Working with any type of digital content requires strict adherence to the four POUR Principles. That matters to us because it directly applies across the spectrum to the products we offer to colleges and universities.
Concept3D has helped higher education institutions build interactive campus maps for wayfinding and 360-degree virtual campus tours for more immersive digital experiences. Meanwhile, our Localist Events platform helps you organize all of your campus events into a single, centrally managed calendar across platforms.
All of those platforms require accessibility as a core tenet for success. Without it, a significant portion of our audience and user base would simply not be able to access our platform. It’s a good thing, then, that Concept3D has made accessibility a core principle and priority connected to everything we do.
How Our Concept3D Campus Maps Embrace Digital Accessibility
Take our interactive campus map solution as an example. It’s built with the POUR Principles at its core, including features like:
- Integrated optimization for voice readers, including ALT text and captions at any points necessary (perceivable)
- The ability to navigate with a keyboard or other non-mouse device (operable)
- Consistent navigation and easy-to-understand visuals and language designed to avoid any misunderstandings of issues (understandable)
- Equal functionality across devices, browser types, and different types of assistive technology (robust)
The same priorities, of course, also extend to our virtual tours and event software. The goal is to ensure that all our customers and partners have the most digitally accessible products available on the market.
Taking Accessibility Beyond the Digital Realm
Accessibility, of course, matters beyond just digital experiences. As your visitors, students, and other stakeholders navigate campus, they have to encounter a welcoming environment regardless of their limitations. That’s not just a lofty goal; the ADA has very specific requirements for college campuses.
Your facilities and planning departments are likely very familiar with these requirements. You might even have a disability office on campus to ensure they are correctly implemented. Through your Concept3D map, you can take that process one step further.
Use your map to showcase elevators. Help visitors find accessible parking lots and parking spots. Show ADA-compliant entrances and handicap-accessible bathrooms. Even pathways across your campus can be marked for accessibility on an interactive map that truly prioritizes the concept. Then, once you combine those options with the digital accessibility features of the platform, you have a truly equitable experience for people with all types of disabilities.
The Details Beyond Our Commitment to Accessibility
Make no mistake: at Concept3D, we care about accessibility with every fiber of our being. That means embracing not just the four POUR Principles but also the Accessible Rich Internet Application (ARIA) standards.
ARIA goes beyond POUR in defining particular attributes that can ensure accessibility for users with any disabilities. Following it is complex, but we’re making sure that every guideline is part of our development process so our customers don’t need to worry about this variable on their end.
Our goal is to ensure a positive experience for all users, regardless of their disability status. If no one is or feels excluded from using our products, then colleges and universities looking to attract students will neither miss recruitment opportunities nor get into legal trouble for ignoring digital accessibility.
That sounds complex. But with Concept3D products, it’s already done for you. Ready to learn more? Contact us for a deeper conversation about our commitment to accessibility. Also, see how working with us can help you embody that same commitment through your digital content and online presence.
