I recently had the privilege of attending a workshop that was a game-changer for me, and I owe it to the Local Guide Community and my fellow Local Guides who gave me the right direction in making my contributions more valuable and inclusive 
. Their guidance and support led me to participate in an event organized by Yi Madurai, which turned out to be a powerful reminder that our perspectives can be transformed in an instant, and sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge to shift our mindset 
.
The ice-breaking session was a perfect example of this. We were asked to write our names with a notepad and pen, and then, with a twist, we were asked to write the same using our legs 
. The initial hesitation was palpable, but with a little encouragement, everyone gave it a try, and some even succeeded 
. The faculty then asked how many of us believed that with a little practice, we could master writing with our legs. Almost everyone raised their hands in agreement 
. This simple exercise drove home a profound point: people with disabilities, from physical to cognitive, and individuals from diverse backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender individuals, donโt do different things, they do things differently 
.
The session on โ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ปโ by Kasim Basith, Founder of Weareyourvoice, was truly eye-opening 
. In a short yet impactful presentation, Kasim walked us through the stories of talented individuals with disabilities who have achieved great things . He made us realize that our inability to consider people with disabilities as equals is often a result of our own limited mindset 
. The truth is, people with disabilities have developed remarkable skills and talents, and are more than capable of handling challenging situations 
.
I also had the chance to share how Iโm using the Google Local Guide Program and Google Maps to make it more accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities 
๐ถโโ. I shared how Iโve been adding accessibility features to locations on Google Maps, such as wheelchair ramps 
, accessible restrooms 
, and audio descriptions for visually impaired individuals in ATMsโ:speaking_head:. It was great to see the impact that our contributions can have on making the world a more inclusive place 
.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Local Guide Community and my fellow Local Guides @TusharSuradkar @TravellerG @Kumaarsantosh @Rahul001 @NareshDarji @AjitThite @TravellerG @KetanChhaniyara @Gouri.PS @PrasadVR @Gurukrishnapriya and LG Team India for their continuous support and guidance, which has helped me become a more inclusive and empathetic individual . I would also like to thank the team at Yi Madurai Team for organizing this event and inviting me to be a part of it . This experience has helped me reset my perspective on ability, disability, and diversity, and I am committed to being a more inclusive and empathetic individual, making valuable contributions to the community .
#AccessibilityMatters #InclusionForAll #DisabilityAwareness #DiversityAndInclusion #GoogleLocalGuides #GoogleMaps #AccessibleTourism #WheelchairAccessibility
#AudioDescriptions #YiMadurai
