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Thread: repetitive alt tag question

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Number of posts in this thread: 5 (In chronological order)

From: Mike Warner
Date: Fri, Mar 27 2015 2:43PM
Subject: repetitive alt tag question
No previous message | Next message →

Hi all,

I'm re-assessing our proprietary course system for accessiblity, and, while
there is only one red flag, there are a handful of yellow flags, as per the
WAVE browser extension. I can't do anything about the red flag for the
moment, but that particular item will be gone in a month or so.

In our courses, there are icons next to the assignment titles in the
navigation list to indicate whether the assignment has been completed.
These are checkmarks that replace the icon used for an incomplete
assignment. The alt text for all of them is, "This assignment has been
completed." We haven't had any complaints from students using assistive
tech, but WAVE complains about having that many images with the same alt
text so close together.

Should I worry about that? Since the idea is to convey completion status
to the non-sighted, I don't want to say something different each time and
make it confusing.

Thanks,
Mike



Mike Warner
Director of IT Services
MindEdge, Inc.

From: Moore,Michael (DARS)
Date: Fri, Mar 27 2015 2:57PM
Subject: Re: repetitive alt tag question
← Previous message | Next message →

In the case that you describe, the duplicate text is fine.

Mike Moore
Accessibility Coordinator,
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
(512) 424-4159 (Office)
(512) 574-0091 (Cell)


-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Mike Warner
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2015 3:44 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question

Hi all,

I'm re-assessing our proprietary course system for accessiblity, and, while there is only one red flag, there are a handful of yellow flags, as per the WAVE browser extension. I can't do anything about the red flag for the moment, but that particular item will be gone in a month or so.

In our courses, there are icons next to the assignment titles in the navigation list to indicate whether the assignment has been completed.
These are checkmarks that replace the icon used for an incomplete assignment. The alt text for all of them is, "This assignment has been completed." We haven't had any complaints from students using assistive tech, but WAVE complains about having that many images with the same alt text so close together.

Should I worry about that? Since the idea is to convey completion status to the non-sighted, I don't want to say something different each time and make it confusing.

Thanks,
Mike



Mike Warner
Director of IT Services
MindEdge, Inc.

From: Mike Warner
Date: Sat, Mar 28 2015 12:34PM
Subject: Re: repetitive alt tag question
← Previous message | Next message →

Thanks, Mike. That's what I figured, but I wanted to run it by the list.

Mike

Mike Warner
Director of IT Services
MindEdge, Inc.


------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:43:31 -0400
> From: Mike Warner < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
> Message-ID:
> <
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'm re-assessing our proprietary course system for accessiblity, and, while
> there is only one red flag, there are a handful of yellow flags, as per the
> WAVE browser extension. I can't do anything about the red flag for the
> moment, but that particular item will be gone in a month or so.
>
> In our courses, there are icons next to the assignment titles in the
> navigation list to indicate whether the assignment has been completed.
> These are checkmarks that replace the icon used for an incomplete
> assignment. The alt text for all of them is, "This assignment has been
> completed." We haven't had any complaints from students using assistive
> tech, but WAVE complains about having that many images with the same alt
> text so close together.
>
> Should I worry about that? Since the idea is to convey completion status
> to the non-sighted, I don't want to say something different each time and
> make it confusing.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
>
>
> Mike Warner
> Director of IT Services
> MindEdge, Inc.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:57:06 +0000
> From: "Moore,Michael (DARS)" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
> Message-ID:
> <
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> In the case that you describe, the duplicate text is fine.
>
> Mike Moore
> Accessibility Coordinator,
> Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
> (512) 424-4159 (Office)
> (512) 574-0091 (Cell)
>
>
>

From: Lynn Holdsworth
Date: Sat, Mar 28 2015 1:23PM
Subject: Re: repetitive alt tag question
← Previous message | Next message →

Hi Mike,

Would you be able to shorten the alt text to "completed" or at most
"completed assignment"? For a screenreader user checking the status of
lots of assignments, for each one they encounter they must listen to
"this assignment has been" before they hear the information they need.
You might be surprised at how much extra time this takes and how
frustrating it can become.

Keeping alt text as short as possible without losing any vital
information, and front-loading what's most important (hence "COMPLETED
assignment" rather than "assignment completed") will cause your
screenreader users to love you for ever.

If the assignments are encapsulated in a list, and there's a heading
that says "Assignments" or some other mechanism that tells
screenreader users they're moving through a list of assignments, I
wouldn't use the word "assignment" in the alt text at all.

Best, Lynn

On 28/03/2015, Mike Warner < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> Thanks, Mike. That's what I figured, but I wanted to run it by the list.
>
> Mike
>
> Mike Warner
> Director of IT Services
> MindEdge, Inc.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:43:31 -0400
>> From: Mike Warner < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Subject: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
>> Message-ID:
>> <
>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm re-assessing our proprietary course system for accessiblity, and,
>> while
>> there is only one red flag, there are a handful of yellow flags, as per
>> the
>> WAVE browser extension. I can't do anything about the red flag for the
>> moment, but that particular item will be gone in a month or so.
>>
>> In our courses, there are icons next to the assignment titles in the
>> navigation list to indicate whether the assignment has been completed.
>> These are checkmarks that replace the icon used for an incomplete
>> assignment. The alt text for all of them is, "This assignment has been
>> completed." We haven't had any complaints from students using assistive
>> tech, but WAVE complains about having that many images with the same alt
>> text so close together.
>>
>> Should I worry about that? Since the idea is to convey completion status
>> to the non-sighted, I don't want to say something different each time and
>> make it confusing.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike Warner
>> Director of IT Services
>> MindEdge, Inc.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:57:06 +0000
>> From: "Moore,Michael (DARS)" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
>> Message-ID:
>> <
>> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>> >
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>
>> In the case that you describe, the duplicate text is fine.
>>
>> Mike Moore
>> Accessibility Coordinator,
>> Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
>> (512) 424-4159 (Office)
>> (512) 574-0091 (Cell)
>>
>>
>>
> > > > >

