Accessibility is no longer just a best practice. It is becoming an increasingly important requirement for organizations delivering digital services, public-facing information, and online experiences. As expectations around digital inclusion continue to grow, organizations are investing in technologies that help ensure websites, applications, and digital platforms are accessible to all users.
We are proud to announce that Vicinia Compass is now WCAG 2.2 AA compliant, reinforcing our commitment to creating accessible digital experiences across interactive maps, digital wayfinding, campus navigation, transportation information, parking guidance, tours, and emergency preparedness.
This milestone represents an important step in our accessibility journey, but at Vicinia, we believe accessibility extends beyond the screen.
What is WCAG?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the internationally recognized standards for digital accessibility. Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG provides guidance for making websites, web applications, and digital platforms more accessible to people with visual, auditory, cognitive, neurological, and physical disabilities.
WCAG is built around four core principles. Digital experiences should be:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust
In practical terms, this means users should be able to access and interact with digital content regardless of their abilities, devices, or methods of interaction.
WCAG 2.2 AA includes guidance related to:
- Keyboard navigation
- Screen reader compatibility
- Readable content and layouts
- Color contrast and visual accessibility
- Accessible forms and interactive elements
- Mobile usability and touch target accessibility
- Content that adapts to different screen sizes and devices
- Improved usability for users with cognitive and motor disabilities
The goal is simple: create digital experiences that everyone can use confidently and effectively.
Understanding VPATs and Accessibility Evaluation
As organizations place greater emphasis on digital accessibility, many are also becoming familiar with the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).
A VPAT is a standardized document used by technology vendors to describe how their products support recognized accessibility standards, including WCAG. VPATs are frequently requested during software evaluations and procurement processes, particularly within higher education, government agencies, municipalities, transportation organizations, and other public-serving institutions.
The resulting VPAT report helps procurement teams, accessibility offices, IT departments, and decision-makers evaluate a product’s accessibility capabilities and understand how it aligns with organizational accessibility goals.
For many organizations, WCAG conformance and VPAT documentation work hand in hand. Together they provide greater transparency into how digital products address accessibility requirements and support informed purchasing decisions.
As accessibility expectations continue to grow, VPAT accessibility documentation is increasingly becoming part of the software selection and evaluation process.
Vicinia Compass VPAT documentation is available upon request for organizations evaluating the platform as part of their accessibility review and procurement processes.
Why Accessibility Matters More Than Ever
Accessibility is increasingly becoming a strategic priority for higher education institutions, municipalities, transportation agencies, healthcare organizations, cultural institutions, and public venues.
In the United States, the Department of Justice has established accessibility requirements for state and local government websites and mobile applications under ADA Title II, further reinforcing the importance of digital accessibility, accessibility compliance, and recognized accessibility standards.
Globally, accessibility expectations continue to grow through initiatives such as the European Accessibility Act, increasing focus on accessible digital experiences and digital inclusion across many products and services.
As a result, WCAG compliance is no longer viewed solely as a compliance initiative. It is increasingly influencing procurement decisions, digital transformation strategies, user experience programs, and institutional commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Universities and colleges are also investing heavily in smart campus initiatives that improve campus navigation, transportation services, visitor experiences, and accessibility for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Most importantly, accessibility creates better experiences for everyone. Features designed to support accessibility often result in more intuitive navigation, improved mobile usability, clearer content structures, and better overall user experiences.
What Is Vicinia Compass?
Vicinia Compass is a digital experience platform that helps organizations connect people with places.
Through interactive maps, campus navigation, indoor navigation, digital wayfinding, transportation information, parking guidance, visitor engagement tools, self-guided tours, and emergency preparedness capabilities, Compass helps visitors, students, employees, residents, riders, and guests discover destinations and navigate physical environments more confidently.
Compass is used across smart campuses, municipalities, transportation systems, attractions, museums, cultural institutions, healthcare environments, and large venues to create connected and engaging visitor experiences.
Whether someone is exploring a university campus, finding an event venue, identifying transportation options, locating a building entrance, navigating a large facility, or responding during an emergency, Vicinia Compass helps simplify the journey.
Accessibility Beyond the Screen
While WCAG focuses on digital accessibility, we believe accessibility extends well beyond the digital interface.
Accessible experiences begin with accessible information, but they also include accessible routes, transportation choices, buildings, and destinations.
For many individuals, accessibility questions include:
- Where is the nearest accessible parking location?
- Which entrance is wheelchair accessible?
- Is there an elevator available?
- What route avoids stairs?
- Where are automatic doors located?
- Which path provides the most accessible route?
- Should I walk, bike, take transit, use a shuttle, ride share, or drive?
Accessibility is about ensuring people can access information, services, and physical spaces in ways that meet their individual needs.
Accessible campus navigation, indoor navigation, and digital wayfinding solutions can help users identify elevators, ramps, automatic doors, accessible entrances, and accessible routes before they even begin their journey.
This philosophy is reflected throughout the Vicinia Compass platform.
Through interactive maps, campus navigation tools, transportation information, parking guidance, visitor experience solutions, and digital wayfinding capabilities, Compass helps organizations create more inclusive experiences from origin to destination.
What WCAG 2.2 AA Compliance Means for Compass Users
For users of Vicinia Compass, WCAG 2.2 AA compliance helps deliver:
- Improved usability across devices and screen sizes
- Better support for assistive technologies
- Enhanced keyboard navigation
- More accessible interactions and controls
- Improved mobile accessibility
- Better support for responsive digital experiences
- Greater inclusivity for all users
Because Compass is frequently used on mobile devices for navigation, campus navigation, transportation information, visitor experiences, and digital wayfinding, accessibility and responsive design play a critical role in ensuring users can access information when and where they need it.
Accessibility should not depend on the device being used, the screen size, or the environment in which a person is navigating.
Looking Ahead
Accessibility is not a destination. It is an ongoing commitment.
Achieving WCAG 2.2 AA compliance represents an important milestone for Vicinia Compass, but it is only one part of a broader vision.
At Vicinia, we believe accessibility includes digital experiences, mobility options, physical navigation, transportation choices, and visitor engagement. It means helping people discover destinations, choose transportation modes, navigate spaces, and access services with confidence.
As organizations continue investing in digital accessibility, smart campus technology, campus navigation, interactive maps, visitor experience platforms, transportation systems, and digital wayfinding solutions, accessibility will remain a key consideration in the design of future digital experiences.
Our mission is simple:
Create digital experiences that make information, navigation, mobility, and destinations accessible to everyone.
Navigation for Everyone.
