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What’s an Infographic?

For this discussion an “infographic” refers to a document presenting information using text combined with graphics. Infographics can be created as a series of informational boxes or have a more connected structure like a path or a timeline. Infographics can make for effective posters, but can present accessibility challenges as a digital format.

What makes an infographic a challenge to describe is the sheer volume of information embedded in the document. In fact the description of some infographics can cover one or more pages and incorporate multiple headings.

Wikipedia Page with NASA Infographic

Below is a screen capture of a Wikipedia page on visible light and spectroscopy featuring a NASA-based infographic about how different wave lengths can penetrate the atmosphere. Note that Wikipedia allows users to enlarge and download images.

Wikipedia page about spectroscopy with a small, but detailed infographic. See details below.

Note that the description could be embedded in a page with multiple headings already in place…And that page could be viewed on a smart phone or YouTube video. In either situation, a lot of sighted people might also benefit from a long description.

Text Description: NASA Atmospheric Electromagnetic Opacity

This infographic is a graph mapping the depth of atmospheric penetration of electromagnetic radiation by wavelength. It includes different types of annotation described below. Additional details from Wikipedia: Optical Window.

Infographic showing that shorter-wave radio waves and visible light penetrate the atmosphere the most effectively. Other wave lengths like gamma rays, x-rays, infrared and long radio waves are blocked by the atmosphere. See details below.

View Description of NASA Graphic

File Name: Atmospheric electromagnetic opacity

  • The horizontal x-axis is "Wavelength" with a range of 0.1 nm (gamma rays) on the left to over 1 km (radio waves)
  • The vertical y-axis is "Atmospheric Opacity" with a range of 0-100%

The table below presents the wavelength ranges and annotation. An ~ indicates an approximate value.

Data: Atmospheric electromagnetic opacity
Wavelength Range % Opacity Graphic & Text
0.1 nm – ~300 nm (Gamma, X-Rays, ultraviolet) 100% (blocked) Satellite: Gamma rays, X-rays and ultravioletlight blocked by the upper atmosphere (best observed from space).
~300 – 700 nm (< 1 μm) – Visible colors dips to ~10% Rainbow graphic: Visible light observable from Earth, with some atmospheric distortion.
1 μm – 10 μ – Just beyond visible light Varies between 20-80% with multiple sharp spikes N/A
~50 μm – 50 mm (0.5 cm) (infrared) Mostly 100% , but begins dipping by Space telescope or satellite: Most of the infrared spectrum absorbed by atmospheri cgases (best observed from space).
0.5 cm – 6 cm Transition to 0% with two spikes N/A
~ 6 cm – ~20 m (shorter radio waves) 0% (complete penetration) Radio telescope: Radio waves observable from Earth
20 m to over 1km (long radio waves) 100% (blocked) Long-wave length radio waves blocked.

Example CDC Infographic: Access to Dental Health

Below is an informational poster/infographic from the CDC about access to dental care in the United States. Note that the ortiginal version is text-based HTML file, and the PDF poster file is a tagged PDF.

An infographic giving statistics about U.S. dental care and financial blockers to access. See details below.

View CDC Graphic Text

Long Description: Access to Dental Care

The infographic is a poster containing several blocks of information. See details below.
Note: An * indicates a highlighted word or phrase.

Title: ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE

Subtitle: HEALTH, UNITED STATES, 2020-2021: ANNUAL PERSPECTIVE-ORAL HEALTH BY INCOME

Health, United States synthesizes final data from multiple sources to highlight the complex and multifactorial nature of disparities in health outcomes.

Callout: Access to dental treatment differs according to where people live and their income.

Unequal distribution of dentists creates shortages in some states

Box 1: The national supply of dentists 1 increased from 2010 to 2020, but *60 MILLION AMERICANS live in areas with a shortage of dentists.

Box 2: In 2020, Arkansas, Alabama, and Mississippi had the *lowest rate of dentists while Washington D.C., Massachusetts, and Alaska had the highest rate per capita

Map: A U.S. Map shows states with the highest and lowest rates of dentists. See the list below for data.

  • Lowest Access Rate Per Capita: Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi
  • Highest Access Rate Per Capita: Washington, D.C., Massachisetts, Alaska

SOURCE: Health Resources and Services Administration. Health professional shortage areas dashboard. March 2021. data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/shortage-areas.

Income affects receipt of needed dental care

Box 1

*High out-of-pocket costs for dental care contributed to unmet need for dental care

The share of costs paid out of pocket was *5× as high for dental care as for physician and clinical care in 2019

Graphic: A see-saw graphic shows a tooth over five stacks of money on the down side of the see-saw versus a doctor’s office with one stack on the up side of the see-saw.

Box 2

Adults with *lower incomes were less likely to receive needed dental care because of cost

Graph: Unmet need for dental care in 2019 (adults aged 18–64)

Key: FPL = Federal Poverty Level

A bar graph shows that:

  • 30.7% of adults 18-64 are "living below 100% of FPL"
  • 8.2% are "living at 400% or more of FPL"

Footer

Health, United States, 2020–2021: Annual Perspective. www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/report.htm

CDC Logo

End Description

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Last Update: May 9, 2025