accessibility-and-inclusive-visualization

Provide a non-visual path to the key insight through short alt text plus a longer description or adjacent data table covering the chart structure, notable values, and main takeaway. Avoid alt text that only names the chart type, and ensure essential information never depends on hover alone.

Write alt text that covers the scene, the data layer, the main takeaway, and any caveats rather than just naming the chart type. For complex figures, pair short alt text with a long description or surrounding narrative, and consider adding a data table as part of the accessibility strategy.

Normal text should meet at least 4.5:1 contrast, large text at least 3:1, and meaningful graphical objects or UI state indicators at least 3:1 against adjacent colors. Also check adjacent mark contrast where boundaries carry information, such as stacked bars or choropleth regions.

Specify reduced-motion behavior with a key-frame or final-state fallback, preserve native scroll and keyboard behavior for scrollytelling, and ensure motion can be disabled without losing the evidence. Provide a static stacked fallback that keeps the data meaning intact.

No, interactivity disappears in exports, so PDFs and static images need their own accessibility strategy. Provide fallback text alternatives, direct labels, and visible summaries of active filters and selections, and test the exported artifact separately from the live chart.