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External embedded map - influence on rating

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From: Fischer, Johannes
Date: Jan 5, 2019 5:16AM

Hi,

A question to everyone who tests websites:
On contact sites in the web you often find an embedded map of an external map service. It's not always accessible and I am wondering what's the influence on the rating?

My idea: If the website owner puts an external content (map, embedded video, virtual 3D tour etc.) on his website, he is generally responsible for its accessibility.

A map cannot be 100% accessible. Color changes between streets, areas of houses, parks etc. with a contrast of 3:1 at each change is difficult to reach. As well you cannot describe a 2D area perfectly to someone not able to see. But for example at least available buttons, dialogs etc. should be keyboard-accessible and their graphic symbols need alternative text. It should be accessible as possible.

If the website owner does a lot to offer an alternative by a very detailed description of how to get there, perhaps you can see the map just like a media alternative for the text. So in some success criteria you could rate it as passed because of the text even if the map is not that accessible.
But if next to the map is just an address, the user needs the map to plan his journey. Then the map is not an alternative for the text and you have to be more strictly in rating.

Do you agree on my idea or are there different thoughts?

Thanks,
Johannes


Johannes Fischer
BIKOSAX - IT Accessibility Service in Saxony
Accessible Websites - Test, Consulting, Training
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