Data visualization is a critical tool for understanding complex information, but it often falls short in one key area: accessibility. When diagrams and workflows aren’t designed with accessibility in mind, everyone’s experience suffers – not just those with specific impairments.
‍
Even temporary barriers – like screen glare on a sunny day, visual fatigue after hours of work, or navigating on a smaller device – can create accessibility challenges.

The client: A leading broadcaster’s accessibility mission

A global organization delivering digital learning and interactive content wanted to enhance the accessibility of their workflow visualization tool. Their platform relied on interactive data visualization to structure and present complex information to a wide audience, including educators, students, and professionals.

With a commitment to inclusive education, they set out to improve the accessibility of their workflow visualization tool. Their goal was to make sure that every user – regardless of ability – could navigate, interpret, and interact with complex data seamlessly.

The challenge: Making complex data visualization accessible

Although the client prioritized accessibility, their existing workflow visualization tools lacked support for assistive technologies, creating significant barriers for users dependent on keyboard navigation, screen readers, or high-contrast visuals.

Keyboard accessibility & navigation

The client wanted full keyboard navigation with logical tab orders to ensure users could interact with diagrams without a mouse. Their existing solution lacked a structured keyboard interaction system, making it impossible for screen reader users to navigate workflows efficiently.

Lack of contextual interaction guidance

There was no accessible interaction list to help users understand the full range of actions available in specific views, leading to confusion and inefficiency. The system lacked a search box for quickly locating nodes and a mini-map for visualizing large or complex workflows, further limiting usability for datasets with tens of thousands of elements.

Screen reader compatibility

Diagram elements lacked metadata, so the screen readers couldn’t interpret relationships between nodes. Without clear screen reader descriptions, users had no way of understanding hierarchies, links, or workflow dependencies. Important status changes and transitions between nodes weren’t optimized for screen readers, making it difficult for users to follow workflows.

Visual accessibility

While the platform aimed for compliance, it didn’t focus on enhancing overall usability and comfort, leaving some users with temporary barriers unsupported. Low-contrast UI elements made distinguishing between nodes and relationships difficult for users with vision impairments. On top of that, there was a clear gap in alternative interaction methods – users who struggled with traditional click-and-drag interfaces had no fallback navigation options.

Scalability & performance

The client needed a system that could handle over 20,000+ nodes while maintaining accessibility. The solution had to be optimized for performance without sacrificing usability, meaning Synergy Codes needed to balance accessibility features with system responsiveness.

Need for WCAG 2.1 compliance

Accessibility compliance wasn’t a "nice-to-have" – meeting WCAG 2.1 standards was a hard requirement from the client. The client conducted in-depth reviews of every implementation to ensure that color contrast, keyboard interaction, and screen reader functionality were thoroughly tested before approval.

Quite a lot of limitations! And, all of them not only impacted users with disabilities but also reduced the system's overall usability. 

This is where Synergy Codes stepped in, designing a fully accessible, scalable, and high-performing solution to transform how users interact with complex workflows.

The solution: Building an accessible, scalable workflow visualization tool

To bridge the accessibility gap in workflow visualization, Synergy Codes designed a fully accessible, WCAG 2.1-compliant solution that ensured equal access for all users without compromising performance or scalability. 

Every aspect of the tool – from navigation through interaction to rendering – was built with accessibility-first principles while handling complex datasets of 20,000+ nodes.

Keyboard-first navigation for a spotless experience

As highlighted earlier, the system's lack of structured keyboard navigation created a barrier for screen reader users, preventing them from navigating through workflows as effectively as possible.

The implemented solutions included:

• Logical tab navigation → Structured so users can move sequentially through nodes, links, and menus – and operate the system without a mouse, which improves usability for assistive technology users.
• Keyboard shortcuts → Added for core actions (node selection, zooming, panning). Examples: enabled WSAD navigation for moving nodes, F2 for editing, and Delete/Backspace for removing nodes, along with shortcuts for expanding/collapsing node groups.
• Focus management system → Users can now track their position in workflows with proper visual focus indicators.
• Search box functionality → Allows users to locate and center nodes dynamically, even for large datasets. Lazy loading ensures optimal performance during node retrieval.
• Mini-map integration → Offers a high-level overview of the entire diagram, making navigation more intuitive for users handling complex workflows.

Advanced screen reader support & structured metadata

Previously, screen readers struggled to explain workflows because the tool was missing metadata for nodes and relationships. The system’s workflows needed to convey real-time updates for screen reader users. Thanks to Synergy Codes, it's now smooth sailing.

The implemented solutions included:

• Accessible node structure → Screen readers can now identify nodes, connections, and context (e.g., "This process leads to a conditional branch") to help users fully understand and interact with workflows (including nested structures).
• ARIA attributes applied → Ensures full compatibility with leading screen readers NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.
• Optimized label structures → Metadata now provides clear, contextual descriptions for screen readers to acknowledge status changes and transitions between nodes.

