Today we were tasked with redesigning a dashboard to accommodate for people with Dyscalculia. I wanted to go through 5 things I kept in mind whilst designing my dashboard.

Firstly, Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty that affects an individual's ability to comprehend, process and perform mathematical operations. It affects a person's ability to understand and work with numbers, which can make it difficult for them to read, understand and interpret data visualizations that involve numerical data.

In order to make data visualisations accessible for people with dyscalculia, it is important to keep certain design principles in mind. Here are five things to keep in mind when designing a dashboard to make it accessible for people with dyscalculia:

1. Limit the use of numerical data:

People with dyscalculia can struggle to read and understand numerical data, so it's important to limit the amount of numerical data used in the visualization. Instead, use visual aids like icons, symbols, and color-coding to represent data. This will make it easier for individuals with dyscalculia to understand the information being presented.

For example, rounding the numbers up to read '1M' as opposed to 1,100,000 and making it optional to see labels on the charts can help avoid confusing the user.

2. Use clear and simple visual cues:

When designing a dashboard, it's important to use clear and simple visual cues that are easy to understand. For example, use large fonts, bold colors, and simple shapes to represent data. Avoid using complex charts and graphs that require numerical comprehension to interpret.

3. Provide context and explanations:

People with dyscalculia may struggle to understand the context of the data being presented. Providing explanations and context for the data can help individuals with dyscalculia understand the information being presented. This could include adding text descriptions, summaries, or annotations to the visualization.

If you feel it is still useful to include numbers on the chart, for example to use as your KPIs, you can also ensure context is added to what that number means. Using colour to indicate whether this quarter was higher or lower than the previous quarter, and a simple line chart to show the trend over time next to it.

4. Test the visualisation with individuals with dyscalculia:

Ideally, one of the best ways to ensure your dashboard accommodates for people with dyscalculia is to test it with individuals who have the learning difficulty. This can help identify any areas of the design that may be difficult for individuals with dyscalculia to understand and make adjustments accordingly.

If this is not possible, it is always good to do research  read accounts from dyscalculic people. It is estimated that dyscalculia is likely to occur in 3% – 6% of the population, meaning the changes you implement are likely to make a difference.

5. Consider assistive technologies:

Assistive technologies like screen readers, text-to-speech tools, and magnifiers can be helpful for individuals with dyscalculia. When designing a dashboard, it's important to consider how these technologies can be used to make the dashboard more accessible for individuals with dyscalculia.

For example, testing that information written on the dashboard can be used by text-to-speech chrome extensions is a good way to check.

In conclusion, designing a dashboard that is accessible for people with dyscalculia requires a thoughtful approach that takes into consideration the unique challenges that these individuals face. By limiting the use of numerical data, using clear and simple visual cues, providing context and explanations, testing the visualization with individuals with dyscalculia, and considering assistive technologies, designers can create dashboards that are more accessible.