EuroCarto2024 WS Barrier-free Cartography

The concepts of inclusivity and accessibility have garnered increased attention in recent times, owing to the heightened societal consciousness on this matter. The ICA’s Barrier-free Cartography Working Group was established earlier this year to continue and extend the work of the former Commission on Maps and Graphics for Blind and Partially Sighted People. The primary objective of this working group is to advance the accessibility of cartographic products to all users and communities.

The idea is that special needs are not strictly related to physical aspects, and can also be related to social and educational aspects. These are also reflected in the UN’s SDGs that aim to “…ensuring that no one is left behind…”. Individuals with special needs remain underrepresented in the field of cartography. This underrepresentation may stem from the intricate and nuanced nature of their requirements, coupled with the need for highly tailored solutions. But what exactly are their needs? How can we define, develop, and promote barrier-free cartography, and who are the users that will benefit from accessible maps? We aim to provide a forum to address these questions and provide answers during the barrier-free cartography workshop.

You are warmly welcome to share your experiences, insights and research at the International Workshop on Barrier-free Cartography during EuroCarto 2024. The workshop will be held in a hybrid format, so we invite onsite and online presentations. The focus is on round table discussions and active engagement with the topics on offer. Participation is free, but due to the limited number of places, registration is required. Suggested topics can include, but are not limited to:

• Barrier types in cartography
• Defining target user groups, their needs and cognition characteristics
• Cultural, educational and economic aspects of barrier-free cartography
• Mapping for people with special needs
• Barrier-free cartography within the SDGs
• Guidelines, best practices and requirements imposed on spatial data
• Universal cartographic symbols
• User experience
• The decision-makers perspective