Accessible interaction list for better usability

The lack of a contextual guide for actions made workflows harder to tackle.

The implemented solutions included:

• Dynamic interaction list → Displays available actions in the current view for improved clarity and usability.
• Assistive technology compatibility → Fully supports screen readers so visually impaired users can interact with the list.

Improved visual accessibility with high-contrast UI (+alternative interaction methods)

Previously, the low-contrast UI made it difficult for visually impaired users to see the nodes and relationships clearly. This is now a thing of the past. The workflow builder is fully adaptable to any visual needs – beyond just required compliance.

The implemented solutions included:

• High-contrast mode → Adjustable color themes for better visibility.
• Scalable UI elements → Improved support for zooming without distortion.
• Alternative interaction methods → Added support for keyboard-based actions to replace drag-and-drop functionality.

Enhanced performance optimization for large datasets

A key requirement was ensuring the system remained performant even when processing large-scale workflows. This has been successfully achieved – the system remains fast and responsive, even with accessibility layers enabled.

The implemented solutions included:

• Lazy loading → Only visible elements are rendered dynamically to reduce memory load.
• Optimized rendering engine → Done for smooth performance in large datasets.
• Hierarchical layouts → Automatically structures complex workflows for readability.

Proactive accessibility testing: checking compliance BEFORE client review

They say the proof is in the pudding, we say the proof is in the testing. But, accessibility testing was previously client-driven, leading to feedback loops and revisions. We’ve changed it. The client review process became way faster, as most accessibility issues were proactively resolved before handoff.

The implemented solutions on the manual accessibility testing checklist included:

• Testing for accessibility compliance → Verified tab orders, keyboard interactions, and focus states.
• Screen reader validation → Confirmed metadata accuracy with NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.
• Contrast verification → WCAG-compliant accessibility testing tools ensured compliance.

The outcome: How accessibility changed the client’s workflow visualization

When accessibility is done right, it doesn’t just remove barriers – it creates a more intuitive, efficient, and scalable user experience for everyone.

For the client, it was a strategic shift toward making data visualization more inclusive, efficient, and future-proof.

A platform that works for everyone

Before: Users with disabilities struggled to interact with workflows, facing challenges like navigation issues, missing metadata, and low visibility. Users struggled to identify available actions or use the system without a mouse.

Now: The system significantly improves how users, regardless of ability, can navigate, interpret, and manage workflows, reducing common barriers. With the hotkey legend and interaction list, users can navigate workflows as they please using shortcuts and view context-specific actions. Features like keyboard shortcuts and the mini-map have made workflows even more efficient.

From accessibility challenges to a significantly more inclusive experience

Before: Accessibility issues were identified late in the reviewing process, causing delays and revisions.

Now: With proactive accessibility testing, compliance is baked into the system from the start, eliminating last-minute fixes and speeding up deployment.

Performance at scale without sacrificing accessibility

Before: The client could have worried that accessibility layers would slow down performance, especially with large datasets.

Now: The workflow editor handles tens of thousands of nodes without UI lag, proving that scalability and accessibility can coexist without compromise.

Taking a significant step towards more inclusive data visualization

Before: Accessibility was viewed as a necessary requirement rather than a competitive advantage. Enhancements were treated as a box-ticking exercise.

Now: The client sets the benchmark for accessible data visualization in their industry – reinforcing their reputation as a leader in inclusive digital experiences. The platform goes beyond compliance, offering a more comfortable experience for all users, regardless of ability or situation.

From inaccessible workflows to fully screen reader-compatible diagrams

Before: Screen readers couldn’t describe transitions or status updates, leaving visually impaired users unable to follow workflows.

Now: With optimized metadata and ARIA attributes, screen readers can fully describe node statuses, relationships, and transitions in real time.

Accessibility designed for everyone, everywhere

Accessibility is often viewed as merely ticking compliance checklists, but its true value lies in creating solutions that enhance usability for a diverse range of users. Whether someone relies on assistive technologies or faces temporary challenges—such as working in bright sunlight or navigating without a mouse—an inclusive design approach ensures a more adaptable and seamless experience.

By prioritizing accessibility from the start, we don’t just address the needs of a specific user group—we improve the overall efficiency, clarity, and usability of our solutions. Thoughtful accessibility practices lead to better workflows, faster interactions, and a more intuitive experience for all users.

We understand that accessibility is more than just meeting WCAG guidelines—it’s about designing solutions that work effectively in real-world scenarios. That’s why we embed accessibility into the foundation of our designs, ensuring interactions are not only standards-compliant but also intuitive, efficient, and practical.

Through years of designing complex diagramming and data visualization tools, we have gained deep expertise in making these solutions more accessible. We recognize that inclusive design is an ongoing process—one that requires continuous refinement and adaptation to meet evolving user needs.

‍