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Re: Accessibility of data visualizations

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From: Angela French
Date: Feb 4, 2016 9:42AM

The context of my original question is using readily available software/services that create the charts. For example, Google Charts. Is the output accessible? Here is an example: https://developers.google.com/chart/interactive/docs/quick_start

Angela French

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2016 7:44 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accessibility of data visualizations

Mike, too often the person who is writing the report is not empowered to interpret the data—just present it. Although anyone else might conclude that the numbers say "Keep this as it is," the person or group commissioning the report might be making an argument for change—usually for the change that is to their own benefit.

Or vice versa. "Sea levels will rise 15 centimeters per decade due to climate change over the next 150 years" might be what the table or graph shows, but if the organization rejects the concept of climate change, that is not likely to be the alt text.

"Change in sea level predicted by climate modeling" would deprive people who get only the alt text of key information. That's a good reason to promote the principle of "more than one way." In other words, at least link to a data table showing the same information.

Cliff Tyllick
Accessibility Specialist
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services


Sent from my iPhone
Although its spellcheck often saves me, all goofs in sent messages are its fault.

> On Feb 4, 2016, at 8:56 AM, Moore,Michael (Accessibility) (HHSC) < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> Great point Angela,
>
> When graphs and charts get to the point where the complexity makes
> them difficult for anyone to understand I often ask the person who
> created the chart what information they are attempting to convey. All
> too frequently I am met with a blank stare. "My boss told me to
> present the data in a graph." I find the graphs to be much more
> understandable when they depict only one or two relationships at a
> time, beyond that my head hurts. Breaking things down into a series of
> simpler tables and graphs usually makes it easier to see and
> understand the relationships. Of course, sometimes you might just want
> to hide them :)
>
> Mike Moore
> Accessibility Coordinator
> Texas Health and Human Services Commission Civil Rights Office
> (512) 438-3431 (Office)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On
> Behalf Of Angela French
> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2016 5:26 PM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accesscibility of data visualizations
>
> I was wondering how screen readers make sense of these charts (reads them aloud). Some are so complex they challenged the sighted!
>
> Angela
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On
> Behalf Of Sean Murphy
> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2016 2:40 PM
> To: WebAIM Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Accesscibility of data visualizations
>
>> Angela
>
>
> Are we referring to someone who is blind, low vision or has a learning disability? As the solution will vary depending on their disability.
>
> Jaws for Windows scripts have been designed to work with Excel and provide chart information. I have used this with basic charts in the past. How good it is with complex chart is a different story.
>
> I also would be interested in this. I would even extend this too:
>
> Organisational charts
> Network charts
> Programming logic flow charts
> Project management charts
> Financial charts
>
>
>
>
> Sean
>
>
>> On 4 Feb 2016, at 8:51 am, Angela French < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>> I am interested learning how accessible the output of data visualization software is. Some data visualizations are so complex. Here is a page of examples produced with Tableau<http://public.tableau.com/profile/andrew.weller#!/>.
>>
>> If you are aware of any products that produce accessible graphs/charts I would be interested in knowing the names.
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>>
>> Angela French
>> Internet Specialist
>> Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
>> 360-704-4316
>> <EMAIL REMOVED> <mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> >
>> www.checkoutacollege.com<;http://www.checkoutacollege.com/>;
>> www.sbctc.edu<;http://www.sbctc.edu/>;
>>
>> >> >> archives at http://webaim.org/discussion/archives
>> >
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