Google Enhances Accessibility Information
Google is making it easier to find out if places in the community are accessible to people with disabilities, all with the touch of a button.
The company said recently that it is expanding a feature called “Accessible Places,” which allows Google Maps users to see if businesses are wheelchair accessible and free of stairs.
Google originally rolled out Accessible Places in 2020 in the U.S., Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom, but now says the option is available globally and includes details on more than 40 million locations.
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To view Accessible Places, users must turn on the appropriate option within “accessibility settings” for the Google Maps app. Once enabled, a wheelchair icon will show on the business profile of locations with accessible entrances. The icon will have a strike-through to indicate an inaccessible entrance.
Users can also see if a location has accessible seating, restrooms and parking, Google said.
The company indicated that it has collected over a billion accessibility updates from business owners and the Google Maps community. Individual users can contribute information to a business profile by clicking on “about,” selecting “edit features” and tapping “accessibility features.”
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