This presentation will equip you with a practical toolkit for creating ADA-compliant and accessible digital maps and diagrams. We’ll focus on strategies specifically for state and local government GIS departments, but the techniques are applicable to a variety of spatial data, including utility, trail, zoning, building plans and campus layouts.
Traditionally, making a map accessible meant simply describing its “primary purpose” in text. However, as new research and technology have emerged, a more comprehensive approach is needed to achieve compliance. This session will move beyond outdated methods and introduce you to modern techniques that ensure everyone can access and understand complex spatial information.
Key Topics We’ll Cover:
- Interactive alternate Text and detailed text Descriptions: Learn to create interactive alt text using a tool like Audiom from XR Navigation, and detailed written descriptions, that clearly and systematically communicate information about distance, direction, shape, size, orientation, and the location of all points, polygons, and lines.
- Keyboard Navigation: Discover how to enable full keyboard control for every feature on your digital maps, including drawing and feature selection.
- Color and Contrast: Understand how to meet the required 3:1 contrast ratio for all non-text elements, ensuring your maps are legible for users with low vision and colorblindness.
By the end of the session, you’ll be able to confidently assess your own maps for ADA compliance and implement effective, accessible map design strategies.
Speaker:
- Brandon Biggs, CEO, XR Navigation
Date: October 8, 2025
Materials: