Every single image on your website must come with alt text. By going over whether or not alt text should contain the text found within an image, and speaking with an ADA defense lawyer, you can protect your website.
What Is Alt Text?
The definition of alt text – or “alternative text,” which is its true name – is as follows: a piece of text that describes the contents of an image, allowing those who are visually impaired to understand the image.
A good example of alt text and its use is as follows: if you have an image of a rainbow that is used to highlight the importance of following your dreams, then this image is, arguably, integral to the content of that page.
To make sure that everyone who engages with your page can understand this image and the ways in which it supports the contents of this page, you can develop alt text that says something along the lines of “A colorful rainbow that serves as a metaphor for following your dreams.”
If a person with a visual impairment accesses your page, then you can interact with the alt text and see that you have included a photo of a colorful rainbow.
On the other hand, if you fail to include alt text, then someone with a visual impairment may understand that an image has been posted. But, they won’t know what this image is, or the purpose that it serves.
Should Alt Text Contain The Text Found Within An Image?
The answer to the question outlined above is “Yes.”
If you have an image that contains text, then it is of the utmost importance that the text, within this image, is included in the alt text for that image.
Just as an example, you have a blog post with an image of a rainbow. And, right within the photo of this rainbow is a piece of text that says, “Follow Your Dreams.”
Your alt text, for this image, should look something like this: a colorful rainbow with text underneath it that says “follow your dreams.”
The above isn’t a great example of alt text. However, it is sufficient for the following reason: every piece of alt text must describe the image and contain the text that is found within the image.
What Else Can You Do To Make Your Alt Text ADA Web Accessible?
The best things you can do to make your alt text ADA web-accessible are as follows:
Clarifying the type of image that you have displayed; “cartoon drawing,” for example.
Developing a single piece of alt text for a group of images if their content/message is identical.
Avoiding the word “image” since screen readers already clarify this fact.
Updating your alt text when you change the images/make adjustments
Relying on clear, plain, and basic language that anyone can understand with relative ease.
Every single one of the above will make your alt text ADA web-accessible. By making your alt text ADA web-accessible, anyone can use your website, and you can protect yourself from ADA web accessibility claims/lawsuits.
Speak With A New York ADA Web Accessibility Lawyer Today
A claim/lawsuit regarding ADA web accessibility is very serious. Speak with a New York ADA web accessibility lawyer at The Samuel Law Firm today, and we will defend you.
