Just like each year , this year too , I hosted the WAW Mumbai 2023 - Accessibility walk , meet n greet on 9th Dec '23 as a part of the global series of meet-ups by Local Guides called WAW (Worldwide Accessibility Walk), a #OneAccessibility Team initiative by @EmekaUlor that focuses on adding information about accessibility in Maps, through photos, videos, editing the functionalities of places, and more, in meet-ups in which we also help others to learn more about the subject and be more aware of the accessibility and needs of people with different types of disabilities. As you all know, this year the meet-ups hosted by me also fall under#mapsforall series (which focuses on helping local businesses, map Accessibility information, learn, share tips & do fun Map edits to reflect Inclusivity for all).This year the meet-up was hosted at the Korum Mall in Thane. We all had a great time at the meet-up and it was amazing to see the enthusiasm of the attendees!
The meet-up started with all of us gathering at the entrance of the mall , followed by a quick introduction round. We also had few virtual attendees who were keen in understanding how we can Map тАШAccessibility related featuresтАЩ on Maps. I shared various ways to contribute towards accessibility using Maps and also shared details regarding the Inclusion series : #mapsforall series and the Sustainability Series : #GoGreenWithMaps series .
Post this we had a great brainstorming session and discussed various ways in which we could contribute towards Accessibility and some of the new features of the Maps that we love. After the discussion , we did some Map edits and updates and added photos and videos of the Mall that depict not only the vibe but also useful facilities for all ! The best part was meeting so many local guides after a long time , having lots of yummy food, sharing our Local Guide journeys , doing fun stamp- art activities together and ending the meet-up with gifts and on a sweet musical note where we all sang and danced , thanks to @ModNomad !
Here is a brief agenda and recap of our Accessibility Walk meet-up :
- Photos : We took lots of photos during the meet-up, especially of the entrance and inside of the shops or places we visited to update accessibility and other details on Maps.
- Ratings and reviews: Added ratings and reviews of the places which we visited or bought things from.(Yes, we did a bit of shopping too so that we could share our own experiences on Maps!) Here is my review of the Mall:
- Knowledge sharing : After our photo walk , we took a break and sat in the food court in the mall where we had a great brainstorming session and discussed various ways in which we could contribute towards Accessibility and some of the new features of the Maps that we love. The questions from the attendees were answered in this session.
- Update accessibility information on Maps : We had fun checking the facts, uncover missing information, update accessibility information and answer the questions (specially accessibility related) for the stores we visited during the meet-up on Maps.
- Create lists : We had an amazing knowledge sharing session during our walk and shared various tips to create accessible friendly lists. Here is my list of some of the best accessible bakeries in Mumbai , which I shared as an example with all.
- Meet & greet fun session : We ordered loads of food , had a gala time , spoke about our Local Guide journey and ended the meet-up on a sweet musical note . I shared some Maps merch (given to us at our CM Tokyo meet) and a special gift as a token of тАШThank you !тАЩ from my end and we happily ended our greet session then !
A big thank you to all the attendees : Deepak M. , Ashish , Nikita ,Aditya P., @Shrut19 tai , @Shreeish , Yashoda , Shankar and Sagar. It really meant a lot to me ! Thank you@ajitthite, @RosyKohli , @HinalLad @TravellerG for joining virtually and being a part of our meetup.
P.S : Got any ideas or interested in co-hosting any meet-ups under this series with me which would focus on making Maps more Inclusive? Please PM here on Connect so that we can co-host the meet-up together !
Happy Guiding !
