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Thread: query on the alternative map widget

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From: suman damera
Date: Wed, Aug 25 2021 7:43AM
Subject: query on the alternative map widget
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hi all,
I have a query on the map widget. Here is the explanation
we have a search results page with the facets(such as country, state, city,
category, and so on..) in the left side and map widget in the right side.
whatever we have in the facets, same present in the map as well. for
example; we have india country checkbox in the facet and when user selects
India and corresponding states jobs list would be updated in the left side
facets itself and so on.. same representation is present in the map as well
like when user selects india pin point then corresponding states jobs list
are shown as pins and so on.. to put simpler, whatever is there on the map,
we have same in the facets and vice-versa. in this case, can we hide map
completely from the accessibility? or is there anything I am missing here?

Thank you.

From: glen walker
Date: Wed, Aug 25 2021 1:03PM
Subject: Re: query on the alternative map widget
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Maps are considered "non-text content" so WCAG 1.1.1 applies, which says
you must have "a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose". It
sounds like you have the facets and the map tied to each other, which is
good, and the facets might be one form of "text alternative" for the map,
but it also sounds like the map shows the results. Are those results
available as a text outside the map? Such as in a table of results?

And if the map shows results, if you zoom in or out or pan the map, do the
results update? If so, you'd need an accessible way to "zoom in or out" to
get similar results. It doesn't necessarily have to be from the map, but
the same functionality must exist that is accessible.

From: David Engebretson Jr.
Date: Wed, Aug 25 2021 1:16PM
Subject: Re: query on the alternative map widget
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This brings up an interesting question for me and the university I work at: Are there WCAG compliant maps and/or map widgets that can be implemented in Drupal, WordPress, and static HTML sites?

Our current mapping solutions for desktop machines use Google Maps and ESRI derived maps. My screen readers see the maps as arrays of graphics and I don't see text alternatives that provide the map data with equity to my sighted peers.

I see lots of interesting research happening but I'm struggling to find a complete solution to meet 1.1.1 with Google Maps and ESRI based maps in the desktop sphere.

Thanks for your thoughts and wisdom!
David


From: Wee, Kim (MNIT)
Date: Wed, Aug 25 2021 1:48PM
Subject: Re: query on the alternative map widget
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Here, at the State of Minnesota, we have a Maps Accessibility Community of Practice that has produced some awesome materials on Map Accessibility. The information is posted on the MNIT (Minnesota IT Services) Accessibility website and addresses Map Design, Static Maps and Interactive Web Maps. Our work focuses more on ESRI services and may help with your solutions at the university.

Website address: https://mn.gov/mnit/about-mnit/accessibility/maps/

Kim Wee, CPWA, DHS Certified Trusted Tester v5
Webmaster and Digital Accessibility Coordinator | Operations Team
Minnesota IT Services | Partnering with Education
1500 Highway 36
Roseville, MN 55113
O: 651-582-8548
Information Technology for Minnesota Government | mn.gov/mnit




From: David Engebretson Jr.
Date: Wed, Aug 25 2021 1:57PM
Subject: Re: query on the alternative map widget
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Thanks for the link! I'll dig into it and see what I can find that may be relevant for our map coordinator on campus.

Also, FYI, I've been following the Google Maps bug regarding making their desktop interface more accessible for the past few years. I noticed, a couple of months ago, that Google moved it up to a priority 1 bug. Might be good news for the future of accessible Google maps...

Your hard work is much appreciated!
David


From: Brandon Keith Biggs
Date: Wed, Aug 25 2021 2:06PM
Subject: Re: query on the alternative map widget
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Hello,
Representing geographic information to convey spatial relationships
non-visually is extremely difficult, and there is no comercial tool out
there to do this yet.
I have been building a web map plugin that displays geographic map data
visually, in audio, and textually for the last 4 years, and it's starting
to become slightly usable.
Please send me an email if you would like to talk more.
The current methods are: to show data in either a table, alt-text, by doing
an address search and show the nearest locations to someone, or by
providing turn-by-turn directions to a location.
These are the state of the art methods currently.
Thank you,

Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>;


On Wed, Aug 25, 2021 at 12:48 PM Wee, Kim (MNIT) < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
wrote:

> Here, at the State of Minnesota, we have a Maps Accessibility Community of
> Practice that has produced some awesome materials on Map Accessibility. The
> information is posted on the MNIT (Minnesota IT Services) Accessibility
> website and addresses Map Design, Static Maps and Interactive Web Maps. Our
> work focuses more on ESRI services and may help with your solutions at the
> university.
>
> Website address: https://mn.gov/mnit/about-mnit/accessibility/maps/
>
> Kim Wee, CPWA, DHS Certified Trusted Tester v5
> Webmaster and Digital Accessibility Coordinator | Operations Team
> Minnesota IT Services | Partnering with Education
> 1500 Highway 36
> Roseville, MN 55113
> O: 651-582-8548
> Information Technology for Minnesota Government | mn.gov/mnit
>
>
>
>
>

From: David Engebretson Jr.
Date: Wed, Aug 25 2021 4:53PM
Subject: Re: query on the alternative map widget
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Hi Brandon,

Pretty funny on your contact page that you ask, "Are you a banana?" but what is the appropriate answer to submit the contact form?

I submitted the form either way. I guess we'll see what happens...

Thanks,
David


From: suman damera
Date: Wed, Aug 25 2021 9:17PM
Subject: Re: query on the alternative map widget
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Hi Glen and all,
here are my answers


Maps are considered "non-text content" so WCAG 1.1.1 applies, which says

> you must have "a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose". It
> sounds like you have the facets and the map tied to each other, which is
> good, and the facets might be one form of "text alternative" for the map,
> but it also sounds like the map shows the results. Are those results
> available as a text outside the map? Such as in a table of results?
>

<<yes, those results available in the form of text>>

> And if the map shows results, if you zoom in or out or pan the map, do the
> results update? If so, you'd need an accessible way to "zoom in or out" to
> get similar results. It doesn't necessarily have to be from the map, but
> the same functionality must exist that is accessible.
>

<<there is alternative to achieve the same in the facets itself>>

> > > >