The purpose of this research was to understand current geographic mapping paradigms, expose barriers faced by people who cannot rely on visual perception in the map reading experience, and propose a framework for designing maps to address these barriers. The study involved literature review, environmental scan, semi-structured interviews, surveys, and co-design with a variety of stakeholders. At each stage of the research auditory and tactile correlates for the visual variables used in geographic maps were documented and the results were synthesized into a framework referred to here as the VATmap (visual, audio, tactile) model. The framework can be used as a reference for designers and educators by suggesting strategies for communicating geographic information beyond visual display through a combination of visual, audio, and tactile map representations.