#43039
Speaker(s)
- Dax Castro, Accessible Document Specialist, Chax Training and Consulting
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
Org charts are often visually clear but inaccessible to screen reader users. This session explores common barriers in org charts and how to fix them. Learn practical techniques to create accessible structures, meaningful descriptions, and usable alternatives so your org charts communicate effectively for everyone.
Abstract
Organizational charts are designed to communicate hierarchy, relationships, and structure at a glance. Visually, they are effective. But for screen reader users, org charts are often confusing, incomplete, or entirely inaccessible. The very elements that make them useful visually can create significant barriers when not designed with accessibility in mind.
This session explores the gap between visual clarity and accessible communication in org charts. Attendees will learn why common approaches such as exporting org charts as images or complex grouped objects fail to provide meaningful access. We will examine how assistive technologies interpret these structures and where critical information is lost.
Using the NVDA screen reader, we will test different versions of org charts to demonstrate how hierarchy, relationships, and roles are conveyed or missed entirely. You will hear how poorly structured content results in disjointed or meaningless output, and how small changes can dramatically improve comprehension.
We will cover practical techniques for making org charts accessible, including how to structure content logically, when to use lists, heading structure or tables as alternatives, and how to write effective descriptions that convey relationships without overwhelming the user. The session will also address when a fully accessible recreation is needed versus when a well-crafted alternative can provide equivalent access.
Rather than focusing on compliance alone, this session emphasizes usability. Attendees will walk away with clear strategies for evaluating their org charts, identifying accessibility risks, and implementing solutions that ensure the information is understandable for all users.
If your org charts currently rely on visual interpretation, this session will provide the tools to make them truly accessible.
Keypoints
- Learn why visual org charts fail and what screen readers actually interpret.
- Hear how NVDA exposes hierarchy and relationship gaps.
- Get practical tips on creating accessible, usable org charts and alternatives.
Disability Areas
Cognitive/Learning, Vision
Topic Areas
Alternate Format, Assistive Technology, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Dax Castro
Dax is an Adobe Certified PDF Accessibility Trainer, Accessible Document Specialist and member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. He has more than 25 years experience creating digital content using InDesign, Acrobat and other creative software. Dax specializes in user-centered accessibility approaches that push the envelope of technology to produce more robust accessible documents that still meet Section 508, WCAG 2.0/2.1 and PDF/UA compliance. Dax is also the co-host of the accessibility podcast Chax Chat streaming on all major podcast platforms.