Images and graphics make content more pleasant and easier to understand for many people, and in particular for those with cognitive and learning disabilities. They serve as cues that are used by people with visual impairments, including people with low vision, to orient themselves in the content." - As stated by the World Wide Web Consortiums' Web Accessibility Initiative
Accessible images are beneficial in many situations, such as:
Note: Removing images from websites (so-called “text-only versions”) make them less accessible and functional for these users and situations.
The type of information you provide in alternative text is based on the purpose of the image. Here are brief descriptions of various image types of images, along with links to more detailed tutorials on how to provide appropriate alternative text for each image type.
-- Information source: W3C/WAI – Images Concepts
Use the WAVE tool to check on the "alt text"
Still not exactly sure when and what type of information you should add in your alternative text? Use this "Alt Decision Tree" to help you decide.
Check out this 6 minute video "Composing Meaningful Alternative Text" created by Wake Technical Community College's eLearning Support Department in North Carolina.
Now that you know how important alternative text is, the next step is learning how to add "alt text" when creating your OER. Adding "Alt-text" images is very easy and should be incorporated into your regular workflow for whenever you have images. Below are instructions on how to add "Alt-Text" to images on various platforms and programs.
There are loads of spots where images can appear in your LibGuides - from thumbnail images in your database assets, to gallery box images, to resource icons in your link assets. Whenever adding images in LibGuides keep an eye out for the alternative text field when you're adding or editing an image anywhere in your LibGuides system.
FYI: To create an empty or null alt attribute, simply don't put anything in the alternative attribute field. Leave it completely blank.
Adding alt-text to an image in a Lumen item is exactly like adding alt-text in WordPress.
Once you have selected or uploaded an image, you will see a "Attachment Details" box. In this box you will see a thumbnail of the image and the following information fields:
Once you have selected or uploaded an image, you will see a "Attachment Details" box. In this box you will see a thumbnail of the image and the following information fields:
