Text Equivalent

Using text equivalents in a document ensures that all users, including those with disabilities, can access and understand visual and audio content.

Whooo does this help?

Jaden was diagnosed with a visual impairment at a young age and experiences significant vision loss due to a rare genetic condition. He struggles with reading traditional printed textbooks and handwritten notes and benefits greatly from text equivalents in various digital formats.
Casey, a student with auditory processing disorder, finds text equivalents helpful for understanding audio content when they can't listen effectively, improving their comprehension.

The Direct Route

Text equivalents, sometimes referred to as alt text, should be written for all visual information that adds to the informational context so that a blind person or a person with limited vision can understand the information as well as a sighted person.

Write text alternatives for images and icons
Avoid using “image of” or “picture of”
Use descriptive text so that the user can understand what it represents
Description of data represented on charts, diagrams, and illustrations
Well-written alt text can create a fulfilling and inclusive experience for people using assistive technology
Provide text alternatives for videos or transcripts
Provide transcripts for all audio content

Good to know:

If an image doesn’t load, text equivalents can provide the information for your users.

Text Equivalent

Whooo does this help?

The Direct Route

Good to know:

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