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Accessibility in Excel : Visual Characteristics

Ensuring that visual characteristics in Excel are accessible is critical for users with visual impairments, such as color blindness, low vision, or blindness. Making visual elements accessible in Excel allows everyone to understand and interact with the data efficiently. 

Best Practices for the Visual Characteristics:  

Here are several key aspects of visual accessibility in Excel and how to make them more inclusive: 

Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast 

Color contrast is vital for users with low vision or color blindness to distinguish between different elements (text, background, charts, etc.). 

1. How to Improve Contrast

  • High Contrast Between Text and Background: 

  • Ensure that text has a strong contrast with the background color. For example, black text on a white or light background is highly readable. 

2. Avoid Relying on Color Alone

  • Don't rely on color alone to convey meaning (e.g., red for negative values, green for positive ones). Users who are colorblind may not perceive the colors as intended. 

  • Use symbols, labels, or patterns in addition to color to communicate differences in data. For example, instead of just coloring cells red and green, use text labels like "Negative" or "Positive." 

Example: 

If you're creating a chart that uses red and green to show good or bad values, you should add labels, such as “Profit” and “Loss,” or use patterns in the bars. 

For more information check: Why "Visual Characteristics" Matter. 

See below for additional information on:

Additional Tips 

For more information, check out the WCAG 2.2 for detailed guidance on ensuring your web and document content is fully accessible. 

How to use DAK: