When considering dashboard design, it is important to ensure accessibility is not an afterthought. According to some sources, 18% of working age population of Britain have a disability (as defined by Equality Act of 2010). Considering diverse needs, can ensure that as many people as possible can use, understand, and have access to a dashboard.
“Don’t look at this as a requirement, an obligation, another checkbox to tick off. Look at accessibility as an opportunity to hone your skills, to move beyond the ordinary, and to provide an intentional experience for your users.” - Doug Schepers
Director, Fizz Studio (accessible data viz startup)
There are some aspects of design that can easily be considered:
Consistency
Consistency not only reduces cognitive load, but also improves accessibility for assistive technologies such as screen readers that rely on predictable structures.
Colour
Colour can be a powerful communication tool, but it should never be the only one. Always combine colour with labels, patterns, or icons to ensure people with visual impairments, such as colour blindness, can still understand your content.
Layout
A predictable layout improves navigation for everyone. Filters, search bars, and navigation elements should always appear in the same place. For screen reader users and keyboard navigators, this consistency reduces friction and saves time.
Choice
Allow users to control how they interact with your interface. Customisable views empower users with different needs or preferences, including neurodiverse users and those using assistive technologies.
Focus
Focus on the most important information, and use BANs to show top line takeaway.
Resources to check if your dashboards are easy to use
Funkify chrome extension: Simulates a variety of impairments (e.g. low vision, tremor, colour blindness) in browser setting
Colour Palette contrast checker: Compass up to 5 different colors for contrast accessibility and suggests replacements
Colour Oracle: Colour blindness simulator
Edit XML for Focus Order Walkthrough: Kelly Gupton, Director of Project Management, Tableau
Tableau Accessibility FAQ
TC19: Designing Accessible Dashboards in Tableau: Kelly Gupton
Chartability: Rubric for scoring “Data Experiences” on accessibility
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