Our story
With his love of flags, countries and languages. And my wish to build something that makes room for that joy.
By Barry, creator of GuessAtlas
Our beginning
My brother was born several months early. He spent the start of his life in hospital. We did not know what would happen. Today he is here, and I am always grateful for that. I thank God for his life.
Autism and difficulties with movement became part of our everyday life. As a family, we had a lot to learn and understand. My parents and I looked for knowledge. We found our own ways to make everyday life work. Not everyone around us always understood. But we learned a lot.
At our school there was a separate building for pupils who needed more support. My brother went there. I saw children being teased because they moved or did things differently.
I began talking to my classmates. I told them about my brother. I tried to explain why we needed to show respect and help one another. I remember that attitudes changed. More children began to help. They found ways to do things together.
That experience has stayed with me. Sometimes change begins when someone understands a little more.
There were also hard times, with hospital visits and times of worry. He practised walking and moving for a long time, patiently and stubbornly, step by step. We even travelled to Poland for training. Every small step forward was a big joy for all of us.
We met people who gave their time, knowledge and warmth. We saw how much the right support can mean. I am grateful for all the help our family has had, in Sweden and elsewhere. I also know that not everyone gets the same support. I do not want to forget that.
His curiosity
When my brother gets interested in something, he wants to learn more. As a child, he was already interested in languages. I remember that he knew so much that he even corrected his teacher.
Since then, countries, flags and languages have kept his interest. I have also spent time in his classroom. There I saw how questions about the Earth and the world can make others curious. It made me think about what I could add myself.
I cannot remove every barrier he faces. But I can listen and learn. And I can use what I know to try to make something good.
I work with technology. I saw his joy when he recognised a flag or a country. That made me want to build a geography game of my own. That was the start of GuessAtlas.
I was born and raised in Sweden. I have Iraqi and Polish roots. Countries and languages are part of my own story too. But it was my brother’s interest that guided this project.
My love for him is what all this is built on. I hope that he enjoys what I build. And I hope that it can be open to other people too.
Why I build
GuessAtlas is a geography game for anyone who is curious. I also want to care especially for people with autism, ADHD and other cognitive disabilities. People’s needs differ. So I need to keep listening, testing and improving.
Clear words, understandable buttons and a next step that is easy to find.
The same action should work the same way. Unnecessary surprises should not disturb the game.
Readable text, the option to reduce motion and an experience that can be adapted.
This is a goal and work that is still going on. It is not a promise that everything already suits everyone. Your experiences are needed to make the game better.
The idea I want to carry forward
I want to keep developing GuessAtlas with more geography games and make it easier for more people to take part. The games will be free, with room to discover and learn at your own pace.
Your ideas and experiences help me move forward. Please tell me what you like and what could work better.
What the app keeps, and for how long.
The maps, flags and code the game is built on.
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