January is the perfect time to refresh your skills and set new goals for inclusivity in your digital content. The 4th of January marks World Braille Day, making it an ideal moment to commit to improving image descriptions in your documents, websites, and presentations. Effective image descriptions, often called “alt text”, are crucial for making visual content accessible to people who use screen readers or Braille displays. Let’s explore why image descriptions matter and how you can make yours effective.
Why image descriptions matter
For millions of people with visual impairments, an image without a description is like a book with missing pages. Alt text translates visual content into words that can be heard through screen readers or felt through refreshable Braille displays. By adding meaningful alt text to images in your documents and presentations, you ensure that users with visual impairments can access all critical information. This practice helps prevent essential details from being overlooked and fosters a positive, inclusive experience for all users.
How to add alt text and get it right
In our Digital Accessibility guides, you will find detailed information on how to add alt text effectively. Here is a short summary of steps to follow for creating meaningful descriptions:
- Identify images that need descriptions
- Determine whether an image conveys important information. If it doesn’t, mark it as decorative to avoid unnecessary distractions for screen reader users.
- Focus on context and purpose
- Write alt text that conveys the purpose of the image in the context of the surrounding content. Avoid merely naming objects in the image, go deeper to explain their significance.
- Keep it concise
- Aim for approximately 150 characters. Be brief but informative, focusing on the essential details.
- Provide long descriptions for complex images
- For detailed visuals like maps, graphs, and charts, supplement the alt text with a longer description elsewhere in the document or as a caption.
Start improving today
Start this January with a resolution to enhance your image descriptions and contribute to a more accessible digital world. It’s a small step that can make a big difference. For more information on describing images, visit our Digital Accessibility guides: Use of images or book our training session on How to write effective alt text.
This post is part of the Take Action for Accessibility series. Other posts in the series include:
Taking Action for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
