Accessible Data Visualization and Reporting Using SAS^®

Every organization is striving to make better decisions using data. Achieving that goal requires widespread adoption of data visualization and reporting so the right people have the right information at the right time.

From an accessibility perspective, data visualization presents many challenges which include:

• Data visualizations are inherently visual. How can people with blindness perceive them?
• Authors of data visualizations use color and other visual characteristics to convey meaning. How can users with low vision adapt data visualizations to meet their individual needs while preserving that meaning?
• Data visualizations may support rich interactions such as drillling, filtering, and brushing. How can people with mobility impairments use those interactions without using a mouse or a physical keyboard?

SAS began investing in accessible data visualization and reporting in 2011. From the beginning, that investment has been driven by SAS employees with disabilities for the benefit of SAS users with disabilities. The result is innovative technologies that have been, and continue to be, incorporated across our product suite.

This page provides an overview of our progress towards equal access to data visualization and reporting. It is updated on a regular basis because we continue to invest, innovate, and ship new accessibility features that enable people with disabilities to access the power of analytics. Come back often for the latest updates.

Do you need help with accessible data visualization and reporting? Please send email to accessibility@sas.com. We'll be happy to help.

Are you a SAS user with a disability? Check out the SAS Disability Support Center.

SAS Visual Analytics

SAS Visual Analytics supports data exploration, analytics, and reporting. Using SAS Visual Analytics, you can create interactive data visualizations and reports that can be viewed within a web browser, viewed within native apps, or embedded in web pages.

Learn more about accessible reporting using SAS Visual Analytics

SAS Output Delivery System

The SAS Output Delivery System (ODS) enables SAS users to programmatically generate reports in a variety of formats including HTML5 and PDF. Using ODS, you can create reports that conform with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA provided that you follow best practices for accessibility.

Learn how to create accessible reports using ODS

SAS Graphics Accelerator

SAS Graphics Accelerator is a free extension for Google Chrome. It enables users with visual impairments or blindness to access alternative presentations of data visualizations that were created using SAS Visual Analytics and ODS. Those alternative presentations include automatically-generated text descriptions, tabular data, and interactive exploration using sound.

Learn how SAS Graphics Accelerator enables access to data visualizations using non-visual methods