Around the World - Beyond Numbers
To be honest, this was one of the first times I seriously considered what it means to build accessible reports—reports that can be used by people who cannot actually see what is on the screen or who have other limitations.
Sure, color blindness is widely known, and I always try to account for that. However, aspects like keyboard navigation or alternative text were things I had not explored in depth before, even though I have built many reports. I think accessibility does not receive enough attention.
Exploring Accessibility in Power BI
For me, this was an interesting exercise. I tried to explore different aspects:
- How can I make the report interactive?
- How can I integrate different accessibility features?
The actual report might be interesting for some and not for others. It is simply my travel data from my last five major trips. I tracked my spending using an app, categorized it, and compiled everything into a CSV file, which is also attached so you can check it out.
The Accessibility Challenge
As I built the data model and the report, I decided to actively incorporate accessibility features. But what does that actually mean?
- Defining a proper tab order
- Grouping elements meaningfully for screen readers
- Adding descriptive alt text for images
One of the most exciting moments was when I started using AI to generate alt text. I truly believe AI will play a huge role in accessibility in the future. Imagine having an AI-powered feature that dynamically generates alt text, integrating Copilot directly into the alt text field. That is something I would love to see.
A Bit of Context for the Report
The data comes from my personal Travelspend app, which tracked my spending as accurately as possible. There might be some inaccuracies, but the main idea behind this report is to inspire you by showing what you can do with your own travel data.
How to Start Learning Power BI?
- Use your own data or something related to a hobby you are passionate about.
- Start small, maybe with a simple Power Query and just one table, and grow with your curiosity.
You can download this report from my GitHub and experiment with it however you like.
This is NOT an infographic—it is an interactive report!
If you search online for great Power BI reports, you will find many impressive dashboards and infographics, some interactive, some more static. With this report, I wanted to create a small but practical example using data that most people can easily relate to.
Navigation Features Implemented
- Drill-throughs on buttons
- Field parameters
- Page navigation
However, I deliberately did not use native drill-downs, though they are very powerful for experienced users, or bookmarks, making it easier to adapt and experiment with the report on your own Power BI journey.
To keep it as flexible as possible, I only used core visuals.
I hope this inspires you—I look forward to your feedback!
1 Reply
Very Good!
