Caption: A photo showing Emeka after receiving accessibility award from Brittany at Connect Live 2018.
The Local Guides programme in the last three years has given me the opportunity to explore my community, country and the world. Besides contributing to local businesses, organizations and individuals who peruse the maps; it has also enabled me to connect with people from different backgrounds, online and offline. More importantly, it gave me the platform to pursue accessibility cause as part of the initiative to foster inclusiveness around the world.
Accessibility
On Connect, I discovered Traci’s post about accessibility and immediately became interested in taking part. Afterwards, I started hosting regular meet-ups in Lagos to identify buildings with inclusive features. Later, I continued to host an annual global event to commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities known as Worldwide Accessibility Walk (WAW).
We have continued to encourage Local Guides of all ages, backgrounds to support PWDs to live a normal life, by simply adding inclusive information on Google Maps and hosting Accessibility focused meet-ups.
One Accessibility’s primary objectives include mapping places with wheelchair access, auditory facility, Braille and visual signs; advocating for full implementation of accessible policies, talking to decision makers, partnering with stakeholders in our communities and getting our countries to attain the accessible status.
A lot of people are unaware of the challenges people with disability face in our communities. Through One Accessibility, Local Guides have created awareness by organizing orientation for students, colleagues in the office, community leaders, traders in the market, government officials explaining and showing them how to remove barriers to public infrastructure.
While we embarked on creating an accessible world, we have documented our activities especially mapping locations with accessibility by identifying signs at parking lots, entrances, restrooms, elevators, bus terminals, train stations, airports, jetties and other public places. Organizing meet-ups and answering questions on Google Maps.
Caption: Photo showing footwears of Local Guides looking at a tactile pavement in San Jose
Accessible Milestone
A few months back, it was an honour to host 26 Local Guides from over 20 countries in San Jose. We were able to see firsthand what an accessible environment should look like. Some Local Guides saw tactile pavements and an accessible toilet for the very first time. The feedback after this meet-up at Connect has been inspiring. We can’t wait to learn more.
Best Local Guides Initiative
In 2019, One Accessibility Project was recognized as one of the best initiative by Local Guides. This achievement was possible with the support of Local Guides all over the world that joined the One Accessibility Alliance and hosted Worldwide Accessible Walks. One Accessibility is dedicated to improving the lives of People with Disabilities (PwD) worldwide by identifying barrier-free buildings, environments and infrastructure.
“Disability need not be an obstacle to success” ~ Prof. Stephen Hawking
Geography of Accessibility
One Accessibility has recorded more than 200 meet-ups, with over 1000 participants. We have hosted accessible meet-ups in 30 countries with strong advocates in six continents.
Recently, I have been contacted on issues around disability, accessibility, smart cities, housing, and urban futures. If not for Local Guides program, I won’t be pursuing research in Geography of Accessibility as an academia. It’s perhaps the most audacious leap I’ll b taking for the good of mankind. Learning and teaching university students about accessibility is a dream come true.
Alliance
This project gained momentum when some Local Guides agreed to work together. Some of us met on Connect Forum and Connect Live. Apparently Local Guides made the alliance possible. One Accessibility is a collaborative project that has provided our team opportunity to learn real world problems. Our experiences around accessible and inclusive designs are shared in a weekly post series – Accessibility Uncovered.
My gratitude goes to Kashif, Jesi, Chinonso, Penny Christy, Jane, Megan, Lyanne and all Accessibility Champions for being part of the project. Thank you to all the #WAW hosts and not forgetting Traci for the huge inspiration.
So, the most interesting thing I have done, as a Local Guide, is enabling accessibility everywhere for everyone through One Accessibility Initiative! Why don’t you join us to make your city accessible?