Local Guide Tushar Suradkar( @TusharSuradkar ) lives inDelhi, India, and is interested in mobility and vision accessibility. He has created a way to make accessibility information in his reviews and photos stand out: by adding a uniform list of available features and stamping the accessibility icon. He also did a series of meet-ups dedicated to improving the accessibility in Gurugram.
We recently caught up with Tushar to learn more about his commitment to helping those with accessibility needs.
Why are you interested in accessibility? Is there a particular area in which you are interested in the most (wheelchair accessibility, vision accessibility, etc.)?
The distinction between low vision, vision loss, and vision impairment is blurry. I have experienced the negative effects of these since early childhood to the extent that I, and many others around me, suffered great losses due to missed opportunities as a result of such disabilities.
Over time, I understood the necessity to make everyday places like hospitals, bus stops, banks, educational institutes, and commercial places more accessible for those who are visually impaired.
Why are you passionate about accessibility information being shown on Google Maps?
Through my acquaintance with Google Maps, I realized that it could be the best platform to reach more people in the shortest time and in the most effective manner to share accessibility information and uncover places that already have accessibility features in plain sight but remain unnoticed.
Looking at the great strides that Google Maps is making in terms of regularly adding new features and functionalities leaves me with little doubt that my investments of time, energy, and attention to detail in adding accessibility information on the map would be [useful] for billions of people in their daily life.
What have you done to help add accessibility information or generate visibility for accessibility information to/for Google Maps?
To add accessibility information effectively and in a manner that is clear and noticeable to those who are looking for it, I made it a practice to fill in a template (below) and add it to every review, where applicable:
Accessibility Features:
Yes/No - Ramp access.
Yes/No - A wheelchair-accessible Entrance.
Yes/No - A wheelchair-accessible Restroom/Toilet.
Yes/No - A wheelchair-accessible Seating.
Yes/No - A wheelchair-accessible Parking.
Yes/No - A wheelchair-accessible Elevator.
Further, if it is a public park, [I add the following]:
Yes/No - A wheelchair-accessible Children Playing Equipment.
Yes/No - A wheelchair-accessible Jogging Track.
Yes/No - A wheelchair-accessible Open Gym Equipment.
Yes/No - Tactile Jogging Tracks for the Vision-Impaired.
Another interesting activity that I actively practice is to stamp a Pass/Fail icon indicating the availability of an accessibility feature when uploading a photo on Google Maps. Such images (with the accessibility icon) stand out.
What area (mobility, vision, hearing, etc.) are you most interested in improving?
I am interested in improving mobility and vision since these are the prevalent accessibility challenges [in my community] compared to other disabilities in my observation.
What’s your favorite Google Maps feature?
I find the lists feature useful since it allows me to organize my favorite places into logical and neat groups, and access them hassle-free when required. The recent enhancement about sharing lists is the icing on the cake.
What do you wish other Local Guides knew about accessibility?
I wish my fellow Local Guides did not [just] look for indicators like accessibility signs at places but instead focused on finding and noting accessibility features, such as: ramps, hand-rails, tactile paths, extra-wide elevator entrances and extra-wide automatic turnstiles, toilets for persons with disabilities, numbers and emergency call buttons in elevators in Braille and at a low height, and audiovisual indications at prominent public places like airports and railway stations.
More importantly, make a note of the availability of personnel who can help in need of assistance. That is because, in India, where I live, there are always helpful people nearby.
What one feature would you like to see on Google Maps?
A feature I would love to see added on Google Maps is the one that I have been advocating in this Idea Exchange post. It is a tool to add the accessibility icon to a photo on-the-fly when uploading to Google Maps.
The tool will render a photo similar to these:
This feature will ease the process of adding the accessibility icon and incentivize Local Guides to upload photos that indicate the availability of an accessibility feature.
What’s your tip for finding your passion through the Local Guides program?
The first step would be to explore all the well-known and also the lesser-known features of both Google Maps and the Local Guides Connect platform. You will be surprised to discover the vast set of tools and opportunities that can help bring out your passion.
Also, if you want to write reviews on Google Maps that stand out from the rest and are truly helpful, try reading the Q&A section for the place before visiting it, and address as many of those in your review [as possible].
Are there any posts on Connect or meet-ups you’ve hosted that help demonstrate your contributions around accessibility to Local Guides, Google Maps and your community?
In the past two months, I conducted 12 accessibility meet-ups, each dedicated [to a specific] place of interest: public parks, hospitals, community buildings, bus stops, banks, market places, public toilets, malls, talking ATMs for people who are visually impaired, breweries and pubs, pizza and burger joints, and metro stations.
Besides these, 15 more meet-ups are scheduled for the following weeks, all related to accessibility assessment and subsequent adding of that information on Google Maps.
Is there anything else we should know about you?
A mechanical engineer by profession and a traveler by heart, I have a passion for photography, blogging, and photo editing (not necessarily in that order). Also, as an expert in computer programming, I like developing virtual reality applications in my spare time.
Are you or someone you know an Accessibility Champion? Tell us how you’re making a positive impact in the comments below or nominate another Local Guide.