How Local Guides can help millions in September

[TraciC]

Caption: Illustration of people with luggage, in a wheelchair, walking with a cane, running, and walking,.

On a trip to London last year, I noticed that while many pubs had wheelchair-accessible entrances, nearly all had restrooms that were up or down a flight of stairs. It struck me: How awful would it be to not have access to a restroom after having a pint?

For anyone with mobility needs, exploring the world means encountering challenges like this. That’s why Google Maps shows accessibility information – so people can find out whether a place they’re going to visit has features like elevators, stair-free entrances, and doorways wide enough for a wheelchair.

This information is powerful, and it helps all kinds of people. Consider those who use walkers or strollers, or the friends and families of anyone with mobility needs.

People have added wheelchair-accessibility details to millions of places. But we can all make a bigger impact. Today, we’re inviting Local Guides to commit to sharing accessibility knowledge on Google Maps. If every Local Guide answers three questions every day for two weeks, we’ll have nearly two billion answers to help everyone navigate the world.

Join me

I’m committing to answering at least five questions each day about places I’ve visited. I’m also going to explore more and take note of the world around me. Instead of rushing for the train to get to work, I’m going to walk back a stop to see how many places I pass have wheelchair-accessible entrances. On an upcoming weekend, I’m going to host a meet-up with my friends to explore new parts of Brooklyn, adding accessibility information as we go.

How to answer wheelchair accessibility question on Google Maps

• Go to “Your contributions” on your phone.
• Tap “Answer questions about a place” (Don’t see it? Make sure Location History is turned on.)
• Answer as many accessibility questions as you can (use this guide for reference).
• You may see other questions as well, until you move on to the next place.
• If you have an Android device, you can find places near you that are missing this info and edit these attributes by checking the facts.

 Caption: Screenshots of the five wheelchair accessibility questions you may be prompted to answer in Google Maps, with one displayed on a device.

Want to do more?

• Join a meet-up, or host one (if you’re a Local Guide Level 3 or higher) to answer accessibility questions with others. Explore a neighborhood, adding info as you go.
• When writing a review, point out if a place is set up well for people with mobility issues.
• When taking photos of a place, show details that matter most to people who use wheelchairs like the entrance, restroom, and seating.

I hope you’ll join me now and going forward to make the world easier for everyone to navigate. Tell us what you’re doing in a comment and on social with #LocalGuides and #a11y. We can’t wait to see how you make your mark!

[sandy3]

Great Initiative @TraciC, Yes I answers as much questions our answers make difference in wo rld I think and help others we all should do 

[MohammadGM]

Great

[PF5]

Great Idea and this will be nice because wheel chair accessories will know how a place in before going there.

Q: how can I know places that have accessories questions.

[Nitinyadav]

Hi @TraciC it's a great initiative for the local guides to help disabled person for answering the question's about wheelchair accessible entrance.

[Ronthomas]

 @TraciC Great initiative. Just a thought, but how about temporarily increasing points earned for this info. Could definitely help incentivize Local Guides and, I'd imagine, increase the amount of info entered in a short period. Also, wouldn't really cost Google anything (besides time and labor I guess). 

[Halo]

Great initiative!

[Nicole1]

Creo que en muchos lugares hay ese tipo de problemas, si bien la mayoría cumple con los requisitos, para incluir a las personas con alguna discapacidad, nos caemos en dar el el servicio completo. 

Por eso me sumo a las contribuciones de ayudar respondiendo a las preguntas que surgan en todo lugar y momento. 

[MediumToast]

I think there's a typo in the PDF guide? The second last sentence under the "Is there a wheelchair-accessible entrance?"  heading.

[RtnArulPrakasamT]

Sure we are ready @TraciC

[Gvipin]

It's Great,

Thanks for Guidance,I am always answer the questions regarding places.

We are here to help peoples and improve Google Maps

Thanks & Regards

Vipin K Gupta

[BunghengT]

Great idea. Will definitely join this program. 

[CherGarita]

This is so simple for most of us, but for the people who need this info, the impact is profound.

A loved one requires her portable oxygen machine with her at all times. It's like a suitcase on wheels that we bring everywhere. We really appreciate ramps and automatic doors, but there have been times when I cannot find an outlet to plug her oxygen machine into if the battery runs low. It's not often, but it's a big deal if it happens. I try to call restaurants before arriving to ask if they have an outlet we could use (if we stayed longer than expected) but someday I would appreciate finding that info on here, too. Most people would never think about this need, but it's crucial for those of us that do. 

[JesstheFox]

Definitely commiting to this! As someone who has suffered from mobility issues in the past, I really appreciate this campaign. Too many businesses try to boast about their accessibility while they still have problem areas like the ones you discussed. Thank you for taking the initiative to help better inform people with mobility issues @TraciC!

