

And these are my favorites contributions to Google Maps.

Thank you very much for reading it ?

Greetings from the South of Spain,

Alejandra.

[SaifIS]

@AlejandraMaria I am surprised to see that even beaches have accessibility facilities. You are doing a fantastic job sharing these photos and information maps.

Good luck for Connect Live 2019. My post for CL19. Wish me luck too, so we can meet at San Jose

[ErmesT]

Hey @AlejandraMaria

what a great great great post. Great minds think alike, I want to add. Isn’t it @KarenVChin ?

It might seem that Alejandra and I had coordinated our posts, right?

I need some of your places, Alejandra, to add them on my my: List of Accessible parks

[IlankovanT]

Wonderful post @AlejandraMaria . Good luck for Connect Live 2019

[OmerAli]

Awesome.

Detailed and straight to the point.

@AlejandraMaria

Mucha gracias

[AlejandraMaria]

Thank you very much @SaifIS , @ErmesT , @IlankovanT and @OmerAli for your feedback :)))

Ermes here is the link to the **Adapted park **with amazing play structures for kids that use wheelchairs

I discovered it last summer and uploaded the photos and made a review too.

Good Evening to all of you from the South of Spain,

Alejandra.

[ErmesT]

Thank you @AlejandraMaria

Yes, we need to work together for making a worldwide list of accessible nature. Do you agree @EmekaUlor ?

Your link doesn’t work, but I don’t need it now. I will be happy to check it later

Good night from north east of Italy

[AlejandraMaria]

This is the link @ErmesT : https://goo.gl/maps/5CySJJHiR6yRJ2U2A

I have opened it and works, if you can´t let me know, maybe it will be some options I have… we will check it

[ErmesT]

Working now @AlejandraMaria

I have saved it, to check later. Now is quite late here.

Thank you so much

[EmekaUlor]

@ErmesT thank you for tagging me and I surely agree with the idea! I remember how you shared those photos following my post- Accessible Beaches. It could also help us achieve the One Billion milestone.

You know what I always wanted

@AlejandraMaria nice post and your concerns are our passion too.

[Julien44]

Hi my dear @AlejandraMaria

I must have missed something… So congratulations for your new role . I am so happy for you. You desserve it as all you do is always high quality.

Once again, your post shows it.

I enjoyed reading your story and especially the part where your kids said there was important information. It reminded me the way my kids behave since I am Local Guides. They are always attentive to : accessibility, waste, trash. I cannot count how many time my kids have told me: Dad you should tell this or put this picture in your review.

In my case, the Local Guides program and the great members like you have brang me (and my family) to an higher level. I feel I am active in making a better world.

Best of luck for you application and hopefully we will have the chance to share time in San Jose.

See you around

Jul

[AlejandraMaria]

Hi Local Guides!

Thank you very much @EmekaUlor for your comment. I have seen you are incredible involved with accessibility. I am reading your interesting posts Thanks for sharing with us.

@Julien44 I am very happy to see you here And yes, it was a nice surprise this new role It´s great that your kids are involved on your contributions.

Good Evening from the South of Spain,

ALejandra.

[OSAMA]

one of the great posts from one of the great Lgs, @AlejandraMaria ! wish you all the best and good luck

[TorM]

Hello @AlejandraMaria

I already did miss posts from you

This is a fantastic one.

I to often miss to add information for people with special challenges. So, posts likes you remind me, how easy it could be to add.

Regards Torben

[KarenVChin]

@AlejandraMaria - your Connect Live 2019 application post is amazing! It is great to see how Spain is making places and public facilities (restrooms) accessibility friendly.

My hubby and I get very excited to know when a men’s restroom has a diaper changing table in it because he can take one kid and I can take the other! You would think this is common here, changing tables in both restrooms, in the San Franciso Bay Area, but it is not!

And not every new business in a new building has a diaper changing table in the women’s restroom either. I think this is based on local county business permits. So, while a restaurant will always have a couple of high chairs at minimum, this same restaurant may not have a diaper changing table in the women’s restroom. Go figure, right??

That is awesome that your kids are learning about accessibility and want to be involved with you using and adding to Google Maps. Currently. my two love to help recycle, pick up trash, and throw it into the trash can. We have made it a game at my house.

Best of luck on your Connect Live 2019 application. Crossing my fingers, I know @ErmesT is, that we can all meet again in San Jose in November.

Cheers,

Karen

[AlejandraMaria]

Hi Local Guides!

Thanks @OSAMA for your motivation

@TorM , Nice to see you again I am very happy that these kind of posts remind you how easy is to contribute on Google Maps about these topics.

@KarenVChin , You and your hubby feel the same excitement as me when a men’s restroom has a diaper changing table!!! I thought that in your area this was more often… This means that we have to continue uploading photos and reviews in this way if we want a change

Drop by drop rivers, seas, oceans are made…

Many thanks to all of your for your nice comments

Good Evening from the South of Spain,

ALejandra.

[Giuseppe75]

Hello @AlejandraMaria , THANK YOU so much for your inspiring post.

Each photo and sentence of your well detailed story represent a priceless value for all that people that each day face unfortunately barriers preventing them to live easily their lives. I believe that governments and local authorities have the responsibility to enhance and promote the accessibility of any place (the way is long). But as you correctly write each Local Guide may contribute on Google Maps taking photos and describing all that new facilities around us that can make the life of many people much easier. I wish you all the best and wanted to congratulate with you for the deserved nomination as Connect Moderator. Cheers from Italy, Giuseppe

[AlejandraMaria]

HI @Giuseppe75 !

Thank you very much for your reply, with our own style using Google Maps we can visibilize our ideas

Good Morning from the South of Spain,

Alejandra.

[NareshDarji]

Great post @AlejandraMaria

[AlejandraMaria]

Hi @NareshDarji ,

Thank you very much for your feedback and nice to see you

Good Morning from the South of Spain,

Alejandra.