[RECAP] Let's Map Accessibility

[ShafiulB]

Let’s Map Accessibility

This is the first time in Dhaka that 10 Local Guides joined in an Accessibility Meet-Up. It was the finest moment when we all walked towards the roads and everyone noticed our movement. The pedestrians, shopkeepers, building guards, authority and everyone was inquiring about our walking and this point was great for making any awareness. I think it was the best time for celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December.

Meet-Up attendees list: DATE – 01/12/18 Time- 10 am to 02 pm

SL	NAME	LG LVL	CURRENT ADD	PERMANENT ADD	REMARKS
01	MD SHAFIUL BASHAR	08	BASABO,DHAKA	CUMILLA	E.Host
02	SHAH MD SULTAN	09	MIRPUR,DHAKA	JAMALPUR
03	KAZI M. HASAN	03	TEJGAON	CUMILLA
04	MOHAMMAD ALAUDDIN	07	NANDIPARA	CUMILLA
05	ABUL KALAM AZAD	07	KHILGAON	CUMILLA
06	ABDULLAH AL MAMUN	09	UTTARA	MYMENSINGH
07	MINHAZUL ISLAM	08	SHAHZADPUR	CHATTOGRAM
08	MOJAMMEL RAKIB	07	MIRPUR	CUMILLA	Photographer
09	MAHFUZUL ISLAM	08	UTTARA	GAZIPUR
10	MONIRUL HOQUE NILOY	03	MIRPUR	CUMILLA	Photographer
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We started our meet up’s from Bangladesh-UEA Moitry Shopping mall, Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Dhaka. There was a large open compound in front of the market that is why we chose this as our starting point. We meet there together at 10.00am. We discussed our meet up target and what was our activities. We also discussed our country present circumstances with disabilities facilities, rights, and laws. We shared some rules about disabilities right in Bangladesh and also discussed about the 2018 Theme: Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality & The 2030 Agenda pledges to “leave no one behind” by UN.

Then we started our walk from the shopping mall. The mall which had an accessible parking area but no ramps for enter into the market inside. Then we find out market authority by following the market security guard. On behalf of the market authority, he supported us and assured us to make an accessible ramp and mark a special parking area for wheelchairs.

Then we noticed maximum of the buildings and business places have no ramps and minimum accessibility for PWDs. Because the maximum of these is aged buildings area and the authority not aware of the disabilities rights of the country. But the new Buildings had partial accessibility like entrance/ parking/parking with an accessible elevator in the absence of accessible entrance. Although we were happy to get some accessible building during our meet up and thought it should increase more to make this city accessible for the PWDs. So we discussed with them about the disabilities rights and United nation’s 2030 pledges "No one leaves behind” with Sustainable development agenda.

We also assist to get Google Maps facilities and how it can be a helpful way for their regular communication if we help disabled by ensuring all citizens rights. This system may build an accessible society for everyone and may throw out our social barriers too.

We also marked some places with our special accessibility sign then we got the appreciation for this initiative by the authority. Hope others will get encouragement to mark accessible facilities to see these mark coz we didn’t find any sign for accessible entrance, parking and elevator even where had these facilities. We took so many photos, Accessibility paths photographs besides creating awareness during the Meet-Ups. We updated so many questions together during the Meet-Up.

Then we felt its need for spreading long-time awareness to make the country accessible. There are so many problems besides building facilities like as bad road condition, illegal pedestrian’s walkway, inappropriately installed ramp in our country and I think the same condition in all developing countries in the world.

So it’s time to work together to make everyone conscious alongside all social development organizations.

From this Meet-Up, We take a project like to update Maps accessibility information called Let’s Map Accessibility with spreading awareness. Hope we will organize couples of Meet-ups in our country & worldwide sooner.

This Meet Up was a part of ‘’ Worldwide Accessibility Walk [WAW]''by @EmekaUlor and thanks him for inviting us with this great concept.

To see the complete Meet Up, don’t miss a chance to visit our album …

Special Thanks to @TraciC to encourage us to update Maps Accessibility for the PWDs.

During the Meet Up we deeply missed you @Kamalhasnainee …

@ShahMdSultan @bdmafuz @MojammelR @Mohammadalauddin @sworan007 Thanks you all too for joining with me and your all valuable support.

Let’s Map Accessibility!!

Happy Guiding !!!

[ShafiulB]

@LucioV @IlankovanT @AlejandraMaria @OmarBD @SalmaanN Hope you all love this …

Happy Guiding!

[LucioV]

Congratulations for your successful meetup @ShafiulB ! Nice idea to print out accessibility stickers! This is something more than editing a place in maps!

[ShafiulB]

@LucioV Thanks dear for your appreciation! I made this sticker to mark places with accessibility coz in our country people is not aware of PWDs facilities and their right.

