Adding alternative text

Alternative text or alt text is important to include so that learners who use screen readers can fully engage with content. There are several ways to add alt text, depending on what website you are using or content you are creating. In general, start with right clicking the image or graphic and look for the option to Edit Alt Text or to edit Properties. Here are specific guides:

• CarmenCanvas (see also a video post on Accessibility checker in CarmenCanvas)
• Google documents (quick tip: highlight the image or graphic and press Ctrl + Alt + Y)
• Microsoft Office
  • Make your Word documents accessible
  • Make your Excel documents accessible
  • Make your OneNote notebooks accessible
  • Make your Outlook email accessible
  • Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible
  • Make your SharePoint site accessible
• Qualtrics
• Twitter
• WordPress (this is the tool that you’re using on u.osu)

The Web Accessibility Initiative provides an alt text decision tree if you need help deciding whether an image needs and description, and what to include.  Note also that in many programs it is possible to mark an image as decorative so that screen readers will skip the image.  Though, if an image does not convey any meaning to the learner, consider whether it should be included at all.

And if you’d like a master class in writing alt text that conveys meaning, check out We Rate Dogs (@dog_rates) on Twitter.