Hy Local Guides, 
Here on Connect, we believe in encouraging Inclusivity & Diversity where everyone becomes a part of celebration & pride. As part of Pride with Local Guides, the series is thrilled to shine a spotlight on remarkable local guides who sparked light on unity & support in our global community.
Let’s meet Tushar Suradkar!
Tushar during the video session of how local guides are supporting local Indian Businesses on Google Maps.
Meet @TusharSuradkar, level 
local guide from Pune has dedicated his passion as a community builder towards the community. As a Connect Moderator, Tushar plays a role of ensuring our connect platform is engaging space for all local guides. He was pointed towards Accessibility Champion 
& Guiding Star 
in 2020. Notable engagements from his side have deeply encouraged local guides to explore new places & discover gems on Google Maps. Some of them were Discovering Clock Towers 
, Chai Pe Charcha 
, Exploring Sculptures & Statues etc.. From featuring Recycle bins in streets to Recycling vending machines 
in airports, his contributions towards Sustainability have also inspired many local guides to be part of the movement. Apart from being Accessibility Champion, Tushar is also a phenomenal Community Builder who shares his knowledge about Accessibility & explores stories with the community & encourages initiatives that support small businesses.
Let’s hear what Tushar has to say!
- Can you share your local guide story from Guiding star to Accessibility Champion ?
Answer : The Guiding Star and Accessibility Champion recognitions came his way quite early on after joining Connect as a local guide.
It was a long journey posting meticulously written travel experiences & informative posts which earned him the Master Writer 
badge!
During this time, he also hosted 80+ meetups in 10+ cities in India and globally. He also attended 150+ meetups, supporting the local guides community in India and globally.
- As an Accessibility champion, you always play an inclusive role in mentoring other local guides to contribute to Accessibility. What is your most favorite moment of where your mentoring has helped in the community?
Answer : Tushar, a passionate advocate for accessibility, has consistently highlighted often-overlooked features during his local guide meetups. He emphasizes that tactile paths, those textured surfaces on sidewalks and in public spaces, are prime examples of accessibility features hidden in plain sight. He made sure local guides understood their significance, broadening their perspective beyond just ramps and wheelchairs.
Similarly, Tushar points out that Braille letters are frequently missed. He encouraged local guides to actively seek them out in everyday places like elevators and ATMs. By drawing attention to these subtle yet crucial elements, Tushar has successfully expanded the understanding of accessibility among local guides, moving them beyond a limited view to a more comprehensive appreciation of inclusive design.
- As a Challenge Champion from Chai Pe Charcha to Exploring Clock Towers , what are the inspiration to start those initiatives & what impact that follows on the community?
Answer : Tushar prides himself on engaging Local Guides in a fun and easy way. When he hosts a challenge, he ensures that Local Guides can relate to it and participate effortlessly.
For Tushar, a successful challenge should:
- Inspire spontaneous participation.
- Be simple to understand and not feel like a burden or duty to figure out.
- Be easily doable for everyone.
- Facilitate strong community building.
- Connect directly with small businesses on Google Maps.
The overarching goal behind Tushar’s numerous challenges has always been to foster community and inspire Local Guides to proactively support local small businesses.
- Do you have any favorite LGBTQ+ 🏳🌈 Friendly cafes or coffee shop you visit mostly?
Answer : As an ice cream enthusiast 
, Tushar’s favorite spot is Old Mumbai in Pune. This particular place came highly recommended to him by @AjitThite and @Supriyadevkar & sharing a post with the community. Tushar noted that this cafe is LGBTQ+ friendly and deeply rooted in its community, sourcing ingredients like guava and jamun from locally grown fruits. He also found the cafe to be remarkably inclusive, highlighting their gender-neutral washrooms among other welcoming features.
- Can you tell us the experience from the Detroit Pride March you attended?
Answer : Tushar attended the Detroit Pride Parade, inspired and made aware by posts on Connect. Although he had known about the parade during previous trips to Detroit, he had always observed it from a distance. However, earlier this year, he joined the parade alongside amazing Local Guides from Michigan, @Erna_LaBeau and @keithlabeau.
He described the atmosphere as electric, with several music bands and various groups from the LGBTQAI+ community marching past a huge, cheering crowd one after another.
Thank you Tushar for giving me such wonderful insights to your incredible participation in community building. A very Happy Birthday 
to you, on this special day.
Check out about Local Guides who contributes inclusivity 
on Google Maps!
- Pride with Local Guides - Adrian
. - Pride with Local Guides - Santosh Kumar
. - Pride with Local Guides - Isha
On this Disability Pride Month, let’s take a moment to appreciate local guides who contribute towards the community and making it a place of Pride.
local-business accessibility
