"},{"ID":6961,"user_firstname":"Karl","user_lastname":"Frantz","nickname":"karlfrantz","user_nicename":"karlfrantz","display_name":"Karl Frantz","user_email":"KFrantz@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/accessibility\/overview","user_registered":"2018-03-02 00:19:04","user_description":"Karl Frantz is the Accessibility Lead in Software Products Release, and has been with Esri since 2016. He focuses on enhancing accessibility standards across ArcGIS software and products, and establishing accessibility best practices and resources for customers and stakeholders. In his free time Karl enjoys playing strategy tabletop and board games, reading science fiction and fantasy, and vegetarian\/vegan cooking.","user_avatar":"
"}],"short_description":"Esri's approach to digital accessibility is an ongoing effort to ensure users can access valuable GIS information without barriers to technology.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<\/p>\n
Digital accessibility is the process of creating digital content, services, and technology that is usable by all individuals, including those with a disability or impairment. To advance this goal, many countries have established legal requirements for accessibility to prevent discrimination and promote inclusion. The significance of accessibility extends beyond legal mandates – it offers the framework for a more inclusive world where technology is available to everyone, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or impairments.<\/p>\n
Esri is committed to ensuring all users have access to Geographic Information System (GIS) data and content through ArcGIS software products, solutions, and services. Accessibility remains a crucial consideration throughout the creation of all Esri technical offerings. Esri aims to provide users with accessible technology and enable them to create accessible maps, applications, and data content, featuring enhanced accessibility features to reach more audiences.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"Jim McKinney","author_profession_organization":"Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for desktop development","image":{"ID":2723752,"id":2723752,"title":"g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small","filename":"g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small.jpg","filesize":270291,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis\/mapping\/mapping-the-way-to-digital-accessibility\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small","alt":"Jim McKinney Speaking at the Esri Developer Summit","author":"335892","description":"","caption":"","name":"g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2704342,"date":"2025-03-08 01:11:38","modified":"2025-03-08 01:11:58","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":600,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small.jpg","medium-width":261,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small.jpg","medium_large-width":600,"medium_large-height":600,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small.jpg","large-width":600,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small.jpg","1536x1536-width":600,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small.jpg","2048x2048-width":600,"2048x2048-height":600,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small-465x465.jpg","card_image-width":465,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g2513150-dev-2022-plenary-day3-small.jpg","wide_image-width":600,"wide_image-height":600}},"text":"Esri consistently works to enhance the accessibility of ArcGIS to meet the needs of our customers and the communities we serve. Emphasizing inclusive product design and aiding users in creating accessible content upholds Esri's commitment to developing accessible GIS technology."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2723792,"id":2723792,"title":"g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62","filename":"g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62.jpg","filesize":850410,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis\/mapping\/mapping-the-way-to-digital-accessibility\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62","alt":"Jack Dangermond presenting the Making a Difference Award","author":"335892","description":"","caption":"Jack Dangermond presenting the Making A Difference Award at the Esri User Conference 2023 to The Netherlands' Cadastre Land Registry and Mapping Agency for work on tactile maps for the blind. ","name":"g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2704342,"date":"2025-03-08 01:13:56","modified":"2025-03-08 01:15:59","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2048,"height":1365,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62.jpg","medium-width":392,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62.jpg","large-width":1620,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62-1536x1024.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62-698x465.jpg","card_image-width":698,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3951426-uc23-plenary-act1-62-1620x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1620,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
<\/p>\n
Accessibility is an ongoing effort and Esri follows a comprehensive approach, accounting for multiple international accessibility standards. Specifically, Esri follows the latest version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)<\/a> and maintains updated Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACR) featuring WCAG, US Section 508<\/a>, and EN 301 549 standards.<\/p>\n Esri is aware of and informed on the 2024 modification to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act<\/a>, which now includes specific accessibility criteria for state and local governments. Esri observes the WCAG 2.2 AA criteria throughout product evaluation and will continue to incorporate the most current version of WCAG published by the World Wide Web Consortium<\/a> (W3C). The adherence to Section 508 regulations by US federal agencies has guided Esri in enhancing support for customers in this space. \u00a0Additionally, partners and distributors in the European Union have access to relevant Esri information and training, which can assist in their European Accessibility Act<\/a> compliance efforts.<\/p>\n Incorporating accessibility best practices into the software product development lifecycle (SDLC) is essential for Esri to ensure that ArcGIS products are compatible with standard operating systems and assistive technologies (e.g. screen readers). To verify accessibility compliance, Esri conducts accessibility testing throughout product design, development, and release of products. \u00a0Esri also engages with external accessibility professionals to conduct rigorous, non-biased accessibility evaluations of ArcGIS products.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"Rob Elkins","author_profession_organization":"Director of Product Management","image":{"ID":2723802,"id":2723802,"title":"g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare","filename":"g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-scaled.jpg","filesize":502986,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis\/mapping\/mapping-the-way-to-digital-accessibility\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare","alt":"Rob Elkins speaking at the Esri IMGIS conference in 2022.","author":"335892","description":"","caption":"","name":"g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2704342,"date":"2025-03-08 01:19:12","modified":"2025-03-08 01:19:44","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":2560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-scaled.jpg","medium-width":261,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-scaled.jpg","large-width":1080,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-1536x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-2048x2048.