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Re: Organizational Charts

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From: Chagnon | PubCom
Date: May 6, 2015 1:42PM

I agree that using a combo of headings and lists makes an organization chart accessible. Well, to those with vision disabilities.

However, that method impairs comprehension for sighted users whether they are disabled or not. From studying human behavior, comprehension, and design for umpteen decades, we know that a sighted reader comprehends the "big picture" of any graphic in .8 seconds...that's less than a second. No combo of headings and lists can give that amount of comprehension in a split second because it has to be read word-by-word, line-by-line. There's a lot of truth to the adage, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Are there solutions that accommodate all users without impairing others? Some ideas:

Have a LongDesc on the organization chart graphic that takes users to the Headings/Lists version.
Provide a link to a text version of the org chart.
Have both the graphic org chart as well as the Headings/List version on the page, side-by-side.

Would love to hear other ideas

--Bevi Chagnon