Meet Accessibility Champion, Megan

Local Guide Megan Coburn (@Kwiksatik), living in Seattle, Washington, USA, has been interested in accessibility since she was a teenager. She takes photos of accessible features and includes accessibility-specific paragraphs in her reviews, making this information more visible for the people who need it.

We recently caught up with Megan to learn more about her commitment to helping those with accessibility needs.

Why are you interested in accessibility? Is there a particular area in which you are interested in the most (wheelchair accessibility, vision accessibility, etc.)?

During my last few years of high school, I spent part of each day in “peer tutoring.” In this class, I assisted with physical therapy, education, care, and companionship for students confined to wheelchairs.

One of my favorite things to do was take them for walks to see the grounds at our school. Аccessibility was a huge limiting factor in their ability to fully experience the outdoors. I became hyper-aware of where ramps were inside the schools, the height of door sills, sidewalk conditions, and especially of how poor snow/ice management can make a perfectly accessible landscape a hazardous one.

Why are you passionate about accessibility information being shown on Google Maps?

Accessibility information has durable value. If someone contributes it once while it is “on their mind,” it is useful for a long time afterward.

What area (mobility, vision, hearing, etc.) are you most interested in improving?

I am most interested in sharing information relating to age and quality of life: mobility (ramps) and clear signage. Ramps and clear signage benefit everyone from a mother with a stroller to the scooter-bound joint surgery patient, to those in wheelchairs. Clear signage (or help to find signage) is a social statement that these populations MATTER. They deserve clear, prominent, easy-to-find direction.

What do you wish other Local Guides knew about accessibility?

Every contribution matters. It might not feel like it today, but someday, to someone, every contribution matters. My life does not always allow me to donate the resources of time, money or materials to give back to my community in the way I want to. But I can help someone in a wheelchair plan their first night out in a long time, an LGBTQ friend find a unisex bathroom where they can tend to their needs in peace, a first-time mother find the brand of formula her baby needs, or someone with social anxiety find a coffee shop where nobody will bother them while they reacclimate to being in public. Accessibility is not only about being physically different. Invisible struggles are real struggles, too.

What’s your tip for finding your passion through the Local Guides program?

I have two tips.

  1. To keep your passion fueled, contribute things which would have made a difference in your life at a time when you needed it. For me, this was adding information to Maps which would have helped me in my past, like whether or not a park had clean bathrooms for my children to use, did this restaurant parking lot have adequate lighting for me to feel safe walking to my car alone at night.

  2. The world is full of frustrating news which is selected and written to flare up emotions. Instead of being discouraged or upset, I channel my urge to respond and take action into my reviews. Was someone refused service because they are "different?” I will make a point of mentioning inclusiveness at a location. Are local businesses struggling? I will make a point of giving detailed and thoughtful reviews for the next local business I visit knowing that it will bring them another customer in the future.

Are you passionate about making Maps more inclusive? Tell us how you’re making a positive impact in the comments below.

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Congratulations @Kwiksatik , you absolutely deserve it - A big Hug

Thank you for sharing this post about Megan, one of the best Local Guides that I know.

I remember Megan’s speech like if it was yesterday.

I am working on Accessibility on my own way (as usual) but I love all the indications that you are sharing here.

I took the next photo while mapping an accessible pathway on my city

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Congratulations! Megan & thanks @Ivi_Ge for announcing another Accessibility Champion. It’s our pleasure that our fellows are caring much about Google Maps accessibility besides their community. Although Google Maps is also a part of our community nowadays.

Keep mapping Accessibility!

Happy Guiding!

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Congratulations @Kwiksatik you’re a hero ,you really deserve it .

I’m lucky one person hearing your speech during Connect live 2019

our happy selfie with Megan Coburn and Ashley

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@Ivi_Ge thank you so much for this wonderful write-up!

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@ErmesT thank you for your kind words! Your own dedication and tireless efforts are an inspiration to me. You set the bar high.

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Thank you so much @ShafiulB ! Keep contributing!

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@Nyainurjanah thank you so much for your kind words! It was wonderful to get to know you better during Connect Live 2019.

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Congratulations @Kwiksatik , you are a super hero, really well done and honored having met you :blush: .

Thank you @Ivi_Ge for sharing the beautiful post.

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Thank you so much Luigi!! It was wonderful to meet you as well!

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@Ivi_Ge excellent post. Thanks for share

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Yay! Congrats on the article, @Kwiksatik ! Well deserved. It’s very nice to know more about your passion for accessibility through your answers. It’s great to have you in the Local Guides family.

Thank you for sharing this, @Ivi_Ge .

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Thank you @Ivi_Ge for sharing such a beautiful write up about one of our favourite local guides on connect.

@Kwiksatik you well deserve it .

Many congratulations :tada: :tada: to you Megan.

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Thank you so much @Jesi !

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Congratulations dear Megan! You are absolutely deserve it!

You became a great example and inspiration to me.

I follow my way to do our world Accessible. I share my knowledge and host map-editing meetups.

My best wishes to you @Kwiksatik !

Jane

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Congratulations @Kwiksatik this is a well deserved honor and I believe it will serve as an inspiration for more achievement. Keep on guiding. Thanks @Ivi_Ge for the post.

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Wonderful to see this recognition @Kwiksatik very well deserved. I know from the time spent with you that you don’t just talk about accessibility and equality, you research and understand, you live the values. Love your work and love you mate, giant dropbear hugs for you both from me and my partner dropbear Chris. We’ll go drinking with you in The Mission anytime :koala: .

You’re a very good role model for other Local Guides.

Paul

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@Kwiksatik Truly just FABULOUS!!! So very proud of you and the work you are doing to make the world better!

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Many congratulations @Kwiksatik . As always, you keep inspiring others like me with your stories. Cheers to the new achievement. Keep doing it!

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Thank you so much @Ivi_Ge !

@Kwiksatik is indeed an Accessibility Champion. Worthy of note also is how she sacrificed a lot to be our “chauffeur” during the 8 hours plus long roadtrip we had - which preceded the main Connect Live event.

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