How to Create and Publish Accessible Dashboards with Lumenore

Data isn’t just numbers—it drives decisions, strategies, and daily operations. But for data to be truly powerful, dashboard must be created and published for everyone, including people with disabilities.

With Lumenore’s built-in accessibility features, organizations can create dashboards that meet WCAG 2.0 AA and Section 508 standards—ensuring inclusivity, usability, and compliance right out of the box.

Why Dashboard Accessibility Matters

Accessibility is essential for creating inclusive experiences that benefit everyone. For businesses using retail analysis software, ensuring accessibility means more users can interact with insights effectively. With no-code business intelligence tools becoming more common, accessible design empowers teams across all skill levels to explore data and make informed decisions. 

Legal Compliance 

In the United States, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandates that digital tools used by federal agencies and affiliated entities be accessible to people with disabilities. Similar laws exist in the European Union, the UK, Canada, and several Asia-Pacific countries. 

That means if your organization serves or partners with government agencies, educational institutions, or public health departments, your dashboards must meet these standards. Not doing so can result in non-compliance, lawsuits, or contract loss. 

However, achieving compliance remains a significant challenge. A 2023 study by Utah State University’s WebAIM project revealed that 96.3% of the top one million homepages had detectable WCAG 2 failures. 

For instance, a public hospital can use no-code business intelligence tools to track patient safety metrics that are compatible with screen readers for visually impaired clinicians and administrators. Failing to provide that functionality could violate Section 508, limit data accessibility, and reduce quality of care. 

Equity in the Workplace 

Accessibility isn’t just about laws—it’s about inclusion. Your dashboards should work for every employee, not just a tech-savvy few. Creating dashboards that consider different needs means your entire team can work more effectively. 

For example, a retail chain might build a retail analytics dashboard to monitor footfall, inventory turnover, and sales performance. If those dashboards are not usable on assistive devices or high-contrast modes, store managers or field staff with different accessibility needs may be left out of important decisions. 

Usability for All 

Accessible dashboards are not just better for users with disabilities—they tend to be more usable for everyone. Advanced features like clear tab order, meaningful titles, and high-contrast visuals reduce cognitive overload and improve navigation across the board. 

Moreover, platforms that have enhanced data accessibility have experienced approximately a 25% surge in user engagement rates, indicating that users are more likely to interact with and rely on dashboards that are designed with accessibility in mind. 

Consider the case of operators on a shop floor who access dashboards via tablets or terminals. Accessible design—like large fonts, voice command support, and touch-friendly buttons—makes it easier to access KPIs quickly, reducing downtime and errors. 

What Lumenore Offers Out of the Box? 

Lumenore has built-in accessibility features that work out of the box—no setup or configuration is needed. These features are automatically enabled, ensuring your dashboards are accessible from the moment you start building. This allows users to focus on insights without worrying about technical adjustments. 

Keyboard Navigation 

All interactive elements in Lumenore dashboards can be accessed using standard keyboard keys. Users can move between charts, filters, and pages using tab, arrow keys, and shortcut combinations. 

Screen Reader Compatibility 

Lumenore dashboards support screen readers, allowing users to receive spoken feedback about titles, visual types, and associated text. This makes dashboards navigable for blind or low-vision users. 

High-Contrast Themes  

Users can switch to high-contrast themes for better visibility in low-light conditions or to enhance visual comfort. These themes are particularly valuable in glare, reflective surfaces, or varying lighting environments. 

Store managers or floor staff using retail analytics dashboards on tablets in brightly lit showrooms or under overhead lighting benefit from high-contrast views, ensuring data from retail business intelligence software remains clear and readable. This improves efficiency and reduces visual fatigue during long shifts. 

Focus Indicators 

When users navigate a dashboard using a keyboard—such as through the Tab key—focus indicators ensure that the currently selected visual or element is clearly outlined or highlighted. This allows seamless, confident interaction without relying on a mouse or touch input. 

For users working with no-code business intelligence tools, especially in fast-paced retail environments, this feature helps maintain accessibility while exploring retail analysis software interfaces, ensuring that key data points remain easy to locate and interpret. 

Mobile Responsiveness 

Lumenore dashboards are built to be fully responsive, automatically adjusting to different screen sizes—from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. This flexibility ensures that users can access data insights anytime, anywhere, without compromising clarity, usability, or interactive features. Whether a retail operations manager checks the retail analytics dashboard on the shop floor or a business executive reviews KPIs on the go, mobile responsiveness guarantees a consistent experience across all devices. 

