Accessibility Workshop on OER for LaGuardia Community College: Alternative Text (alt-text)

General Information:

Making images and graphics “visible” to all users is one of the first principles of accessibility.  Adding alternative text (alt text) to an image or graphic allows it to be discoverable and understood by users  in a variety of ways. Text alternatives convey the purpose of an image or function to provide an equivalent user experience. For instance, an appropriate text alternative for a search button would be “search” rather than “magnifying lens”.

Why using alternative text (alt-text) is important

• Adding alternative text (“alt text”) will make images and graphics “visible”.
• Text alternatives serve as labels for controls and functionality to aid keyboard navigation and navigation by voice recognition (speech input).
• For people using screen readers or browsing speech-enabled websites alt-text can be read aloud or rendered as Braille.
• Alt-text gives the speech input software users the ability to put focus onto a button or linked image with a single voice command. 
• Alt-text allows mobile users to turn images off to help with download speeds or limit data-roaming charges.
• Alternative text (alt-text) covers POUR principles perceive, operate understand, robust.

How to create good alt-text?

• Remember that context matters when creating alt-text.
• Always ask yourself “What is the context and purpose of this image/graphic?“
• Create alt-text which provides a textual alternative to non-text content.
• Describe the content and function represented by the image/graphic.
• PRO TIP:
  • Place a “.” period at the end of your alt-text, this notifies screen readers the alt-text is done.
  • Don't use the words "image of, picture of, photo of etc." it is redundant.  Assistive technology already announces the item is an image.
  • Add alt-text to images in documents, web sites and social media posts.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has created a very useful guide on how to create useful alt-text.

Alt-Text for Images

• Adding alt-text to your images is an accessibility best practice.
• In LibGuides there are several ways to add alt-text to images.
• You can add "default" alt-text to an image by using the "Image Manager" to upload the image.
  • Each time you reuse an image its default alt-text will be attached.
  • This greatly increases the odds alt-text won't be overlooked (especially for images in your shared library.)
• You can also add /change alt-text when you add an image in a Rich Text/HTML.

How to add default alt-text to an image via the Image Manager:

1. Go to Content in top menu bar
2. Click on Image Manager in drop down menu

3. In the Image Manager window, upload a new image, then click on the thumbnail or and/ click on the thumbnail of image already uploaded to add default alt-text. (Make sure to click on the actual image and not link icon.)

4. In the Edit Image Properties window, enter your alt-text into the Alternative Text field.
5. Click the Save button.

How to add alt-text to an image you add via the Rich Text/HTML box:

• Select "Add Rich Text/ HTML"

• Select "Image" icon

• In the "Image Properties" window type in the alt-text in the "Alternative Text" field.

Create Alt-text for Images

• Adding alt-text to your images is an accessibility best practice.
• Making images and graphics "visible" to all users is one of the first principles of accessibility. 
• The way you make your image visible to everyone is by adding "alternative text" or "alt-text".
• For people using screen readers or browsing speech-enabled websites alt-text can be read aloud or rendered as Braille.
• Alt-text gives the speech input software users the ability to put focus onto a button or linked image with a single voice command. 
• Alt-text allows mobile users to turn images off to help with download speeds or limit data-roaming charges.
• In WordPress classic editor there are several ways to add alt-text to images to your site.
• You can add "default" alt-text to an image so that each time you reuse the image its default alt-text will be attached.
  • This greatly increases the odds alt-text won't be overlooked (especially for images in your shared library.)
  • You can edit this "default" alt-text on individual pages (option four)

Option 1: Adding Default Alt-text to Image via Media Button

1. Select <Add Media> button from within a page or post
2. In the "Add Media" pop-up window, select an image already uploaded (you will see a check-mark next to the image you select)
   1. If you need to upload an image first then, select upload files tab, upload your image and then do step 2.
3. Once an image is selected you will see the "Attachment Details" box on the right hand side of your window.
4. Type in the image's "Alt-text" in the Alternative Text box.

Option 2: Adding Default Alt-text to Image via "Media" left side-bar option & "Add New" button

1. Select "Media" on the left side-bar
2. Click on the <Add New> button located in the "Media Library" window
3. Drag & drop image or search computer to upload image
4. Once an image is uploaded, select it (you will see a check-mark next to the image you select)
5. Once an image is selected you will see the "Attachment Details" box.
6. Type in the image's "Alt-text" in the Alternative Text box.

Option 3: Adding Default Alt-text to Image via left side-bar option "Media" - "Add New"

1. Select on "Media" on the left side-bar to open up drop down menu
2. Click on "Add New", located under "Media" and "Library".
3. Drag & drop image or search computer to upload image.
4. As your image is being uploaded you will see a progress bar saying "crunching".
5. After image is uploaded, click on the work "Edit" (located on the bottom right) 
6. A new window will open, an "Edit Media" window.
7. Type in the image's "Alt-text" in the Alternative Text box.

Option 4: Customizing Alt-text of images on individual pages or posts

1. Click <Add Media> button from within a page or post
2. In the "Add Media" pop-up window, select an image already uploaded (you will see a check-mark next to the image you select).
3. Click on <Insert into page> button.
4. Once back on the page or post, click on the image you just uploaded.
5. A new editing bar will pop-up
6. Click on the pencil "edit" icon
7. An "Image Details" page will pop-up.
8. Here you can edit the alt-text without changing the "default" alt-text of the image.