Accessible charts and graphs: Make your charity’s data work for everyone

What do we mean by accessible data visualisation? 

Charts, graphs, dashboards, infographics, we all use them to make data make sense. Data visualisation is all about turning numbers into something people can understand at a glance. 

Accessible data visualisation goes further: it makes insights clear and usable for everyone.

An accessible chart or data visualisation is one that: 

• Clearly explains the information it shows
• Works with assistive technology, such as screen readers
• Doesn’t rely on visual elements that some users may not be able to perceive 

This includes people with visual impairments, colour blindness, cognitive disabilities and learning differences. It also includes people accessing content in different contexts, such as on small screens, with low bandwidth, or using accessibility settings, like high-contrast screen mode. 

But accessible visualisation doesn’t just benefit disabled people. Clear charts, simple design and thoughtful labelling make complex information easier for everyone to understand. For example, someone carrying a baby on their commute may face the same barriers as someone with a temporary injury, like a broken arm. 

Why this matters for charities

Your data tells your story, but only if people access and understand it. 

Charities often rely on data to explain their impact, demonstrate need, and report to funders, partners and supporters. 

Charts and graphs can make this information easier to digest, spotting trends like which campaign brought in the most donations last month. But when data visualisations aren’t accessible, the information they contain may be difficult or impossible for some people to access. 

For example, a chart that relies only on colour may not work for someone with colour blindness. A complex infographic may be hard to interpret quickly. And if a chart has no written explanation, someone using a screen reader may miss the key insight entirely. 

In some cases, inaccessible content may also fail to meet accessibility expectations under equality legislation, such as the Equality Act 2010. 

Accessible data visualisation helps charities communicate information more clearly, reach wider audiences and ensure that their data can be understood by the people they want to engage. 

Common challenges in charts and graphs

Even small design choices can unintentionally block understanding.

Many accessibility issues in data visualisation come from small design choices that unintentionally make information harder to interpret.

Some common barriers include: 

• Relying on colour alone to communicate meaning
• Low contrast between chart elements and the background
• Labels or text that are too small to read
• Overly complex charts with too much information
• Charts presented without any written explanation 

These issues can make it difficult for some users to understand what the chart is showing.  

The good news is that many of these barriers can be reduced with small, practical changes. 

Practical ways to make charts more accessible

Improving data visualisation accessibility doesn’t always require specialist tools or technical knowledge. Often, it’s about presenting information more clearly and considering how different users may interact with the data.  

Want to learn more about making data visualisation accessible? 

Ready to start making accessible charts?  

Watch Passion4Social’s full webinar to learn practical ways to present data in ways that more people can understand and access. For webinar materials, downloads and the session transcript, see the Passion4Social webinar resource webpage.

It covers: 

• What data visualisation means and why it matters
• Common barriers in charts and dashboards
• Practical ways to improve accessibility
• Best practice for colour, structure, and readability
• Tools and resources to test accessibility 

Watch the full webinar