As April is celebrated as ‘Autism awareness month’ , I recently hosted Autism awareness special webinar and thought of shedding some light on the useful features of Maps that can help us as Local Guides support autistic individuals in our community to enjoy places and experiences just like us all ! Remember the analogy : Just like we have different OS phones for example Apple and Android , does not mean one is less useful than the other ! Both have their own unique features and are useful in their own way ! In a similar way, people or kids with Autism have a different brain wiring and we must understand them and be kind to them and help them lead a better life and treat them just the way we would treat any other individual !
Below are some of the Autism friendly ‘Google Maps’ features :
- Photos , videos and street view : Autistic individuals like predictability so showing photos , videos or simply understanding the vibe or looking at the street view can help them be prepared. Make sure you take apt photos of places showing the vibe of the place , ambience , sitting area and other facilities, etc.
- Reviews: Detailed reviews highlighting the features like places having quiet sitting areas, adjustable light settings , supporting certain dietary needs , Autism special hours in supermarkets , etc. can be really useful for the carers/parents or even autistic adults deciding if they wish to visit a particular place or not. Remember adding even the smallest of details in your reviews can make a big difference to someone !
- Live traffic updated / Popular times (a graph showing which are the peak crowded hours) features : These features help the carers/parents or even autistic adults decide whether the place is worth visiting at that particular time to avoid having sensory issues.
- About /features tab on Maps : This feature really helps understand and plan in advance to ease anxiety related to visiting a place. In the case of restaurants, you can even check the menu in advance and see how the dish looks, providing further predictability to help autistic individuals.
- Finding Autism friendly places / Lists : Just doing a search on Google Maps can help you find places that are Autism friendly ! Also Lists is one of the most useful Maps features I feel to support people in your community by simply creating a list of such places. Here are some Autism helpful lists that I created to show Autism friendly eateries in London and Autism supportive places in London. You can create one too !
We as Local Guides always have an edge over others in better understanding of Maps features. Lets helps others and create #MapsForAll and a community that accepts , is kind and helps everyone around them ! Be kind and happy guiding !
Have you created Autism friendly list or see any business near you that has facilities or Autism friendly shopping hours near you? I would love to know in the comments below !
