My Journey to Starting EnAccess Maps

When I tell people about EnAccess Maps, most of them are a little confused. How did I even get here?

I was studying psychology and sociology. I have no background in tech. I don’t have a disability. So what led me to become a disability advocate?

Sabrina at AQA's women's network

Most of you who have followed my journey know that I worked as a disability support worker. Honestly, nothing in particular drew me to that job, except that during COVID, I wanted to do something more meaningful with my time than just staying at home.

That’s how I met someone who relied on a power wheelchair to navigate her community. But what connected us most was our shared love of food.

I’m an absolute sucker for Japanese food. She, on the other hand, was on a mission to find the best fish and chip shop in Melbourne.

D'lish Fish at Port Melbourne was one of our favourites

The more time we spent together, the more I realised our experiences of something as simple as eating out were worlds apart.

For me, it was easy: I’d see a restaurant on Instagram, show up, and hope the food was good.

For her, the process was draining. A single meal out meant spending the day before calling or emailing the restaurant, asking if it was accessible, and double-checking transport options. If it was for a special occasion, she might even go a day earlier just to scope it out.

My worst-case scenario was that the food wasn’t great.

Her worst-case scenario?

Showing up and being told she couldn’t go in.

Maybe because there were steps. Or finding there was no accessible bathroom. Or that the tram stop nearby wasn’t actually accessible. Or the doorway was too narrow for her chair.

Many Melbourne trams still have steps at their entrances

What should have been fun and full of curiosity instead became stressful and anxiety-inducing.

That’s when it hit me: the problem wasn’t just whether places were accessible. The bigger issue was the lack of reliable information. And even when some information was available, it was often inconsistent, patchy, or simply wrong.

As I looked deeper, I realised that friends and family had never really thought about accessibility either. The only ones who related even a little were mothers with prams.

The truth is, most people setting up restaurants or venues don’t have disabilities themselves, and many simply don’t know how to cater to those who do.

My friend Freya and I at a Japanese cafe in the city!

That was the beginning of my journey.

A journey to advocate for accessibility to people who may not have thought about it before. To ask them to consider the 1 in 5 people they might not be welcoming into their space. To see the visitor’s experience through their eyes.

And to understand that it all starts with the right information, the kind that gives people the power to make their own informed choices.

That’s the story behind EnAccess Maps. It’s not just about ramps, doors, or bathrooms, it’s about dignity, spontaneity, and joy. My hope is simple, that one day, no one has to second-guess whether they’ll be welcomed when they walk, roll, or arrive at a venue.

Accessibility isn’t just a feature. It’s the foundation of belonging.