Tactile Maps for the Blind: a Hands-On Workshop

We are pleased that Greg Kehret and Naomi Roseberg of the LightHouse for the Blind (San Francisco) will conduct a hands-on workshop to teach Maptimers about concepts and considerations of maps for blind people. This workshop will introduce Maptimers to these considerations by comparing and contrasting examples of different methods and design used in tactile maps and to discuss the criteria of their effectiveness. We will focus on learning about the main mapping project of the LightHouse--our main focus: TMAP (take a look at http://lighthouse-sf.org/tmap/)--and the tools, concepts, and type it incorporates to help someone with limited eyesight navigate an urban environment.

Maptimers will then use the precepts LightHouse uses to create their own maps of a few blocks around an address, and then as a group review what worked and what didn’t in them. Since Maptimers will be creating their own tactile maps, do bring your own laptops, although the methods we discuss will also work in hand-drawn maps. Look at the fonts and formats with which we'll work at https://www.dropbox.com/home/Maptime_2019-03-26. This meetup is open to all levels of mappers, but bring laptops to create your own maps.

Please respect the LightHouse office, and note coffee isn't permitted due to sever allergies; however, note LightHouse is kindly providing pizza and drinks for Maptimers--and we all know mapping is more fun with pizza!