Jambo Local Guides Family ,
As part of our advocacy, #OneAccessibility, we will share information about differently able and profile one location with accessible trails. Look out every week for this enlightening post.
The year is now halfway and many would wonder why I share my goal this midyear. Yes, I have been trying to research more about Accessibility and inclusion to know how to go about it, recognize Accessible places, their rules, spread awareness in my community and how I can impact knowledge about its importance. And by gathering some important information from our mentors and experienced Local guides who have been recognized as Accessibility Champions before which you all know, and how they write their reviews on Google maps. I decided to join the One Accessibility volunteers forum so that I can learn more on how to make my mission successful in my community and country at large. Thanks to the One Accessibility team for this opportunity to be a part of you. I’m still a student here and by that, I would not go much deeper than how to create awareness about Accessibility as I take gradual steps, especially at the grass root level in my community.
When I joined the Local Guides forum, I was at my lowest even though I was recovering, I could spend a whole day in bed. By reading the posts of seniors on Connect and their advice and tips, I am proud of myself as a local guide. In some of the posts by Accessibility Champions, I was so touched and felt as if I was part of the people with disabilities because by then I could not get Access to some things like boarding a vehicle, couldn’t walk without support, and also get Access to some things in my own house without help from someone. When l get the picture in my mind of those people with disabilities, who for decades or life now are living in a way that it’s part of them and required help, embrace and even recognition in society. I developed the passion for spreading awareness about Accessibility. After joining this forum I am learning a lot of things and Accessibility awareness being among the top priority. Anywhere I go, before completing my mission there, I must check how Accessible the place is and also share with those around there if they agree to listen.
As part of my 2021 Accessibility Goal, besides contributing Accessible information on Google maps, I want to spread awareness about it first in my community on how it’s very important to embrace and recognize people with different disabilities.
Making them feel loved, and recognized as a person who can make a positive impact in society.
As a Local Guide, I will try to cover maximum places in my area, or where I will visit, and will add all information about 
Accessibility which would be useful for the people with different abilities, and these Contributions will be helpful for them to decide about any place to visit. Right After being a local guide I made a Google Maps list ofAccessible Shopping Malls of Nairobi & Accessible Parks of Nairobi and shared it with many of my friends here.
In my future Connect posts, I will try to share my Accessibility experiences from my country, because a single person cannot do much but can create awareness, and can motivate people to join the campaigns for Accessibility.
In my daily routine, whenever I will meet any business owner, I will try to convince them to provide facilities for the people with different abilities, because it will not only be useful for differently abled persons but also good for their own business, and they will not miss a single customer because of unavailability of Accessibility.
I might not necessarily find those in a wheelchair but recognizing or sharing with anyone with a different disability would be my greatest achievement this year. Let’s say, for example, this person in a wheelchair would need a ramp to enter a place, same as this person with Albinism from my experience need to strain to see clearly and furthest so ramps could be the best option for them, by telling all these people with disabilities that whenever they come across this Accessibility signs it means they are safe to enter the place and recognized.
Also, a deaf person may want something but just because differently-abled and can’t be heard, using a signage like this or any other sign would make them feel recognized. So my advocacy as an Accessibility advocate would focus on first showing love to people with disabilities. Encourage the use of Accessibility symbols and also support them whenever I get the chance.
What is your Accessibility goal 2021? Do you have passion for accessibility or want to learn how to spread awareness? If yes, then don’t hesitate to read more about it on#OneAccessibility posts.
If you have a question, suggestion, or contribution, feel free to comment below. You can read previous roundups article here and check the list of our other articles under “Accessibility Uncovered”
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