[ShivaBoss]

Good job Best of luck 

[Bharath18]

Consider it done..

[NorCalFresh]

This is great. I am new to this an saw your posting. I'm onbord with this inecitive to help. I will try to atleast do #5 a day.

[JonasKL]

@TraciC It is great that I have been sharing alot of information on maps lately. Mostly answering questions about places around me. I love this @TraciC.

[Anonymous]

Appreciated the initiative taken by Google I would be happy to answer as much questions I get!!!😊

[JGhosh007]

Thanks for sharing this great information 

[Pantou-local]

Thanks @TraciC. It's a great start on a loooong journey towards access4all.  Now you've begun there will be NO STOPPING. The task is endless! But that's OK!
I've posted your message to our FB community FB accessibletourism and encouraging our members and supporters to join in. Very excited to see how we can ALL use Google technology to make everyday life and tourism accessible for everyone.
Visit our accessible tourism directory Pantou - The European Accessible Tourism Directory (means "everywhere" in Greek) to find accessible places to go and things to do. 

[ZackeyREYAL]

Great initiative @TraciC 

I have brought up this question before in Local Guides Forum.

Here is my suggestion:

It would be great if Maps could provide the feature/option to add roads, pavements, railway stations etc that are "visually impaired friendly" such as Tactile paving (also called truncated domes, detectable warnings, Tactile Ground Surface Indicators, detectable warning surfaces).  

Once added/verified and live - the device of the such special ability person could read out a message where necessary or relevant based on user settings on the device.

(Photo credit: self)

[小笠原流海]

行きたいと思った場所の景色がすぐ共感できるように,写真を出来るだけ多くアップしています。

[Sunny]

I'd like to say yes, but it's going to be a firm 'no' from me.

The initiative is good and the care for those less mobile is honourable.

I just don't feel that care is reciprocated back to the contributors and those dedicated to making Maps better and what it is today. Without an incentive, how would it be reasonable to ask more of anyone?

[HeyJoe]

Thank you @TraciC. Great initiative. I answer different questions everyday. 

All the best fellow local guides. Lets make a Google map as best and very helpful application guide for explorers. 

[NewtonP]

@TraciC thank you! It's a good idea for disability person. We are trying our best........

[Justine2807]

Hi @TraciC

Thank you for caring and sharing to help us help out, it takes just a moment to make a difference! Letting others know about how to join +Google Local Guides . and help make changes that make I.T easier for so many answer questions on +Google Maps

Shine on! 

Cheers

@Justine2807

[PaulPavlinovich]

@Sunny the reward is that you get to use features from Maps that others have contributed. Stop thinking so much about yourself my friend. The world is bigger than any one of us.

[AnaCristinaN]

This is amazing, thank you for sharing Traci!

[Mhafuz518]

This is great initative taken by google. I hope its helps people all over globe. Also google can check wheelchare access on public transport.!!😃

[nunoprospero]

Great initiative. Some friends have asked me - @TraciC , is there an easy way to access these questions in the Contributions?

They see lots of "commercial" questions but their focus is only on the accessibility topic.

[MdEmranulHoque]

Wow it's great initiative @TraciC thanks. I must do actual answer for wheelchair accessible. 

[Tho]

rất bổ ích cho xã hội.

[AdmasuN]

Wow.... Local Guides are helping millions in September!

Local Guides in many parts of the world are contributing to help millions of people who need wheelchairs by answering wheelchair accessibility question on Google Maps. But local guides in some regions like mine, are not given the opportunity to do so. This is because the location history feature not available in our regions, i hope Google will bring all features to all parts of the world in the near future.

[LuisRG]

Hi @AdmasuN. You can still add that information without the history location. It's not a mandatory feature to do so 🙂

[Mrs_Scarlett]

As someone who is required to rely on a wheelchair for mobility, I thank you both, Google & @TraciC, for having the availability of this particular subject.
I have rated and reviewed just a couple of places in the past, so I haven't been really active in this. I received an email sharing information about this initiative, and I began clicking away to find where I could join.
I experience both pleasures and disappointments when I travel. Sadly, the disappointments in the past outweigh the two, some even ruining events that I was most excited for. After every heartbreak, I find myself asking how I can change what needs to be. So, I applaud you for helping to keep others informed of what to expect before they arrive.

[max2]

Great initiative, @TraciC! It's a pity that Google Maps doesn't offer a separate category for accessibility when checking facts. I only see Translation, Name, Existence, Phone, Website, Address, Hours.

[Mojo]

Wheel chair questions..received your e.mail wanting me to answer questions so I went to the link and it said error, my mum uses a wheelchair so would be able to comment but could you help me do that please?

