Impact on users
The following is an overview of common map accessibility errors and the impact on users with a disability.
- Maps presented without a long description
- People who are blind or vision-impaired will not be able to access or perceive the information conveyed in the map.
- Maps presented without an ALT attribute
- When an image-based map is presented without an ALT attribute it will prevent a person who is blind or low-vision from having the text alternative read aloud using synthesized speech.
- Maps that are not keyboard accessible
- People with blindness, neuromuscular impairments or other physical disabilities will be unable to navigate the map content.
- Maps without an HTML version of any JavaScript features of the map
- People who are blind or vision-impaired will not be able to access or perceive the information conveyed in the map.
- Map that use low contrast colours to provide information
- Foreground and background colours that are similar or of low contrast can make maps unreadable to some users with colour-blindness.
- Maps that use colour to differentiate important parts of the map
- People who are blind, colour-blind or low-vision will not be able to perceive the information conveyed by the colour differences.
- Maps that do not allow users to increase the size of the map and text
- People with low-vision will be unable to zoom in on areas of the map, adjust the presentation of text, including the legend, to suit their needs and increase readability e.g. changing the font size, foreground and background color, font family, line spacing or alignment.