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Thinking about alt text by way of Dungeons and Dragons
If you're struggling with how to think about writing alt text for images (including graphs, charts, equations, and so on), get a little bit geeky and think like a Dungeons and Dragons game master!
Lists in Microsoft Word
Word is usually able to recognize when a list is being created and will automatically add the list formatting, but there may be times when this automatic formatting does not work properly. Be sure to check your lists to make sure they have been properly formatted.
Lists in Google Docs
Google Docs is usually able to recognize when a list is being created and will automatically add the list formatting, but there may be times when this automatic formatting does not work properly. Be sure to check your lists to make sure they have been properly formatted.
Headings in Microsoft Word
Sighted users use visual clues such as text size, color, style, and font choice to recognize section headers in a document. Assistive technology users are also able to use section headers to navigate through a document, but only if the section headers have been set properly.
Headings in Google Docs
Sighted users use visual clues such as text size, color, style, and font choice to recognize section headers in a document. Assistive technology users are also able to use section headers to navigate through a document, but only if the section headers have been set properly.
Descriptive Link Text
When adding links in documents that will be distributed electronically, the addresses (URLs) should be linked (clickable) and embedded with descriptive text instead of presented 'bare' (exposing the full URL).
Canva (and others) and Accessibility
Canva and similar online document creation tools produce inaccessible PDF files. While they can still be useful for creating smaller single-page graphics to be used in email marketing or print-only flyers, they are not recommended for more complex multi-page PDF documents being distributed electronically. I recommend using Word and its accessibility features (or, if you have the knowledge, Adobe InDesign) to create documents being distributed electronically.
Alt Text in Microsoft Word
Alternative text descriptions, often abbreviated as “alt text”, describe the content or purpose of an image so that users with visual disabilities can still understand the purpose of the image. Alt text can be very simple or quite complex, depending on the image and how it is being used.
Alt Text in Microsoft PowerPoint
Alternative text descriptions, often abbreviated as “alt text”, describe the content or purpose of an image so that users with visual disabilities can still understand the purpose of the image. Alt text can be very simple or quite complex, depending on the image and how it is being used.
Alt Text in Microsoft Outlook
Alternative text descriptions, often abbreviated as “alt text”, describe the content or purpose of an image so that users with visual disabilities can still understand the purpose of the image. Alt text can be very simple or quite complex, depending on the image and how it is being used.