What Happens If You Don’t Have Alt Text On Your Site?
To be considered “accessible”, your website must be:
-Understandable
-Perceivable
-Operable
-Robust
Many websites rely on images, and if these images are not relatable to those who cannot see them, then your website is not fairly accommodating to everyone.
Just as an example, your website may contain images of spaces in nature. You can use alt text to describe what is in these photos, thereby allowing someone who cannot see to understand what is being communicated.
Even though someone who is unable to see cannot see the alt text, the tool they use to convert text to Braille or audio – this is dependent on the software they use – will pick it up. And then, that text will be converted, allowing that individual to understand what the image contains and what you are communicating.
If there is no alt text, though, then that person cannot understand what the image contains or, for that matter, what you are attempting to communicate.
On its own, this is unfortunate. But, it can lead to a much bigger problem: you can, as per the ADA, be sued for this lack of alt text, as your website violates the terms and provisions of the ADA.
The Consequences Of An ADA Web Accessibility Lawsuit
A variety of consequences can arise as a result of an ADA web accessibility lawsuit. Some of the most notable of these consequences are as follows:
-Being forced to pay a settlement.
-Being boycotted and/or weakening your business’ reputation.
-Being forced to make changes to your website.
None of these consequences are pleasant and can be avoided if you make your website accessible.
Make Sure You Include Alt Text
Right before we go over three rules, you should follow when including alt text, there’s one thing to remember: alt text is not enough.
Instead, your website must meet the other guidelines outlined earlier. Your website must be accessible to those who cannot see, as well as those who cannot hear, among other disabilities.
Outside of that, though, when including alt text, you must remember to:
-Rely on short but clear and descriptive sentences.
-Make sure every description must contain the essential elements of each image and what is being conveyed.
-Clarify the purpose of each image and what it is describing.
If your alt text can do those things, then it will serve its purpose.
