Esri Legal Accessibility
Esri's commitment to accessibility
In the technology industry, products and their capabilities are changed and improved daily. Esri understands that while the improvement of product functionality is significant in enhancing efficiency for users of the respective products, there is an equally significant and corresponding need to ensure that the functionality is readily available to all users. Our effort to achieve product accessibility for all begins with diligent research of evolving accessibility capabilities and continues with the development and incorporation of these capabilities into GIS functions across our product line. With each release of ArcGIS, we further empower our customers to enjoy our products and make informed choices about Esri products that best serve them.
For our US customers
Section 508 Conformance in the US
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) requires federal agencies to procure technology products that are the most readily accessible. To assist agencies in making this determination, Esri publishes Accessibility Conformance Reports (“ACRs”) for our various products, based on the VPAT® Version 2.5 Rev (November 2023) edition.
Esri ACRs are designed to provide our customers with a thorough breakdown of product assessments in relation to specific accessibility criteria such as Section 508 so they may evaluate and select the products that best meet their accessibility needs. Our ACRs are updated periodically to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information for all our customers.
WCAG Conformance in the US
In 2017, the US Access Board published a rule on requirements for information and communication technology covered under Section 508. These requirements include incorporating the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 by reference and applying Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements (WCAG 2.0 AA) to websites, as well as to non-web electronic documents and software.
ADA Conformance in the US
The United States Department of Justice has recently affirmed that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites and web-based applications, and it has obligated ADA Title II entities, such as state and local governments, to adhere to a conformance standard of WCAG 2.1 AA. To assist federal, state, and local government customers in satisfying their respective obligations under either Section 508 or the ADA, Esri makes its ACRs available on our Esri Accessibility Conformance Reports page.
For our international customers
WCAG Conformance outside the US
While many of our international customers reside in jurisdictions where accessibility legislation is derived from WCAG 2.1 AA requirements, we recognize an increasing shift toward WCAG 2.2 AA requirements, which set forth 9 additional Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements. These additional requirements are primarily driven to improve accessibility to people with visual impairments, cognitive and learning disabilities, and overall accessibility of mobile devices.
To account for this shift, WCAG 2.2 AA requirements have been incorporated into Esri ACRs. Esri will continue to evaluate and add new WCAG success criteria as they are added to existing supported standards.
Find out more about accessibility at Esri
Esri Accessibility
ArcGIS products accessibility resources and information
ArcGIS Developers
A complete mapping and analytics platform for developers
ArcGIS Accessibility Blogs
Check out the latest ArcGIS topics and trends for accessibility in mapping and GIS
Contact Esri Accessibility
Please share your information to submit questions or comments related to disability, digital accessibility, or assistive technologies with ArcGIS products. We look forward to communicating with you.