Adding Alternative Text to Images

Nurse assisting patient If your images are important and contain relevant information, you must provide Alternative Text. Screen-readers can read the Alt-Text assigned to an image, thus communicating the visual content orally to an individual with a visual disability.

Alt-Texts are brief descriptions of the content and/or meaning of the photo. However, Alt-Text is also dependent on the context of the photo. You want to describe your image based on the text content that surrounds it.

If we look at the nursing image provided, we could say one of the following:

Nurse helping patient.
Nurse checking/listening to patient’s breathing.

But what is the context of the text content surrounding it? If we are talking about procedures or steps, the second one would appear to be more appropriate.

See WebAim.org for more information and examples on the Appropriate use of Alternative Text.

Adding Alt-Text to An Image in Word

Right-Click the image and choose FORMAT PICTURE.
The Format Picture pane opens on the right side of your display.
Choose the LAYOUT & PROPERTIES icon.
Click ALT TEXT.
Type an appropriate brief description in TITLE.
Description can be used for longer or more complex descriptions, like chart or table interpretations.