Resource List
How to Author Alternative Text
Introductory guide to authoring effective alt-text, making the distinction between functional and decorative images, and steps to reflecting the context of the image in the content of the description.
Blog post focused on writing descriptions for a variety of social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. With more educators connecting with students, families, and communities via social media, it has never been more important to include image descriptions in your content.
Blog post with tips for authoring and adding alt-text to GIFs in Twitter and Tumblr. Since there is meaning in both images and motion in
GIFs, there are additional considerations for authoring alt-text to make this content accessible for learners.
Web-based tool for learning how and when to describe images and graphics in digital content across several types of content (e.g., chemical equations, Venn diagrams, flow charts). Read about authoring guidelines and practice writing image descriptions with automated feedback.
While many resources focus on alt-text for images, this post provides suggestions for authoring alt-text for graphs, including examples of descriptions written for complex displays of data.
How to Add Alternative Text
Users can add alt text to objects beyond pictures in Microsoft Word, including shapes, charts, SmartArt, and other objects. Microsoft provides step-by-step directions, including screenshots, for adding alt text to a variety of objects in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for both Windows and MacOS.