Every good story begins with a question.
Ten years ago, Guiaderodas was born out of a concern that was simple, direct and deeply practical: how could a person know whether a place is accessible before even leaving home?
That question did not come from an abstraction. It was built over more than 15 years of lived experience by the founder of Guiaderodas as a wheelchair user, following a car accident in 2001. Throughout that period, moving around the city was marked by uncertainty. Accessible places were the exception, legislation was still in its infancy and accessibility remained invisible to most people. Every outing required trial and error, unnecessary journeys and frustrations that could have been avoided with reliable information.
In that context, no major platform organized accessibility data in a structured, trustworthy way. The available technology was limited, data was scarce and the subject occupied a peripheral place in decisions about the design, operation and management of spaces. There was an evident gap between people’s real needs and the information available.
It was to address that gap that, in 2016, the beta version of an app for assessing and consulting the accessibility of venues was launched.
An idea at the right time
The historical moment helped the proposal gain traction. That year was marked by the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and accessibility began to occupy more space in public debate. The response came quickly and spontaneously. Guiaderodas started to be mentioned in the country’s leading media outlets, helping to consolidate an idea that remains current: when a solution is well conceived, its benefits tend to extend to everyone.
Even so, the real turning point was not the visibility gained, but the engagement generated.
Information built by many hands
From the outset, the app was conceived as a crowdsourcing tool. In simple terms, that means the information was built collectively. After downloading it, anyone could look up the accessibility of a venue and also contribute reviews based on their own experience.
Those reviews were quick, taking around 30 seconds, and followed a guided format. If a user did not know how to answer a question, the system itself indicated what should be observed. This care improved the quality of the responses and, at the same time, helped train the eye of the person doing the assessment.
In practice, the impact was immediate. Before traveling to a restaurant, for example, it was possible to check how that space had been rated in terms of accessibility. A negative review meant the chance to avoid an unnecessary journey. That predictability saves time, reduces costs, avoids frustration and steers choices toward venues committed to offering an adequate experience.
In strategies based on crowdsourcing, volunteer engagement is decisive. For a niche tool, that is one of the greatest challenges over time. Even so, thousands of people began contributing actively, not only sharing information but helping to build a new standard of attention to accessibility.
When the conversation reaches companies
As the initiative gained scale and exposure, companies began seeking more information. The approach stood out because it started from the real experience of using spaces, not only from regulatory requirements. For many organizations, accessibility began to be perceived as a value that was still largely unexplored.
In those conversations, one question became recurrent: how do we go beyond the minimum?
The “minimum”, at that time, corresponded to simply complying with legislation, without any consistent concern for the usability of spaces. Yet accessibility offers comfort, safety and autonomy for everyone. When well implemented, it becomes a significant differentiator in hospitality and in business.
It was from that shift in perspective that the Guiaderodas Certification emerged. Its purpose was clearly defined: to recognize good practice, encourage organizational commitment and stimulate a continuous process of improvement.
In the early years, the proposal met with some surprise. Going beyond the minimum was still seen by some as excess. The first clients took the risk of betting on something that was still being built, and played a decisive role in consolidating the methodology.
Over time, accessibility came to be treated more strategically. Investments were made in technology, processes and governance. The conversation matured. The questions became better informed, the decisions more responsible and the understanding broader.
Gui of Guiaderodas
The question that gave rise to all of this, however, kept evolving.
The app that marked the beginning of the journey fulfilled its role. The evolution of artificial intelligence, integration with different databases and the widespread adoption of WhatsApp opened up space for a new answer.
That is how Gui came about: an assistant that requires no download, uses WhatsApp’s own accessibility features and aggregates information from multiple sources. In addition to Guiaderodas reviews, Gui brings together data from other databases and, wherever possible, incorporates user reviews. The result is a more robust, more convenient tool, integrated into everyday life.
Where Guiaderodas stands today
Today, the Guiaderodas Certification is present in many of the country’s largest companies and commercial buildings. More than a seal, it represents a continuous process of learning, evolution and commitment to the quality of spaces.
Looking back, what stands out is a trajectory built with consistency. Many doors were opened along the way, and people, companies and partners contributed, and continue to contribute, to the building of this story.
There is still a great deal to be done. Nevertheless, the current landscape is noticeably different.
Collective awareness of accessibility is growing steadily. Part of that progress is related to rising life expectancy and to closer contact with older people, who may have limitations of mobility, vision or hearing even without a formally recognized disability. Added to this is a more attentive consumer, who tends to value companies committed to positive impacts on society.
From the standpoint of public policy, the advances are also evident. Technical references, legislation and mechanisms for oversight and enforcement have all expanded. The environment has become more conducive to better-informed and more responsible decisions.
The journey continues. With more repertoire, more responsibility and the conviction that it was worth turning a simple question into a new way of thinking about accessibility.
Make accessibility a decision, not a detail
Ten years of learning are condensed into a single methodology.
The Guiaderodas Certification goes beyond a technical checklist. Its methodology combines a detailed assessment of the physical space, the lived experience of people with disabilities, staff training for an accessible attitude and a leadership commitment to continuous improvement.
Learn about the Guiaderodas Certification →
