Using images in your course materials or on your website is expected; however, not all users have the same vision you have. In order to ensure you still convey your message whether or not readers can view your images as intended, we recommend two strategies that should be used simultaneously: Multimodal presentation and alt text.
Table of Contents
- Multimodal Presentation
- Alt Text
- Writing Alt Text in TerminalFour
- Writing Alt Text in Canvas
- Writing Alt Text in WordPress (S&T Sites)
Multimodal Presentation
Ensuring that content is conveyed through multiple formats—not just images—is crucial for accessibility. Relying solely on images to present key information can exclude individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or using assistive technology. You can and should use images, but essential details should also be provided in text. This approach ensures that all users can access and understand the content, regardless of their ability to see images.
Best Practices for Multimodal Presentation
- Never embed critical information exclusively in images. Always include key details in accompanying text.
- Use alt text (covered below) to describe images, but don’t rely on it alone. Ensure the main text conveys the same essential information.
- Provide text-based alternatives for charts, graphs, and infographics. Use captions, summaries, or data tables to communicate visual content in an accessible way.
- Use headings, lists, and structured text to clarify meaning. This helps all users, including those using screen readers, follow the content more easily.
By ensuring content is presented in multiple ways, educators and content creators can make their materials more inclusive, ensuring that no one is left out due to inaccessible design choices.
Alt Text
Alternative text, or “alt text,” is a brief written description of an image that ensures accessibility for individuals who use screen readers or have visual impairments. It plays a crucial role in making digital content inclusive, providing essential context when an image cannot be seen.
Why Alt Text Matters
- Accessibility: Screen readers rely on alt text to describe images to users who are blind or visually impaired, ensuring they receive the same information as sighted users.
- Improved User Experience: If an image fails to load due to technical issues, alt text provides a text-based alternative so users still understand the content.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Search engines use alt text to better understand images, improving the visibility of web content in search results.
How to Write Effective Alt Text
- Be descriptive but concise (e.g., “Student studying in the library with an open laptop” instead of “Picture of a student”).
- Focus on the purpose of the image—describe what’s important in context.
- Avoid unnecessary phrases like “image of” or “picture of” since screen readers already announce it as an image.
By including thoughtful alt text, content creators ensure that digital materials are more inclusive, providing equal access to information for all users.
Writing Alt Text in TerminalFour
Alt text in TerminalFour is handled in the media library under Content > Media Library in the left-hand menu.
Click the title of any photo to be taken to its Media details page.
You can change the image’s alt text in the Description / Alt text field, just below Name.
Writing Alt Text in Canvas
Alt text in Canvas can be quickly accessed by selecting an image in your content and clicking the Image Options button that hovers above it.
Clicking Image Options will open a pane with Alt Text as its first field.
Writing Alt Text in WordPress (S&T Sites)
The alt text field in WordPress is extremely easy to find. Simply click the image in your content, and an Alternative Text field for it will appear in your right-hand pane.
You can also edit the alt text of many images by clicking Media in your WordPress dashboard when you’re not actively editing a post or page. When you click any image in your media library its default alt text is editable as its first field.