Happy Guiding!

[TraciC]

Hi @ShafiulB . Thanks for sharing this recap and it’s so cool to learn that this was the first accessibility meet-up in Bangladesh as I always thought Bangladesh (at least in Dhaka) has had every type of meet-up. I loved reading that people were interested in what you did!

One note: may I ask that you remove the contact number information? A lot of the data is hidden but still best to remove.

Congratulations and thank you again!

[NirmalTeja]

Hello @ShafiulB inspiring meet up thank you for sharing with us…

[ShafiulB]

@TraciC We are successful that you like it. Now we got another sprite for Accessibility Meet-Up.

We are working on making awareness first because it’s very bad condition here about citizens right in public places. When it is a matter about PRM, it’s rarer. But nowadays it improving and we can notice this. But it needs more work globally to make more attention to the state level and building owners to add all citizens facilities in their institutions.

Google Local Guides are already making this impact by hosting many Accessibility Meet Up. Its really appreciated. Hope more Local Guides will be involve to update Accessibility information with public level awareness.

One thing is, we may get the true happiness when we are working for the differently abled people. We got it and felt it during our last accessibility Meet-Up.

Happy Guiding!

[SP31]

What a great meet-up and recap, @ShafiulB ! I really loved the fact that you all were like a mini army of changemakers, all under the theme of leaving no one behind and trying to help others go beyond the social barriers. I can tell you all really contributed a lot to Maps in order to help others. Kudos!

[ShafiulB]

@NirmalTeja Thanks for your valuable comment .

@SP31 You said well and it’s our pleasure to do something for the PWDs with Google. We will try our best to work together for accessible Map.

Keep inspiring…

Happy Guiding!!

[bdmafuz]

I am very happy to become a part of this meet-up. I learned many new things from this meet-up. Thanks @ShafiulB for host this type of event and also thanks @TraciC for like our meet-up.
We went many place and try to make awareness. Many people appreciate our work. When we went to ‘Star Kabab restaurant’ and talk to manager about accessible enterenc he inspired by us and told us he will take to General Manager and make accessible enterenc as soon as possible.
On the other hand we take pictures and try to update Google Maps.
Thanks again to all who pertinent this meet-up.

[KlaudiyaG]

It’s so wonderful to see so many great recaps and so many people focused on enabling access for people with disabilities.

Thumbs up @ShafiulB for thriving to make a difference!

[ShahMdSultan]

Dear @ShafiulB brother, thanks for sharing this [Recap] with us. You did a great job. Our last Meet-Up was tremendous. Thanks to all Local Guides who joined the Meet-Up. Really we missed @Kamalhasnainee brother.

Hopefully, we will arrange more accessibility Meet-Up coming days.

[ShafiulB]

@KlaudiyaG It’s my pleasure and liability to do something for the Persons with reduced mobility. I was happy that time for my job and got huge support from my fellows. . .

Thanks a lot for your appraisal and encouragement.

Happy Guiding!

[ShafiulB]

@bdmafuz Thanks a lot you too for your valuable support. Hope together we will make a better accessible world.

Thanks again for remembering the response from Star kabab authority. It was a memorable story.

Keep supporting …

@ShahMdSultan My big support indeed. You always did your best to make a meet-Up successful with your ideas. I love your support with the big dedication, you joined with us after traveling a whole night from Sylhet. What a dedication!

Keep it up…

Happy Guiding!

[Kamalhasnainee]

Wow @ShafiulB bro, I am very happy to see your successful meet up about Accessibility. Everyone looks very active & passionate. I love the idea of accessibility icon sticker pasting. Thanks to all participants especially @ShahMdSultan @Mohammadalauddin @bdmafuz .

I do agree with you bro and always missing all of my friends.

[bdmafuz]

Thanks @Kamalhasnainee we miss you brother .

[Siddiqui-BA]

Congratulations and thanks a lot @ShafiulB and all the parricipants in meet up’s accessibility. It was really an amazing steps to give understanding to the installations owner that the “persons with disability” also have the right to access in any authorised places. So, it will inspire all to keep an access system in their installations. Thanks to all again.

[OmarBD]

Dear Brother @ShafiulB You all are rock stars!! I enjoy your photography’s, Congratulations and Best of Luck!

[ShafiulB]

@Kamalhasnainee Thanks dear for your appreciation. You were the most passionate about Accessibility in Bangladesh. Hope we will do a strong team for our accessibility project.

@OmarBD Thanks for your comment and encouragement bro. We miss you too that time. how we will get you in future with us.

@Siddiqui-BA Thanks bro for your inspiration. You always supported us by commenting & liking …

Keep it Up …

Let’s Map Accessibility together…

Happy Guiding!