Many of our maps and mapping processes do not consider nor involve persons with disabilities. People with visual impairment, hard of hearing and mobility challenges also need these tools to live a normal life. In cartography, accessibility can be improved by making tactile maps and inclusive digital maps which are significantly helpful for persons with disabilities.
Accessibility is the word used to describe whether a place, service or product can be used by people of all abilities and disabilities. For example, a train or website is accessible if all people, including non-disabled, disabled and elderly people can use it. People with disabilities (PwDs) face challenges in moving around seamlessly due to barriers created by the society. Accessibility translates to the removal of barriers in accessing places, products and services. Persons with disabilities also experience challenges in accessing education, healthcare, employment, finance and basic needs of life. Accessibility gives everyone (able and disabled) the same opportunity. Common area barriers include mobility, auditory, neurological, cognitive, medical, and psychological. According to the United Nations over one billion people live with disabilities. The reality is that more people will have some form of disability in the future either temporarily or permanently. Increase in forms of disability can be attributed to old age, ill health, mental disorders, physical deformity, accident and armed conflict. Since we know disability is on the rise, it is important that accessibility takes precedence across the world, as soon as possible. Research has shown that people with disabilities don’t consider themselves as being unhealthy; therefore, making map products and cartographic services accessible goes a long way to enable PwDs move around with minimal assistance.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Method
3. Discussion
3.1 Tactile Maps
3.2 Google Maps
4. Conclusion and Recommendation
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the critical issue of map accessibility for persons with visual impairments, specifically within the Nigerian context. It explores how traditional and digital cartographic processes currently exclude these individuals and proposes actionable solutions to integrate inclusive design. The primary goal is to advocate for and demonstrate how both tactile and digital mapping technologies can be transformed to ensure independent mobility and equal access to geographical information for people with disabilities.
- The status of accessibility legislation and human rights for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
- Technical requirements and best practices for developing tactile maps.
- The potential of digital mapping tools, such as Google Maps, to provide assistive navigational features.
- Strategies for incorporating inclusive design into cartographic education and institutional policies.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Tactile Maps
Tactile maps are images which are specially created to be touched rather than viewed. Conventional maps can be recreated into tactile graphics. This does not mean that visual maps can be automatically converted to tactile maps. There are a different ways to produce tactile maps (Gardiner & Perkins, 2011). Visual maps need to be redesigned to make sense in a tactile form for the unsighted because touch sense woks in a more serial manner than the visual sense (Habel, Kerzel & Lohmann, 2010).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the global and Nigerian status of persons with disabilities, highlighting their lack of access to basic services and the critical role of mapping in fostering integration.
2. Materials and Method: This section investigates the limitations of conventional visual maps and introduces the methodology for creating tactile graphics and digital accessibility features to support visually impaired users.
3. Discussion: This chapter analyzes the practical applications of maps for navigation and educational purposes, further divided into subsections on tactile maps and Google Maps.
3.1 Tactile Maps: This part details the specialized design requirements for tactile maps, emphasizing that they are not mere conversions of visual graphics but must be reimagined for serial touch exploration.
3.2 Google Maps: This subsection examines how digital tools, coupled with community-driven data and audio guidance, enhance autonomy for people with visual impairments or mobility challenges.
4. Conclusion and Recommendation: The final chapter summarizes the necessity of universal design and calls for the Nigerian government and educational institutions to embed accessibility into both law and curriculum.
Keywords
accessibility, accessible maps, tactile maps, inclusive cartography, disability geography, visual impairment, assistive technology, universal design, cartographic education, digital mapping, navigation, inclusion, disability rights, Nigeria, geographic information
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This work addresses the exclusion of persons with visual impairments from current mapping processes and explores how cartography can be made inclusive through tactile and digital innovation.
What are the primary themes discussed in this work?
Key themes include socio-political barriers for people with disabilities, the technical design of tactile graphics, digital accessibility standards, and the importance of national policies in Nigeria regarding inclusion.
What is the main objective of the author?
The author aims to establish a new thematic area for the Nigerian Cartographers Association to prioritize inclusive design, ensuring that maps are usable by everyone regardless of physical ability.
Which methods are proposed to improve map accessibility?
The research suggests the use of raised-surface tactile maps for education and the leveraging of screen-readable, audio-enabled digital maps, such as Google Maps, to support navigation.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main part of the paper reviews the legal framework for disability rights in Nigeria, examines the technical challenges of tactile map production, and discusses how digital platforms can fulfill accessibility needs.
Which keywords define this study?
The study is defined by terms such as inclusive cartography, tactile maps, accessibility, disability geography, and universal design.
How does Nigerian legislation currently support these changes?
The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (DAPDA) of 2019 provides a legislative foundation for integrating people with disabilities into public life, education, and services by 2040.
Why can't traditional visual maps simply be printed as tactile maps?
Tactile maps require specialized redesign because the human sense of touch processes information in a serial manner, which differs fundamentally from the simultaneous visual processing used for standard maps.
What role does the Nigerian Cartographic Association play?
The author recommends that the association should actively foster research, create dedicated groups for inclusive cartography, and promote the adoption of local symbols to make maps accessible.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Chukwuemeka Ulor (Autor:in), Inclusive Cartography. Making Accessible Maps for Persons with Visual Impairment in Nigeria, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1235000
