Local Guide Sarah Kacowicz ( @SarahKa ) is from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and she’s one of our 2021 Guiding Stars. As an Inclusive Mapper through and through, her valuable contributions on Google Maps aim to help everyone. Is this place accessible? Is it LBGTQ±friendly or suitable for people with certain food preferences? These are all questions Sarah tries to answer in her reviews, photos, and lists. By doing this, she wishes to guide her friends, fellow citizens, and tourists to places worth exploring.
Here’s what Sarah shared about her way of contributing towards accessibility.
Why are you interested in accessibility? Is there a particular area in which you are interested the most (wheelchair accessibility, vision accessibility, etc.)?
I became interested in accessibility because I noticed that information about it was missing on Google Maps. It’s something like supply and demand. There are those who need these details, but just a few people write about them, so I decided to include them in my reviews.
Also, the discussions during our monthly virtual meet-ups [with Local Guides Brazil] made me realize how important it is to include people (and how easy it can be). During the pandemic in 2020, I joined some virtual meet-ups with @JaneBurunina , @Jesi , and @KashifMisidia , too. That gave me more clarity about how I could help.
Usually, I write about wheelchair accessibility [in my reviews], but if I see something that could be helpful to others, I include it as well. It’s very simple; I pay attention to the doors and entrances, the toilets, the halls. It’s something that everyone can write about, and it makes Maps more inclusive.
Why are you passionate about accessibility information being shown on Google Maps?
I believe in more inclusive cities. Sometimes, people don’t go out because they don’t have all the information about a place, and helping those people allows them to enjoy their cities more — even tourists, too.
What have you done to generate visibility for accessibility information on Google Maps?
I like to add emojis that represent the most important details about a place. I also add a lot of photos because an image says more than a thousand words. My photos show the entrance, toilets, features for pets, kids’ areas, the parking lot, accessibility details, and anything else that I think could be helpful.
What made you start using emojis in your reviews?
In 2020, one of the Guiding Stars [Karen G.] used to add emojis of a face with a medical mask ( 
) and thermometer to her reviews. She is from Brazil, and we had a virtual meet-up. We talked a lot about it; I liked the idea and incorporated it into my reviews. After that, I mentioned it in another meet-up, and I believe more people are using emojis now. To have people discuss ideas is awesome because you learn a lot!
Do you have a favorite accessibility contribution on Google Maps? Why is it your favorite?
Yes! My review of the American Day - Donuts e Cookies. This one is special to me because the owner replied they would provide a wheelchair ramp. [In my review,] I wrote that people should pay attention [at the entrance]. The establishment read that, and now they are working on becoming more accessible.
You wholeheartedly support accessibility and inclusivity. Can you tell us more about why it is important to you to add LGBTQ+ and vegan and vegetarian details in your reviews and lists?
I have a lot of LGBTQ+ friends, and I want them to feel comfortable when we go out. I like to go where anyone can feel safe. It’s the same with vegan and vegetarian food. I started a list because I spent a year with no meat, and I try to eat less now. But when I started it, I realized how insufficient the information is about this for common places. It’s the same as with accessibility: by writing about it, you are helping the community and the business and giving more choices to the people.
What do you wish other Local Guides knew about accessibility?
I wish Local Guides knew that accessibility is a way for those who need it to live their lives better. It’s useful to everyone — customers and businesses. Accessibility is a way to include people, and it’s more than an image of a wheelchair on the floor. It could be a place where moms can breastfeed, a playground, spots where you can find vegan food. Accessibility (and inclusivity) is a guarantee that the community can enjoy the same things and get closer.
Are you or someone you know an Accessibility Champion? Tell us how you’re making a positive impact in the comments below or nominate another Local Guide using our nomination form.
you are deserve it.
! Keep and happy guiding 
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