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Re: Opinions/Facts on Alt Images

for

From: Chagnon | PubCom
Date: May 31, 2016 1:00PM


Our office always tags them and we try to minimize the length of the Alt-text to avoid redundency as much as possible.

I found from my work with people with low vision that they often can see that there's a photo/graphic, but can't make out the details and want reassurance that they aren't missing anything.

Another way to think about it: I doubt anyone could file a complaint or lawsuit for including the Alt-Text, but they might be able to if there wasn't Alt-text.

--Bevi Chagnon
www.PubCom.com

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Alex Hall
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 2:50 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Opinions/Facts on Alt Images

Personally, I'd always tag the images. No, doing so likely won't offer additional details to the user, but which would you rather hear while
browsing:

John Smith
img_0040297 at 2016-04-01 8:27, image

or

John Smith
Picture of John Smith, image

If nothing else, this tells the user they aren't missing details by not seeing the image, and that the image is just there as a visual reference.
That is, it isn't a link or clickable item they need to interact with to do something with John.

On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 2:41 PM, Campbell, John < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I was looking at an online directories that have Names and Data next
> to or under the image of the person. Do you think they need to Alt
> Tagged anyway or are the images considered decorative?
>
> --
> John R. Campbell, MS, ATP, RET
> Director of Accessibility & Access
> Lehigh Carbon Community College
> > > archives at http://webaim.org/discussion/archives
> >



--
Alex Hall
Automatic Distributors, IT department
<EMAIL REMOVED>