Accessible Mapping Recipes

A collection of simplified, copy-pasteable patterns for building accessible maps.

• Recipe 01: The Basics (Wrapper & Semantics)

  The "Hello World" of accessible mapping. Learn the minimum valid HTML structure.

  Key Learnings: <figure> wrappers, ARIA roles, and enabling keyboard panning.

  View Recipe 01

• Recipe 02: Map-List Synchronization

  The "Golden Rule" of map accessibility: "Everything on the map must be in a list."

  Key Learnings: Bi-directional focus management, semantic list buttons, and state synchronization (`aria-current`).

  View Recipe 02

• Recipe 03: Patterns & Alternatives

  How to design for color blindness and provide text-based alternatives for spatial questions.

  Key Learnings: SVG Patterns (hatching/dots), HTML-based Legends, and "Address Search" as an accessible alternative to "Point-in-Polygon" tasks.

  View Recipe 03

• Recipe 04: Accessible Directions

  Maps are visual. How do blind users know where to go? We pair the map with a synchronized text list.

  Key Learnings: The "Directions List" pattern, and step-by-step focus management.

  View Recipe 04

• Recipe 05: Filtered Map

  Too many pins cause cognitive overload and keyboard fatigue. Filters help users find what they need.

  Key Learnings: Reducing tab stops via filtering, and semantic ARIA Live Regions.

  View Recipe 05