Alternative text (alt text) is a brief description added to images to convey their content and function. Adding alt text is crucial for accessibility, as it allows screen readers to describe images ensuring all students receive the same information. When alt text is not included, screen readers will identify the image as "image" or read the file name. If an image is used purely for aesthetic reasons, it can be marked as decorative which would cause the screen reader to ignore the image when reading the text.
Adding alt text in Canvas
The Rich Content Editor, which adds Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, Pages, and Quizzes, allows users to add alt text to embedded images. The Canvas support article, How do I manage alt text and display options for images embedded in the Rich Content Editor? explains the process for using the image options in Canvas.
Adding alt text in Microsoft Office
Alt text is added for shapes, charts, SmartArt graphics, or other objects in your Microsoft documents. The process for adding alt text is available in the article, Add alternative text to a shape, picture, chart, SmartArt graphic, or other object on the Microsoft support page.
Adding alt text in a PDF
Using Adobe Acrobat, alt text can be added to images in PDF. The blog titled, How to Add Alt Text in Adobe Acrobat: A Step-by-Step Guide, available on the Adobe website, provides the process.
Adding alt text in Google Doc or Slides
When creating a Google Doc or slides, alt text can be added for images, drawings, and other graphics. Tips for adding alt text are available on the Google Help site in the article, Make your document, presentation, sheets & videos more accessible.
Adding alt text in VoiceThread
Using the slide description field, user are able to add alternative text to add a description of any visual media presented on a screen. This provides a textual description, making the platform more accessible and inclusive for all learners. For more information on how to add a slide description see, Adding alt text to a slide.