How to Create an Accessible Bar Chart Template in Microsoft Word

Today’s post demonstrates how to design an accessible bar chart template in Microsoft Word using pattern fills instead of relying on color alone.

Video Guide

Set Up Custom Theme Colors

Start by customizing the bar chart’s theme to align with your organization’s branding.

1. Go to the “Design” tab in Microsoft Word.
2. Click “Colors” and choose “Customize Colors.”
3. Select and apply your organization’s official color palette.

These theme colors become the basis for a consistent and accessible bar chart design.

Apply Pattern Fills for Accessibility

To ensure your bar charts do not rely on color alone, use pattern fills for each data series:

1. Select a bar in the chart.
2. Right-click and choose “Format Data Series.”
3. In the Fill section, select “Pattern Fill.”

Assign distinct patterns to each data series. In the companion video, we chose:

• diagonal lines for yellow,
• check pattern for blue,
• vertical lines for red,
• horizontal lines for green, and
• checkered for orange.

Set the foreground color to a matching theme color and the background to white (or black) to ensure strong contrast and visibility.

Enhance Visibility and Readability

Zoom into the chart to verify that each pattern is distinguishable. This ensures the chart remains readable for users with low vision or when printed in grayscale.

Adjust patterns if they appear too similar or unclear.

Bold all category labels and series names to enhance readability and assist screen readers. Ensure that all text and background combinations meet acceptable contrast ratios for accessibility.

Save the Accessible Bar Chart Template

After customizing the chart:

1. Select the entire chart.
2. Right-click and choose “Save as Template.”
3. Enter a descriptive name and save the file.

This template can now be applied to other charts in the same or different documents, saving time and ensuring accessibility consistency.

Insert the Accessible Bar Chart Template

To apply the saved template to a new document:

1. Insert a new chart in Word.
2. Right-click that chart and select “Change Chart Type.”
3. Open the “Templates” tab and select your saved accessible chart template.

This allows you to maintain the accessibility you applied to your bar chart across all documents without recreating the settings each time.

Download the Free Section 508 Checklist for Microsoft Word:

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Final Thoughts

Designing accessible bar charts supports a wider audience and aligns with best practices for inclusive communication. By customizing pattern fills, verifying visibility, and saving templates, you create documents that are both efficient and accessible.

Let me be your champion for inclusion. I offer tailored solutions (and self-paced courses!) to ensure your documents meet and exceed compliance expectations. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!