Images and Alternative Text

  • Alternative (alt) text is required to provide a textual alternative to non-text content in web pages.

  • This text will be read aloud to a person using a screen reader. Some Examples:  
    Jaws Screen Reader
    Apple VoiceOver Links to an external site. (OS X) 
    ChromeVox Links to an external site. (Google Chrome)

  • By default, Canvas includes the image name as the alt text, which should be changed to something more descriptive when embedding images.

  • Clean and simple design: eliminate the irrelevant.  No graphics for the sake of decorations.

  • Make sure images are labeled for reuse before adding them to your course.  

 

Example Image:

one boy and two girls sitting on a couch with a smartphone, tablet, and laptop.

Default Alt Text (name of image): kids-tech-revised.jpg

Modified Alt Text: one boy and two girls sitting on a couch with a smartphone, tablet, and laptop.

 

The insert/edit image options in the learning management system, Canvas

Other considerations: Content that flashes at certain rates or patterns can cause photo-sensitive reactions, including seizures. 

 

 

Image Source General Accessibility Design Guidelines Links to an external site.