Public universities have a responsibility to meet ADA standards to ensure accessibility. One place this responsibility comes forward is in ADA-compliant campus maps. Without fully taking into account ADA compliance, universities face several risks. These risks span legal, financial, reputational, and operational aspects.
Below is an analysis of the risks of non-ADA-compliant campus maps and the benefits of ADA-accessible digital interactive maps. The choice is clear: implementing ADA-accessible digital maps will set the university up for success and positive experiences with campus users.
Risks of Non-ADA-Compliant Campus Maps
Students and visitors to your campus might see a campus map before they ever interact with a staff or faculty member. The campus map is likely one of the first touchstones for a visitor, and current students and staff members will turn to it when they need help navigating campus.
The design of a campus map is crucial to creating a proactive, positive environment. It might seem easy enough to use an in-house design or have campus maps printed. But non-ADA-compliant campus maps put the university at risk in several ways.
Legal Risks
As public institutions, universities are bound by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities. For the purposes of the ADA, protections extend to anyone who has “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,” a previous history of having such an impairment, or the perception of having an impairment.
Public facilities, including universities, must provide equal access to all individuals. A federal agency oversees these legal protections, and students, faculty, staff, or visitors with disabilities can report violations to the ADA.
If a university fails to comply with ADA standards, it can face fines and penalties at both the state and federal levels. These legal ramifications can be costly in many ways.
Financial Risks
Having a non-ADA-compliant campus map can result in lawsuits. Anyone visiting the campus could file a complaint if their accessibility needs are not met, and the resulting lawsuit can end with costly legal settlements or civil penalty judgments against the university.
Multiple complaints can lead to even greater costs, as subsequent violations carry heavier penalties. Also, universities often pay fees to attorneys during the investigation leading up to the ruling. Over time, these fees can create a substantial financial burden.
Non-compliance with the ADA can also negatively impact the university’s eligibility for certain federal or state grants and funding. Many of these opportunities require adherence to ADA standards, such as having ADA-compliant campus maps. A university that cannot meet the ADA compliance eligibility requirements will have difficulty finding sources of funding.
Reputational Risks
Having a non-ADA-compliant campus map or failing to adhere to ADA standards in other ways puts the university’s reputation at risk. Students, parents, alums, and the general public care about accessibility and fairness. If the university earns a reputation for dismissing the needs of individuals with disabilities, it can alienate and lose the trust of these important stakeholders.
When a university fails to adhere to ADA standards for accessibility, the public sees it as an institution that does not prioritize inclusivity and accessibility. This is an important element for any publicly accessible space, but especially for educational spaces. Universities often include accessibility and inclusion in their mission statements, and they’re aiming to earn the trust of families who want to know that students will be supported and considered. That commitment needs to show up in visible and usable ways. If it doesn’t, trust erodes.
Operational Risks
Ultimately, the ADA guidelines for signage design are about functionality. Having a non-ADA-compliant campus map makes it challenging for students, staff, and visitors to get around. The functional point of a campus map is to facilitate ease of navigation and make individuals feel welcome and comfortable on campus. A non-compliant map can have the opposite effect. If individuals with disabilities cannot use the maps to find their way around, they’ll feel frustrated, and the university will see a decrease in satisfaction and engagement.
In addition to the risks to everyday navigation, a non-ADA-compliant campus map becomes a pronounced vulnerability in an emergency. Non-compliant maps can hinder the ability of individuals with disabilities to quickly and safely navigate the campus. This confusion can lead to a need for additional emergency response resources or result in tragic injuries or deaths.
Benefits of ADA-Accessible Digital Interactive Maps
At this point, the legal, financial, reputational, and operational risks of a non-ADA-compliant campus map should be clear. It’s also important to consider the benefits of implementing ADA-compliant campus maps.
Legal Compliance
Digital interactive maps make it easier to comply with the ADA standards. Meeting these state and federal legal obligations leads to less risk of lawsuits and penalties. The digital nature of the interactive maps also makes it easier to make updates when there are changes to campus or when the ADA standards add new requirements. Legal compliance becomes easier and ongoing with ADA-accessible digital interactive maps.
Additionally, the campus map is often one of the first things that individuals will use when they arrive at a university. Setting a clear standard for ADA compliance from this initial interaction demonstrates a proactive approach to compliance, potentially mitigating legal risks before they even arise.
Financial Advantages
Being compliant with ADA requirements avoids the costs associated with legal disputes and settlements. These costs can become substantial — especially in the case of repeat offenses. Building ADA compliance into the initial design of your digital interactive campus maps eliminates the risk of these substantial expenses.
Furthermore, ADA compliance is often an eligibility requirement for state and federal grants and funding. It’s also a core component for many private sources of funding. When a university can show ADA compliance, it increases its eligibility for these funding pools. Having clear, tangible representations of compliance can make it easier to meet eligibility requirements.
Reputational Benefits
Students, parents, alums, and the wider community look to universities to provide an equitable, accessible space built on strong values. Accessibility and commitment to a diverse learning environment are often part of a university’s mission, so having ADA–compliant campus maps puts that commitment front and center in a tangible way.
When stakeholders see the university prioritizing accessibility, the institution earns a reputation for being inclusive and forward-thinking. This reputation also helps families see the university as supportive and welcoming. This makes them more likely to trust the space, which can positively impact enrollment and engagement. When potential students visit a campus that has clearly put accessibility in their design, they will see the campus in a positive light.
Operational Efficiency
An ADA-accessible digital interactive map provides superior functionality and operational efficiency for everyone—with or without disabilities. With the ability to provide detailed navigation assistance, these interactive digital maps harness technology to make navigating campus efficient for students, staff, and visitors.
Because interactive digital maps are customizable, they allow for enhanced user experience through real-time updates, personalized routes, and more. With the swipe of a finger, users can learn more about a facility and find the information they need to navigate the space independently and confidently.
Accessible maps also play a crucial role in an emergency. With clear, navigable routes and accessibility information, individuals with disabilities can reach safety faster. Having a clear and accessible map can literally save lives.
Inclusivity and Diversity
An ADA-accessible digital interactive map ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities and campus resources. Having a proactive approach to providing accessible information to everyone eliminates many of the barriers to accessibility. Students who are facing a temporary disability (such as an injury), students who are not comfortable disclosing a disability, and students with a disability that has not yet been diagnosed are all less likely to seek out disability services. When accessible design is built into the daily function of the university, these students—and others—are welcomed and have their needs met proactively.
A university that prioritizes accessibility creates a more inclusive and diverse campus environment, which can have long-lasting positive impacts. Creating an environment that proactively considers the needs of students, staff, and visitors promotes a culture of inclusion. It also empowers individuals with disabilities to have agency in the educational space.
Minimize Risk and Maximize Benefits With ADA-Compliant Campus Maps
Having non-ADA-compliant campus maps poses significant risks for public universities. From legal challenges to financial impacts, reputational harm, and operational hurdles, non-ADA-compliant campus maps fail to meet any university’s needs.
In contrast, an ADA-accessible digital interactive map offers numerous benefits. Compliance with legal standards can lead to financial savings, improve the institution’s reputation, increase operational efficiency, and enhance inclusivity.
Investing in high-quality mapping solutions like those from Concept3D allows universities to support their diverse communities better and ensure a welcoming and navigable campus for all.