[TraciC]

Hi everyone! Glad to see everyone is as pumped as I am! 

@MediumToast If you're curious about this line, "If a place does not have an entrance, answer yes" our intention is to encourage you to answer yes if you visit a place that allows anyone to take advantage of its main offering even if it doesn't have an entrance, such as a permanent newstand or a walk/roll-up juice stand. 

@ZackeyREYAL. Thanks for sharing that piece of feedback. May I suggest sharing that on the "Feedback & Feature Requests" board so that others can easily find the topic and weigh in with their own feedback? We'd be happy to share that with the team but I also always recommend sharing Google Maps feedback directly in the app or on desktop, too.

@Mrs_Scarlett Thanks for taking the time to stop by Connect to share your story. I hope that with this information, we can reduce those disappointments and that you see your fellow Local Guides weighing in here accepting the challenge. 🙂 

@max2 You're correct that there currently isn't an accessibility filter for "check the facts," however, if you have an Android device, there is a filter for uncover missing info also known as missions. I hope this helps to make your quest to add information a bit easier (and fun)! 

[deepakjhic]

Hello @Mojo,

I'm happy that you want to answer those questions. 

I recommend you to plz open map app and click on three lines at top left corner,

find your contribution, 

Click on uncover missing info, 

You'll find what you want. 

Thanks. 

[TraciC]

@Anonymous Thank you for your service! 

@DibyayanC That certainly is an accomplishment, however, I encourage you to keep exploring and visiting Your contributions to see if new questions pop up for you in the coming days/weeks as the team is always hard at work at adding new questions. There are also other ways to help add this information, like adding photos of those details and more, as shared above. 

@FazeelUsmani I like your approach of adding photos and definitely encourage others to do that. We all have different needs for sure. The great thing about this information is it benefits the people who need it most and others, too, like those using strollers or crutches and so much more.

@Lukechristian 😄 We're here to help one another!

[PrakharSahu]

Already doing thing from a long time.

[deepakjhic]

Hey I think you can help them through uncover missing info option in map app. 

@AdmasuN

[TraciC]

Hi @Mojo. Sorry to hear you had trouble. Are you able to share more information as to what link you were clicking on and what device you were using? 

If you visit Your contributions in the Google Maps app, you should be able to see "Answer questions." If you have an Android device, you can also uncover missing info under your contributions, too, with the accessibility information by using this link.

I'll be merging your post with the main post that has more details for adding accessibility information.  

[SebelahKanan]

Maaf,  saya berkomentar dalam bahasa indonesia, 

Ini sangat membantu sekali karena informasi  seperti ini masih sangat di butuhkan oleh banyak orang khususnya yang selalu membawa saudara dengan bantuan kursi roda. 

Saya baru bergabung di localguide dan saya adalah pemilik Dondom Merch Clothing Store yang ada di Yogyakarta Indonesia. 

Salam kenal buat kalian semua

Terima Kasih

[Sandra1961]

 Salam kenal dari Bali @SebelahKanan

[max2]

Ah, right - that's where it is! "Uncover missing info" has more categories, and Accessibility is one of them. Thank you, @TraciC.

[trainman261]

I thought I'd participate - I mean why not, if I'm adding information anyway - the only problem was I kept on getting questions about if a store has a wheelchair accessible lift... Here's the thing: the stores don't have wheelchair accessible lifts, because they don't need them - but my only options were yes and no. "No" would technically be the correct answer, but it makes the stores look like they're not accessible when they are - everything is on the ground floor, there are no stairs anywhere (not even ramps). This could definitely use some tweaking in order to avoid misunderstandings.

[jeffjalonso28]

 This is a really great idea. i really liked what you said about your shock visiting london last year... well i need to say that for me it was also, i'm from Colombian, i visited England in the winter of 2015 it was a really really completelly shock, it has been the first time i went out of my country and going there it was like being in another world, i can not explain how big this shock was in my life...

is easy to see how in that country they think about the customers and the people everywhere, i mean in the easy that this is being for people to move and do things....

taking a bus was a big big shock... to see the hidraulic sistem of these buses where the people with mobility issues can get inside very easy and safe.

completelly different that the publis transport sistem of my country especially in my city where we dont have even new buses... they are old and very unconfortable...

i'd like to join and share information from where i am in my country to try and help people!!

[NirajBhusal]

Great initiative @TraciC Ma'am. We always try to make Google Maps accurate and spam free. We will celebrate this month and give our 100% with genuine answers as always. 

Thanks, Greetings from Nepal Local Guides !!

[liffer]

Just confirming the guidance on accessible entrances.

If the door is wide enough and doesn't require steps to get to/through, but doesn't have an automatic opening button/switch, we should still report Yes, it's accessible?

Thanks,