Travel is not easy – especially with the added difficulties of using a wheelchair or a stroller because of mobility problems. Google maps accessibility feature is here to help make travelling a little bit easier.
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What is Google Maps accessibility feature?
If you’ve landed here from my Instagram reel, you might not know exactly what Google Maps accessibility feature is or what it can do for you… Google Maps offers several accessibility features to assist users with disabilities. These include:
- Accessible Routes: When using public transit directions, Google Maps highlights wheelchair-accessible routes, stations, and stops.
- Voice Navigation: For visually impaired users, detailed voice-guided navigation helps with walking directions.
- Street View Accessibility: Provides a 360-degree view of locations, helping users assess accessibility features like ramps and entrances.
- Accessibility Labels: Businesses and public places can be labelled as wheelchair accessible, with details about entrances, seating, restrooms, and parking.
These features make it easier for individuals with mobility challenges to navigate and plan their journeys.
How To Set Up Google Maps Accessibility Feature
- Tap your profile picture inside the Google Maps app. In the picture to the right, my profile picture is in the top right of the screen within the white block for the search bar.
2. Once you tap your profile picture, a menu will open up that looks like the picture to the right. There are multiple options on here, but the one you want to tap is ‘Settings’ near the bottom with the cog icon beside it.
I’ve chopped the top of the picture to take out my personal email address so don’t worry if you see some stuff on your screen that you can’t see in my screenshot to the right. I am just doing it to protect my personal information.
3. Tapping ‘Settings’ will open up another menu within this menu. It will show you multiple types of settings that you can edit. The one you want to edit is the ‘Accessibility Settings’ which is second from the bottom.
Again, I have cropped the image to the right just to make the article run more smoothly. You will see some things that I have cut out from the top.
4. Your next screen will look like the image to the right. You are now inside the accessibility settings menu and there is only one option for you – to turn on accessible places or leave it off.
What you need to do is slide the slider over from the left to the right to turn this setting to on.
That is is! You now have accessible places turned on which means that Google Maps will route you to places via the more accessible access option. This means you will be taken to elevators rather than escalators, ramps instead of stairs and you’ll also be shown places that have other accessibility pros like wider doorways, parking, disabled toilets and wider entrances.
I really hope this helps!
You may also find these articles helpful:
- Airport and airline codes and what they stand for.
- What is PRM assist?
- How to book Ryanair special assistance
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