How can you design charts for people with disabilities?

2 Choose appropriate formats

The next step is to choose the most suitable formats for your charts, depending on the type and amount of data you want to show, and the message you want to convey. Some formats are more accessible than others, depending on the disability. For example, bar charts and line charts are generally easier to read and understand than pie charts or scatter plots, especially for people with low vision or color blindness. Tables are also a good option to present data in a clear and structured way, especially if they have headers, captions, and summaries. However, avoid using images or icons as data points, as they can be confusing or inaccessible for some people.

3 Use clear and consistent design

The third step is to use clear and consistent design elements for your charts, such as colors, fonts, labels, legends, and titles. These elements can help your audience to identify and compare data points, as well as to quickly understand the main idea of your charts. However, it is important to be mindful of not using too many or complex elements, as they can make the chart difficult to read. Here are some tips for effective use of design elements: utilize high-contrast colors that are easy to differentiate and do not rely on color alone to convey information; select simple and legible fonts that are large enough and free from fancy or decorative styles; use labels and legends that are concise and descriptive, avoiding abbreviations or jargon that may not be familiar to your audience; and create titles that are informative and catchy, summarizing the main point or question of your charts. Additionally, you can include subtitles or captions to provide more context or details for your charts.

4 Provide alternative formats

The fourth step is to provide alternative formats for your charts, such as text descriptions, audio descriptions, or interactive features. These formats can help your audience access and understand your charts in different ways, depending on their preferences and abilities. For example, some people may prefer to read a text description of your charts, while others may choose to listen to an audio description or explore them with keyboard or mouse. To provide these alternative formats for your charts, you can use the alt attribute to give a text description of the key information and insights. If needed, you can also use the longdesc attribute for a longer and more detailed description. Additionally, you can use the aria attributes to provide semantic and structural information for assistive technologies. Lastly, you can use the tabindex , role , and aria attributes to make your charts focusable and interactive with keyboard or mouse, as well as provide feedback and instructions for your charts.

5 Test and improve your charts

The final step is to test and improve your charts, based on the feedback and suggestions of your audience. Testing your charts can help you identify and fix any issues or errors that may affect the accessibility, usability, and effectiveness of your charts. You can also use tools like WebAIM or WAVE to check the accessibility and compliance of your charts with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). To ensure that your charts are responsive, adaptable, compatible, and functional, you should test them with different browsers, devices, screen sizes, assistive technologies, and people. Ask people with disabilities for their opinions and experiences. Additionally, surveys, interviews, or focus groups can be used to collect feedback and suggestions for your charts.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?