Features That Require Input from Dashboard Creators 

While many features are automated, dashboard authors must set up some key aspects of accessibility. Lumenore gives you the tools—you bring the judgment. 

Add Alt Text to Visuals 

Alt text helps users understand the message of a visual without needing to see it. Each visual should have a short, descriptive summary. It becomes crucial for users relying on screen readers, and it reinforces the purpose of the visual even for those who aren’t. 

Avoid vague labels like “Bar Chart.” 

Use descriptions like “Line graph showing 20% increase in month-over-month sales from January to April.” 

For instance, the ‘Donut chart showing 60% of returns coming from the Electronics category’ is a good example of a complete alt text. 

Use Clear, Descriptive Titles and Labels 

Replace generic titles like “Widget 3” with accurate, helpful context such as “Monthly Sales by Product Category.” Labels within charts should be self-explanatory, not cryptic acronyms or internal shorthand. 

Instead of “LOS Trends,” use “Average Length of Stay by Department.” 

Define Tab Order 

Setting the correct tab order ensures that users navigating via the keyboard encounter visuals logically—usually left to right, top to bottom. 

If the production status comes first, then inventory and QA alerts are the order you want in the dashboard layout and keyboard tabbing. 

Avoid Relying Solely on Color 

Don’t use color alone to convey information. Colorblind users may not be able to distinguish between red and green indicators, for instance. 

Use shapes, text, or patterns in addition to color to show meaning. 

For instance, a dashboard showing order status can include checkmarks for completed orders and “X” icons for canceled ones—alongside color cues. 

Expanding the Toolkit: Tips for More Accessible Dashboards 

Accessibility is an ongoing mindset that shapes how we design and build experiences. It goes beyond toggling settings to include thoughtful decisions that improve usability for everyone. Here are some practical tips to help make your dashboards more inclusive from the start: 

Keep Visuals Simple 

Limit the number of visuals per page. Overcrowded dashboards overwhelm users and are more challenging for screen readers to interpret. Stick to one question per visual and avoid overloading charts with too many variables. 

Maintain Consistent Layouts 

Use uniform spacing, alignment, and visual hierarchy. This helps users predict where to find information and reduces learning time. 

For instance, daily dashboards showing patient admission stats should follow the same structure each day so clinical staff can interpret them at a glance. 

Provide Text Summaries 

Add short narratives or takeaways to highlight key trends. These summaries help all users, especially those with cognitive disabilities or limited data literacy. 

For example, ‘Foot traffic increased 12% week-over-week, with the highest uptick seen in the downtown flagship store,’ gives users a quick, digestible insight without needing to interpret complex charts on a retail analytics dashboard. This makes retail business intelligence software more inclusive and actionable for diverse teams. 

Offer Downloadable Versions 

Give users the option to download dashboards in accessible formats (e.g., tagged PDFs or CSVs). Some users may prefer to consume data using their accessibility tools. 

Test with Real Users 

Use screen reader simulators and keyboard-only navigation to test your dashboards. If possible, get feedback from users with disabilities to understand real-world usability gaps. 

Publishing Accessible Dashboards in Lumenore 

Once your dashboard is designed with accessibility in mind, the publishing process in Lumenore maintains those standards. Whether you are embedding the dashboard in a portal, sharing with a team, or exporting to a report, Lumenore ensures that your accessibility settings carry over. 

Key things to check before publishing: 

•  Alt text is added for all visuals. 

• Logical tab order is confirmed. 

• Titles and labels are clear. 

• Color is supported with additional indicators. 

• Keyboard navigation is functional.

After publishing, you can also 

• Share the dashboard with accessibility-friendly link previews. 

• Set user-level permissions to control who sees what. 

• Export to accessible formats like HTML or tagged PDF. 

Final Thoughts 

Creating accessible dashboards doesn’t just open the door to more users—it raises the quality of your analytics. When you make your insights easier to read, navigate, and understand, you help people focus on what really matters: the data itself. 

Lumenore provides a platform that meets the moment—accessible by design and ready for everyone. So, the next time you build a dashboard, think beyond the data. Think about who’s looking at it—and make sure they all can. Turn data into visually appealing dashboards today!