On July 7, 2024, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) (Opens a new tab), passed a “resolution” asking all federal agencies, and universities/colleges to use inclusive digital maps (Opens a new tab). These inclusive digital maps need to allow both accessible viewing and creation. The NFB is the largest blindness and low-vision consumer organization in the world. Here’s what this resolution means:
1. Blind and Low-Vision People Want Accessible Digital Maps
There are over 50,000 blind and low vision people in the NFB (Opens in a new tab). These resolutions are the combined voice of the organization. This is like 50,000 blind and low vision people emailing your organization saying: “We want inclusive digital maps!” It’s not just one person; it’s the entire NFB saying they want them as well. Map accessibility is not a low-priority issue. Over 50,000 people are saying they want map accessibility in the next three years. All maps from federal agencies and universities/colleges need to be accessible.
2. Simple Alternatives Are Not Enough
Digital accessibility laws need text that provides the “equivalent purpose” to what is shown visually (Opens in a new tab). This is clearly spelled out in the resolution. The map needs to allow the understanding and creation of: “survey knowledge”. Survey knowledge includes: “distance, direction, orientation, shape, size, and the overall layout of a map.” Making an alternative that shows the “primary purpose” of the map is no longer acceptable. A map needs to show symbolic spatial relationships, as discussed in this post.
3. Low-Vision Users Are Tired of Inaccessible Visual Maps
Even if a low-vision user can see the map, it’s probably not accessible. This Report of the top 11 digital map libraries (Opens in a new tab) shows that the visual experience of these map viewers is horrible! Low-vision users want the option for: “adjusting contrast, using patterns instead of colors, adjusting feature border width, adjusting spacing, using the map as it’s zoomed in 200 percent, using the map with the keyboard, and having a clear visible focus.”
4. Blind and Low-Vision Users Want to Be Map Creators, Not Just Consumers
The resolution states, “blind, deafblind, and low-vision users have the right not only to fully consume spatial information from digital maps, but have the right to be creators, designers, and editors of digital maps.” This means Geographic Information System (GIS) tools need to be accessible across the entire map creation and viewing process. Picture a deafblind person going into an introduction meteorology course. In this course, they need to create many maps and all they have is alt-text and maps made out of wiki sticks! This person is not going to choose meteorology as their major. Not having accessible maps is keeping people from majoring in fields that use maps.
5. This Is a Call to Clarify Web Accessibility Guidance in the U.S.
The U.S. Access Board, Office of Civil Rights, and General Service Administration are all agencies that clarify what accessible digital content is. The NFB is urging them to adopt the framework of “distance, direction, orientation, shape, size, and the overall layout of a map” when evaluating digital maps for non-visual accessibility. Blind users want to use the map the same as everyone else. Blind people want maps for things like positioning Wi-Fi hotspots, analyzing ocean currents in the Atlantic, or finding the bathroom that’s along the route between two classes. These agencies need to say what “equivalent purpose” is for maps.
There’s No Excuse
One excuse places with maps may say is, “It’s impossible to make accessible map viewers and editors.” Actually, Audiom from XR Navigation (Opens in a new tab) meets all these requirements and exceeds them. Not only does Audiom have a visual experience, but it has a non-visual experience that allows for both viewing and creating digital maps using the same data as what the visual map is rendering. Please reach out to chat about how you can comply with this resolution (Opens in a new tab).