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-465x465.jpg","card_image-width":465,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/g3161601-imgis-2022-plenary-act2-smsquare-1080x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1080,"wide_image-height":1080}},"text":"Digital accessibility ensures that all users and potential users can effectively utilize Esri products. The commitment to accessibility is crucial for our customers globally, which underscores the importance of ongoing advancements and the integration of accessibility into every product release."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":" Want to learn more about Accessibility in ArcGIS? Check out these resources from Esri product teams.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Esri consistently integrates accessibility into its development process. Through product design and iteration, Esri\u2019s team of user interface and user experience (UI\/UX) specialists collaborate with product development groups to ensure accessibility is embedded from the beginning. Esri teams have access to various resources that support accessible development practices, including training from internal and external sources, resources for testing and development, and consultations from accessibility engineers.<\/p>\n The centralized accessibility team at Esri supports by providing recommended best practices, testing standards, and development guidance in implementing accessibility. The centralized accessibility team establishes company-wide policies and standards, and coordinates services to support the product development processes.<\/p>\n As new accessibility features and capabilities are continually incorporated into products, ongoing testing and evaluation help guide future enhancements. Esri collaborates with third-party professionals\/consultants to regularly evaluate products against accessibility compliance criteria, with the findings documented in the latest version of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). Developed by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), Esri uses this template to generate Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs)<\/a> that are tailored to specific ArcGIS products. Esri publishes product ACRs to the Esri Legal Accessibility site<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" \u201cEsri\u2019s Accessibility Conformance Reports are created through a rigorous process of evaluation and review and maintained for accuracy throughout subsequent product development and remediation,\u201d Said Karl Frantz, Accessibility Team Lead. \u00a0\u201cWe pride ourselves on the accuracy and integrity of these reports to support our customers.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2771932,"id":2771932,"title":"booth_K and J 2 edit","filename":"booth_K-and-J-2-edit-scaled-e1745940086849.jpg","filesize":199276,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-scaled-e1745940086849.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis\/mapping\/mapping-the-way-to-digital-accessibility\/booth_k-and-j-2-edit","alt":"Karl Frantz and Jessica McCall working at the Accessibility booth at Esri User Conference 2023","author":"335892","description":"","caption":"Karl Frantz and Jessica McCall work on Esri's Accessibility team. ","name":"booth_k-and-j-2-edit","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2704342,"date":"2025-04-24 14:22:53","modified":"2025-04-24 14:23:57","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":900,"height":900,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-scaled-e1745940086849.jpg","medium-width":261,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-scaled-e1745940086849.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-scaled-e1745940086849.jpg","large-width":900,"large-height":900,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-1536x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-2048x2048.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-465x465.jpg","card_image-width":465,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/booth_K-and-J-2-edit-1080x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1080,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"right","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" To support customers and users on creating accessible content in ArcGIS, Esri has developed resources to illustrate accessibility features in ArcGIS as well as general information on processes to incorporate accessibility into maps, apps, and data content.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" “The accessibility resources and training sessions we provide to our users are designed to offer valuable insights and instruction on the details of accessible GIS development practices,” stated Jessica McCall, Senior Accessibility Project Manager. “Our goal is to assist our users with their work and to guide GIS developers, analysts, and teams in learning and developing accessible implementation and testing best practices.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" <\/p>\n Esri remains dedicated to improving product accessibility, consistently prioritizing user needs for the long term. As new products are released and research progresses, Esri is committed to keeping customers and users informed through comprehensive resources and documentation that supports their work and deepens their understanding of GIS.<\/p>\n"}],"related_articles":[{"ID":2335972,"post_author":"335892","post_date":"2024-05-16 09:02:15","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-16 16:02:15","post_content":"","post_title":"Accessibility essentials for GIS and mapping","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"accessibility-essentials-for-gis-and-mapping","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-16 10:10:34","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-16 17:10:34","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2335972","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1637992,"post_author":"4491","post_date":"2023-02-02 11:19:26","post_date_gmt":"2023-02-02 19:19:26","post_content":"","post_title":"Working with Enhanced Contrast basemaps to improve accessibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"working-with-enhanced-contrast-basemaps-to-improve-accessibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-15 14:59:15","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-15 21:59:15","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=1637992","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2093302,"post_author":"68331","post_date":"2024-01-16 00:00:13","post_date_gmt":"2024-01-16 08:00:13","post_content":"","post_title":"Accessible Labels with ArcGIS Web Apps","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"a11y-labels-arcgis-online-web-apps","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-24 15:19:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-24 22:19:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2093302","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2329432,"post_author":"335892","post_date":"2024-05-16 09:00:30","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-16 16:00:30","post_content":"","post_title":"Designing and testing for accessibility in GIS and mapping","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"designing-and-testing-for-accessibility-in-gis-and-mapping","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-05-16 10:09:47","post_modified_gmt":"2024-05-16 17:09:47","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2329432","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"show_article_image":true,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Card-sized-image-826x465-1.png","wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Adobestock-318903548_1920x1080.png"},"yoast_head":"\nThe approach to accessibility at Esri is to:<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Building accessibility in ArcGIS<\/h2>\n
Resources on accessibility from Esri<\/h2>\n
\n