Alternative Text (Alt Text) is a short description you add to images for sight-impaired users who may be using a screen reader to read your content.  Any time you upload an image to your website, you will be required to add an Alt Text description.

Best Practices:

• Alt Text should be kept short yet descriptive
• Avoid using the words “Picture of” or “Image of” in your description.  Most screen readers will already communicate this.
• Alt Text is not needed for purely decorative images that are not meant to convey content or any specific meaning.  In this case, use empty quotes “ ”.
• If a longer description is needed, consider including the information in a paragraph near the image or a link to a longer description of the content.

Example of Adding Alt Text to an Image Upload

Example of How Alt Text Looks as HTML

Videos

Videos are a great way to relay content to your users.  However, at times, they can cause accessibility problems for our end users.  

Follow these guidelines to ensure all users may access your video and multimedia content.  

• Use captions in your video that capture all of the scripted content.  Captions should also include background noises, people speaking off-camera, and be in sync with the audio
• Consider including a transcript that is linked or posted near the video.
• If content is heavy on visual information, make sure to include an audio description that is linked or posted near the video.

GIFs

While animated gifs are popular on the internet, they can cause problems for users who might be prone to photosensitive epilepsy and seizures.  

It is best practice to avoid uploading content that flashes, flickers, or rapidly changes color.

Web Accessibility standards state:

• Content should not flash more than 3 times a second
• Stay away from rapid color changes and red flashes in particular