Alternative text, commonly known as “Alt Text,” “Alt Attributes,” “Alt Descriptions,” or “Alt Tags,” is a fundamental principle of accessibility support. Alt text provides descriptive information about images, ensuring that students, staff, and faculty with visual impairments receive the same content as those who can see the image.

Writing effective alt-text is more of an art than a strict formula, as there is no single way to craft it perfectly. This guide will highlight key concepts to consider and offer practical guidance on writing clear, meaningful alt-text for accessibility.

Alternative text (alt-text) plays a crucial role in digital accessibility by explaining why an image is relevant to the content. Screen reading software reads alt-text aloud, allowing users with visual impairments to understand the context and purpose of the image.

Most digital content and websites support alt-text, ensuring that descriptions remain intact when exported to HTML or PDF. To maintain accessibility, always provide clear and meaningful alt-text for the following elements:

• Shapes
• Pictures
• Charts
• Diagrams
• SmartArt
• Clip Art
• Tables
• Screenshots
• All Other Objects

1. Select the plus button for the slide.

2. Select the image you want to use weather one from Kahoot or upload your own.

3. Select the “i” Icon that is over the selected image.

4. Type the description of the image in the box.

4. Select the “Add” button.

• Video: The Importance of Adding Alt Text to Images (00:02:20)
• Alternative Text - WebAIM Article
• Write Good Alt-Text to Describe Images - Harvard Digital Accessibility Services Article
• Everything You Need to Know to Write Effective Alt Text - Microsoft Support Article
• SNHU Accessibility and Assistive Technology Resources