Caption: Screenshot showing attendees at the meet-up
October is gone already. Wow! So, our 10th webinar was more like a dialogue with One Accessibility (OA) team and enthusiasts. We looked at our virtual meet-up series which started in January 2021, reviewed some challenges and proffered suggestions on how to improve the initiative. Here is some excerpts of the interactions.
What has been your experience as an accessibility advocate?
Doc Dells: I am proud with Local Guides I have met despite my little contributions on Google Maps so far. I value the One Accessibility activities especially the webinar where we learn new things monthly. We need to expand it.
Anshuk @AnshukMitra : Through the OA initiative, I have become more conscious of my environment. I now think differently about disability issues and more tilted to helping PwDs in my community. Some of my friends have also joined me in the advocacy which makes me really happy.
Erna @Erna_LaBeau @I am so glad and happy to be in OA team. Sometimes I don’t know what to write or talk about but our weekly and monthly events have been a source of inspiration because we have topics to focus o
Jesica @Jesi : I learnt a lot about different accessibility and disability types through research while writing for OA posts. Also listening and meeting accessibility advocates and webinar guests about their different experiences has improved my awareness. I have learnt so many things with the group
Emeka: One of the things I love about the initiative is the ability of members to share something new after research. I learnt about tactile pavements reading from a team member’s post. This year, I presented my first conference paper with a topic around tactile. Thanks to the OA team.
Caption: Screenshot showing Erna in her Halloween suit, Jesi and Doc Dells during the webinar
Most interesting OA Webinar or Post
Erna: I like all the webinars and guests. Although, Darian Slattery touched me because she was passionate and she almost cried sharing her experience. I find time to talk about these webinars with my husband.
Jesica: All of the meet-ups have been so inspiring. For me, the webinar featuring Diogo was interesting. I am grateful to the team for getting these great speakers.
Doc Dells @doc_dells : Darian Slattery was emotional. I won’t say any is most interesting but each has vital information which is enriching our knowledge as Local Guides. It is the experience for me.
Emeka: Getting speakers every month was a herculean task. Each webinar came with something fresh and worthwhile. For me, we were not able to have Jason - the cofounder of GAAD because of the challenge he faced with the tools & system. It was a lesson for us know that there is more to be done in order to make accessibility seamless.
What can we do to improve accessibility advocacy?
Doc Dells: OA members and Local Guides can propose a special guest which should be compiled as a list ahead of webinars.
Jesica: We should explore writing posts in other languages on how to contribute accessibility information on Google Maps.
Erna: It is not easy to convince speakers to be guests for free. They sometimes want compensation but we should keep trying. I commend Emeka for being able to bring some of the guests without paying them.
Emeka: I suggest we have more Local Guides as guests in the future , to share their accessibility and Google Maps stories.
Caption: Screenshot showing Indah speaking while participants listen
Suggestion
Doc Dells suggested we bring back the new year goals which was introduced earlier this year. This would help Local Guides key into the initiative with a goal or objectives of contributing to Google Maps and in their communities.
Indah @indahnuria expressed her joy about the OA initiative and how the advocacy is spreading among Local Guides. She talked about collaborations to celebrate international day of persons with disabilities especially with the youths in our community.
Caption: Flyer showing One Accessibility logo and meet-up details.
Contributions
As Local Guides, we also reviewed how we have been contributing on Google Maps - through adding photos of ramps, answering YES or NO Questions, using emojis while writing reviews, adding videos and editing wrong or outdated information.
In summary, we all agreed that the advocacy through weekly posts and webinar should continue even as physical events continue to improve. Thanks to @Julietezego and other Local Guides for attending
Make sure you join us in the last two interesting webinars coming up in November and December.
Let’s make the world accessible for everyone everywhere!