From: Mike Warner
Date: Mon, Mar 30 2015 11:00AM
Subject: Re: repetitive alt tag question
← Previous message | No next message

Thanks, Lynn! I do recall hearing that when a blind friend showed me her
tech. That was some time ago.

Mike Warner
Director of IT Services
MindEdge, Inc.



>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 14:34:26 -0400
> From: Mike Warner < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
> Message-ID:
> <CAD8NTJ-og4RGON5BnXDi-9g8X=CTyFQL> g5+W9_ONg+XOV+ = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Thanks, Mike. That's what I figured, but I wanted to run it by the list.
>
> Mike
>
> Mike Warner
> Director of IT Services
> MindEdge, Inc.
>
>
> ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:43:31 -0400
> > From: Mike Warner < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> > To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> > Subject: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
> > Message-ID:
> > <
> > = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I'm re-assessing our proprietary course system for accessiblity, and,
> while
> > there is only one red flag, there are a handful of yellow flags, as per
> the
> > WAVE browser extension. I can't do anything about the red flag for the
> > moment, but that particular item will be gone in a month or so.
> >
> > In our courses, there are icons next to the assignment titles in the
> > navigation list to indicate whether the assignment has been completed.
> > These are checkmarks that replace the icon used for an incomplete
> > assignment. The alt text for all of them is, "This assignment has been
> > completed." We haven't had any complaints from students using assistive
> > tech, but WAVE complains about having that many images with the same alt
> > text so close together.
> >
> > Should I worry about that? Since the idea is to convey completion status
> > to the non-sighted, I don't want to say something different each time and
> > make it confusing.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
> > Mike Warner
> > Director of IT Services
> > MindEdge, Inc.
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:57:06 +0000
> > From: "Moore,Michael (DARS)" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> > To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> > Subject: Re: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
> > Message-ID:
> > <
> >
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> > >
> >
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > In the case that you describe, the duplicate text is fine.
> >
> > Mike Moore
> > Accessibility Coordinator,
> > Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
> > (512) 424-4159 (Office)
> > (512) 574-0091 (Cell)
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 19:23:54 +0000
> From: Lynn Holdsworth < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
> Message-ID:
> <
> CAP-irnEo-SaV+ = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> Would you be able to shorten the alt text to "completed" or at most
> "completed assignment"? For a screenreader user checking the status of
> lots of assignments, for each one they encounter they must listen to
> "this assignment has been" before they hear the information they need.
> You might be surprised at how much extra time this takes and how
> frustrating it can become.
>
> Keeping alt text as short as possible without losing any vital
> information, and front-loading what's most important (hence "COMPLETED
> assignment" rather than "assignment completed") will cause your
> screenreader users to love you for ever.
>
> If the assignments are encapsulated in a list, and there's a heading
> that says "Assignments" or some other mechanism that tells
> screenreader users they're moving through a list of assignments, I
> wouldn't use the word "assignment" in the alt text at all.
>
> Best, Lynn
>
> On 28/03/2015, Mike Warner < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
> > Thanks, Mike. That's what I figured, but I wanted to run it by the list.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > Mike Warner
> > Director of IT Services
> > MindEdge, Inc.
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >>
> >> Message: 2
> >> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 16:43:31 -0400
> >> From: Mike Warner < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> >> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> >> Subject: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
> >> Message-ID:
> >> <
> >> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >>
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> I'm re-assessing our proprietary course system for accessiblity, and,
> >> while
> >> there is only one red flag, there are a handful of yellow flags, as per
> >> the
> >> WAVE browser extension. I can't do anything about the red flag for the
> >> moment, but that particular item will be gone in a month or so.
> >>
> >> In our courses, there are icons next to the assignment titles in the
> >> navigation list to indicate whether the assignment has been completed.
> >> These are checkmarks that replace the icon used for an incomplete
> >> assignment. The alt text for all of them is, "This assignment has been
> >> completed." We haven't had any complaints from students using assistive
> >> tech, but WAVE complains about having that many images with the same alt
> >> text so close together.
> >>
> >> Should I worry about that? Since the idea is to convey completion
> status
> >> to the non-sighted, I don't want to say something different each time
> and
> >> make it confusing.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Mike
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Mike Warner
> >> Director of IT Services
> >> MindEdge, Inc.
> >>
> >>
> >> ------------------------------
> >>
> >> Message: 3
> >> Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:57:06 +0000
> >> From: "Moore,Michael (DARS)" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> >> To: WebAIM Discussion List < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> >> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] repetitive alt tag question
> >> Message-ID:
> >> <
> >>
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> >> >
> >>
> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >>
> >> In the case that you describe, the duplicate text is fine.
> >>
> >> Mike Moore
> >> Accessibility Coordinator,
> >> Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
> >> (512) 424-4159 (Office)
> >> (512) 574-0091 (Cell)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> > > > > > > > > >
>
>
>