Lived Experience: What Sociability Means to Me

At Sociability, we believe that the most accurate information comes from the people who navigate the world every day. While our technical tools are powerful, they are nothing without the community that uses them. We love to hear from our users and meet up throughout the year on our mapping days.

One of our dedicated supporters, Laura Drummond, joined our mapping days in the South of England in 2023. Below, Laura shares her lived experience of the app and what it feels like to be part of our growing community.

What is the sociability App?

Do you ever want to go out to a venue such as a cafe, restaurant, or entertainment venue but you are nervous because you have no idea what it's going to be like when you get there as far as accessibility goes? Well, Sociability can make that process easier for you. 

These venues are mapped primarily by disabled people, so it is seen through our eyes and include the elements of a venue that you are interested in. It doesn’t just include the things that as a wheelchair user you need to know. It includes tags for people who have mobility-related access needs, as well as encompassing those with hearing, visual, and sensory access needs too. Knowing what to expect before you arrive at a venue is really helpful.

As well as Sociability having a team of trained mappers based in the capital, you can also map venues yourself, anywhere in the world! You can map the indoor and outdoor areas of a venue, as well as any lifts or upstairs spaces including the toilets and other essential areas. It is an easy user interface, and you get the hang of it after a few goes! It doesn't take much time to map a venue and just think of the person who wants to go where you have been but is anxious about what the facilities are like; only to find that all the information is there for them!

Sociability Community

Not only that, but you can also be a part of the Sociability Community either online through their social media accounts or join up with fellow disabled people on one of the mapping days! Mapping days take place all across the country and you can find out the details of them by following Sociability’s Instagram page or checking out their mapping days calendar here. Nothing shocks most non-disabled people more than seeing 20 disabled turn up at a pub! Believe me when I say that is an awesome feeling! To be the majority for once. Everyone is so friendly and just gets it, you don’t need to explain anything, and it can be so refreshing.

The mapping days are a really lovely way to break yourself in gently with knowledgeable people around you to ensure you are on the right track.So why not download the Sociability App and follow all the socials to hear the latest news about the app and mapping days? You can also sign up for the e-newsletters to keep up to date if you are
not on social media. There is also some gamification of the app when you can achieve levels the more that you map! It’s such a fun and easy thing to do so start today and join this fabulous community.

Why Lived Experience is Our Superpower

As Laura beautifully points out, there is a massive difference between a venue saying they are "accessible" and a disabled person verifying it through their own lived experience. When a venue is mapped by someone who actually uses the facilities, the detailed access information on the Sociability app becomes much more than just a list of dimensions. They become a narrative of how a person actually moves through the space.

The Importance of Being the "Majority"

Laura mentions the powerful feeling of being the majority for once. This is a core part of why our mapping days are so successful. For many disabled people, visiting a public venue can feel like a solo mission. By gathering twenty or thirty people together, we can show them how to use the Sociability app and map their local community to share access information with more disabled people.

This visibility is a form of advocacy. When a business sees a large group of disabled customers enjoying their space, they realise the immense social and economic value of providing detailed access information. It encourages them to take their accessibility more seriously and to see it as a standard part of their customer service.

How to Get Started with Mapping

If Laura's story has inspired you, there is no better time to start. You do not need to wait for an official mapping day to contribute your own lived experience.

1. Download the App: The Sociability app is free and available on both iOS and Android.

2. Visit Your Favourite Spots: The next time you are at a café or a bar, take a few minutes to snap some photos and upload them.

3. Join a Mapping Day: Check our calendar and come along to our next event. It is a fantastic way to meet the team and connect with other people who "just get it."

FAQ: Your Role in the Sociability Community

1. What if I am not a wheelchair user?

Accessibility is for everyone. As Laura mentioned, our app includes tags for visual, hearing, and sensory needs. Your lived experience is valuable regardless of the type of access needs you have. We want to know about the lighting, the noise levels, and the clarity of signage just as much as we want to know about ramps.

2. Is the mapping process complicated?

Not at all. The Sociability app mapping process uses a simple, prompt-based interface. You just upload photos of the entrance, seating, toilets and we'll do the rest.

Joining the Movement for Inclusion

At Sociability, we are more than just a tech company. We are a community of advocates, mappers, and friends who are tired of "access fails" and ready for a more inclusive world. By sharing your lived experience, you are helping us build a future where everyone can go out with confidence.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this post.

Planning a trip? Download the Sociability app to find accessible cafés, bars, and restaurants that meet your specific needs in seconds. You can also join our community and follow us on Instagram for the latest inclusive spots!

To take your advocacy further, sign up for our free newsletter, Beyond Compliance. We provide practical tips to help you champion accessibility in your workplace and everyday life. We look forward to seeing you there!