Images & Non-Text Content Self-Paced Micro-Course

Images & Non-Text Content Overview

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Make Images and Non-Textual Content Accessible

Images present a powerful and effective means of communicating information. However, our computers aren't able to determine what is in a picture for us, so to make our documents accessible we have to provide the image description when we create the document.

The specific process to describe an image will vary depending on the software you are using to create your document. However, the textual description for an image is referred to as an "Alt Text" description.

Your Students' Perspective

Watch this video to see what students who use screen-readers hear when dealing with inaccessible and accessible images.

Main Points for Images and Non-Textual Content Accessibility

Always provide a description through the Alternative Text tool when it is available.
Use the "Description" field of the Alternative Text tool, and avoid using the "Title" field.
For complex images, supplement the alternate text description with a description within the main text content for all participants.
Ensure descriptions effectively describe the image in a way that is appropriate for the context.
Avoid Text Frames/Boxes, SmartArt, WordArt, Shapes, Symbols, and Emojis unless you can provide a textual equivalent in the primary text.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

Explain the importance of alt text.
Apply alt text in Microsoft Word.
Demonstrate how to reconstruct/construct descriptive alt text based on context.