{"id":26078,"date":"2025-01-24T08:47:33","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T08:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/?p=26078"},"modified":"2026-01-13T12:00:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T12:00:52","slug":"data-visualization-for-everyone-a-conversation-with-accessibility-advocate-flora-bazie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/webinars\/data-visualization-for-everyone-a-conversation-with-accessibility-advocate-flora-bazie\/","title":{"rendered":"Data visualization for everyone: A conversation with accessibility advocate Flora Bazie"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Data is all around us. It informs decisions, fuels innovation, and connects us to the world. But what happens when someone can\u2019t access it? For \u00d8ystein Moseng, Chief Product Officer at Highsoft, and Flora Bazie, a leading voice in digital accessibility, the answer is clear: inaccessible data creates barriers, and those barriers exclude millions of people from essential information and opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>In their recent conversation, \u00d8ystein and Flora didn\u2019t just discuss why accessibility matters\u2014they explored how it can reshape the way we think about data visualization altogether.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch the full conversation below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\">\n<p><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0;\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VxOaaRtOiMg?si=OCaQXs1Y5BMWfnp_\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Conversation highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Accessibility isn\u2019t optional\u2014it\u2019s fundamental<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cOne of the biggest misconceptions about accessibility is that it\u2019s a \u2018nice-to-have,\u2019\u201d Flora explained. \u201cBut it\u2019s not. It\u2019s about equity. If someone can\u2019t access your data, they\u2019re being left out of decisions that could affect their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00d8ystein echoed this sentiment, pointing to the critical role data plays in moments of crisis. During the California wildfires, for instance, visualizations like evacuation maps and weather forecasts were vital. But if those tools weren\u2019t designed with accessibility in mind, they could leave people without the information they needed to stay safe.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How accessible design transforms data<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>At Highcharts, the goal isn\u2019t just to make data readable\u2014it\u2019s to make it meaningful for everyone. This means rethinking how data is presented from the ground up.<br \/>\nOne way Highcharts achieves this is through sonification\u2014turning data into sound. Imagine a line chart showing wind speeds. Instead of just viewing the highs and lows, you can hear them as tones that rise and fall.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Data is everywhere\u2014so accessibility has to be, too<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>When you start to think about where data appears in everyday life, it\u2019s everywhere: stock market updates, weather forecasts, public health dashboards, even your favorite football team\u2019s stats.<\/p>\n<p>As Flora pointed out, accessible design in these contexts isn\u2019t just helpful\u2014it\u2019s transformative. \u201cI\u2019ve seen people with disabilities say they feel invisible when they can\u2019t access basic information. It\u2019s not just about missing out\u2014it\u2019s about being excluded from society.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00d8ystein agreed. \u201cWe need to think bigger about what accessibility means. It\u2019s not just about a pie chart or a graph. It\u2019s about the role data plays in people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Accessibility is good business<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Beyond the ethical case, there\u2019s a compelling business argument for accessibility. With 1.3 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, the potential audience for accessible products is enormous.<br \/>\n\u00d8ystein shared how Highcharts has made accessibility a cornerstone of their product development. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about reaching more people\u2014it\u2019s about building trust. If someone finds your website or tools inaccessible, they\u2019ll judge your entire brand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flora added that prioritizing accessibility also reduces legal risks. With regulations like the European Accessibility Act, inclusivity is becoming a requirement, not a choice. \u201cBut honestly,\u201d she said, \u201cthe best reason to do it is because it\u2019s the right thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Designing with accessibility in mind<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>For developers, accessibility can seem daunting\u2014but it doesn\u2019t have to be. As \u00d8ystein explained, it\u2019s about shifting your mindset. \u201cInstead of asking, \u2018How can we adapt this for accessibility?\u2019 ask, \u2018How can we design this to work for everyone from the start?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tools like those offered by Highcharts make this easier. From keyboard navigation to ARIA attributes and sonification, these features help developers create inclusive visualizations without reinventing the wheel.<br \/>\nFlora emphasized the importance of listening to users. \u201cAccessibility isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all,\u201d she said. \u201cThe best solutions come from understanding the people you\u2019re designing for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Briefly summarized<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Accessibility in data visualization isn\u2019t just a feature\u2014it\u2019s a responsibility. By making data inclusive, we empower individuals, build trust, and create a more equitable world.<br \/>\nIt isn\u2019t just about compliance. It\u2019s about making people feel seen, heard, and valued.<\/p>\n<p>And for \u00d8ystein, the mission is clear: \u201cWe\u2019re not just making data accessible. We\u2019re making it meaningful.\u201d<br \/>\nReady to take the first step? Highcharts provides the tools and expertise to help you create accessible, engaging data visualizations.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Related posts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/post\/heat-map-examples-using-highcharts\">Heat map examples using Highcharts<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/post\/choropleth-map-examples-using-highcharts\/\">Choropleth map examples using Highcharts<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/tutorials\/maps-with-latitude-longitude-using-highcharts\">Maps with latitude &amp; longitude using Highcharts<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/tutorials\/lightning-map-create-your-own-using-highcharts\/\">Lightning map &#8211; create your own using Highcharts<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/post\/polygon-chart-using-highcharts\">Polygon chart using Highcharts<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/inspirations\/graphing-in-javascript-with-highcharts\">Graphing in JavaScript with Highcharts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Data is all around us. It informs decisions, fuels innovation, and connects us to the world. But what happens when someone can\u2019t access it? For \u00d8ystein Moseng, Chief Product Officer at Highsoft, and Flora Bazie, a leading voice in digital accessibility, the answer is clear: inaccessible data creates barriers, and those barriers exclude millions of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"meta_title":"","meta_description":"","hc_selected_options":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1088],"tags":[789,1063],"coauthors":[695],"class_list":["post-26078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-webinars","tag-accessibility","tag-data-visualization"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26078"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26078\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26094,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26078\/revisions\/26094"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26078"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.highcharts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=26078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}