Hello Connect Family! 
As we recently celebrated Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on May 21, 2026, I felt inspired to share my story, my motivation, and a beautiful experience I had this past Thursday that completely changed how I look at accessibility.
How My Journey Began
I started contributing to Google Maps because I truly believe that everyone deserves to explore the world without unnecessary barriers. My journey as an official Connect member began very recently, on January 14, 2026, but in my heart, I have been a Local Guide for many years.
There is a very personal reason behind my passion for 
accessibility.
My dear sister has been a wheelchair user for many years. For a long time, I constantly found myself wondering how I could show the world the real struggles a wheelchair user faces daily. Whenever our family wanted to go out together to enjoy a meal at a restaurant, we often couldn’t enter simply because there was no wheelchair-accessible ramp. Being turned away or feeling excluded at the door just because of a few stairs was heartbreaking.
These experiences stayed in my mind for years, and they became the biggest driving force behind why I advocate so strongly for accessibility today. I truly believe every single place should be accessible to everyone. Whether it’s a wheelchair user like my sister, a visually impaired individual, an elderly person, or a mother navigating with small children and strollers, everyone has the equal right to go anywhere and everywhere without barriers.
Through the Local Guides community, I realized how many thousands of people face these exact same daily struggles. Accessibility information on maps was often missing, so I told myself: instead of waiting for a change, I will be that change myself.
Every time I visit a new place, I pay close attention to the small details, whether there are stairs or a ramp, wide doors, 
accessible parking, dedicated spots for wheelchair users, elevators, or reserved restrooms.
On streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian crossings, I look for tactile paving for visually impaired individuals, and I photograph it all to help others. It takes so little effort, answering a few questions or uploading one photo of an entrance, but it can mean the difference between a great day out and frustration at the door.
Here you can check my Google Maps Contributions about Accessibility
A Heartwarming Meetup Experience (Thursday 21st May 2026)
This past Thursday, I attended an amazing virtual meetup hosted by @Anil6969 , and it was an incredible learning experience for me. Before this meetup, I used to think accessibility was mostly about ramps for wheelchairs or tactile paving for 
visually impaired people. But I learned something beautifully new, accessibility also deeply includes people facing mental health challenges and cognitive difficulties. It opened my eyes to a whole new dimension of inclusivity.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to @Kumaarsantosh . As many of you might know, English is not my first language, and I am not very fluent in it. I usually write my posts and Google Maps reviews in Slovak and use a translator to put them into English. During the meetup, @Kumaarsantosh beautifully spoke on my behalf, perfectly translating my emotions and thoughts when my English fell short.
Connecting with Amazing Souls
Meeting everyone virtually was such a joyful experience. It was wonderful to see @SwetaDhondoo , who was my sweet selfie partner back in Dublin!
I also learned so much from virtually connecting with, and want to thank, my mentor @KashifMisidia , as well as @Erna_LaBeau , @Globe_trotter_Ish , @Ajitthite, @doc_dells , @TusharSuradkar , @NareshDarji , @TravellerG , @SonamW , @Shruti , @SharmaK , @Manishhh, @Tejal, @curatorofmemory @Shreyamusings @Dr_AlwyPaul and other wonderful people there .
Learning from all of you virtually was a true privilege.
Spreading Awareness Together
To raise awareness, we must speak up and show the real impact of our contributions. A fantastic way to do this is by organizing community meetups, like “GeoWalks”, focused directly on accessibility (I’m Also planning for that in Brussels) . When people see that a single photo of an accessible entrance can help thousands, they gladly join in. We must show the world that even the smallest detail on a map can make someone’s life infinitely easier.
Thank you, Anil, for the meetup, and thank you to my wonderful Connect family for making me feel so welcome!
With love,
Katarina Cibikova
for the 
.
