Recipe 04: Accessible Directions
The "Blind Spot" of Maps: Visual lines on a map are useless to blind users. We must provide a text-based alternative for every route.
Walking Directions
Map Route
Accessibility Features
- Text-First Design: The route is primarily presented as a list of text instructions. The map serves as a visual aid, not the only source of truth.
- Interactive Sync: Clicking a step zooms the map to that specific valid segment, helping users with cognitive disabilities focus on one part of the journey at a time.
- Focus Management: We maintain focus on the list while updating the map, preventing disorienting context switches.
- Skip Link: A visible-on-focus skip link lets keyboard users bypass the map.
Try This
- Keyboard Navigation: Tab through the direction steps. Press
Enterto "focus" on a step. - Observe how the map zooms to show just that segment of the walk.