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Section 5.1: Alternative Text
All images regardless of their complexity need to have an Alt text in some way. Alt Text is a brief description of your image that is 150 characters or less. This Alt Text is meant for any image that has meaning within the context of the document. Screen readers cannot read images to the reader, so Alt text acts as a substitute. To add an Alt Text to your image,
Right-click the image and select Alt Text.
Type the alt text in the menu that pops up to the right. Use 150 characters or less.
If the image is decorative, write the word Decorative as the alt text.
Examples of Alt Text
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This example of Alt Text fails to describe all of the details in the image. |
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This example of Alt Text is much better. It describes many details in the image so that the reader has a better idea of what is in the picture. |
Section 5.2: Labels on Charts and Graphs
Data labels are very important for accessibility purposes. If data labels are not present, then readers will have fewer queues to help them read the information. Charts, tables, and graphs can become completely inaccessible without their labels, so always add them.
To add data labels, click on your chart, and click the Chart Elements Plus sign in the top right corner. Choose which data labels you want to use and customize them so they are visible but does not distract from the chart itself.
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This table does not have any data labels on it. A person who is color blind may have trouble knowing the differences between the sections and categories. |
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This table has the data labels. Now a person who has visual disabilities can still know what each category stands for without needing color. |
Section 5.3: Long Descriptions for Complex Images, Pie Charts, and Bar Graphs
When using complex images like pie charts or bar graphs, it is better to use a long description rather than Alt Text. Alt Text is meant to be brief, while long descriptions give you a bit more freedom to explain the image. There are many ways to create a long description including:
Describing the complex image in text below the image.
Adding a link below the complex image.
Providing the data from the image in text form.
Make sure the long description is visible to all users. Even if they are links, or buttons.
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This pie chart is missing a long description. This will be an issue to readers who cannot see at all or can see very little. |
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This pie chart is now accessible due to it having a link. The link will take the reader to a long description or index when clicked. |
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This pie chart contains a long description that tells the screen reader and reader exactly what is on the pie chart. This will make it much easier for the reader to understand the chart, and the statistics, and learn at a faster pace. |
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Note: While it is also recommended to create a table for an easy way to display data, Google Slides does not have the ability to create accessible tables. |
Additional Types of Long Descriptions
When you use complex images, you must describe it using Alt Text and have a longer description.
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This image of the Hagia Sophia in Turkey has an Alt Text. However, there is no long description. |
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This image of the Hagia Sofia has an alt text. There is also a link to the long description that will go into more detail about what is in the picture. |
Section 5.4: Watermarks and Backgrounds
Watermarks and background images should not be used. They will interfere with peoples ability to read the page. Watermarks and backgrounds tend to be very distracting to most readers. It is best to use a background that does not interfere much at all with the text on the slide.
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This slide has a background that is very distracting to readers. These should always be avoided when making a presentation. |
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This background does not interfere with the text and gives the PowerPoint a very professional look. |
Section 5.5: Text Boxes, Shapes, and Other Floating Objects
How to make Text Boxes Accessible
Create a Warning or Alert to the Reader that there are Text Boxes
Text Boxes should be given Alt Text
Section 5.6: Smart Art
The Smart Art has to be Inline with the Text
The Smart Art must have an Alt Text
Section 5.7: Shapes
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Google Slides differs from Google Docs in one very significant way: floating objects are easy to navigate and make up the very nature of the entire slide. The title field in a slide, for instance, is a text box. Users just needs to hit the tab button to navigate slide and each object will be selected, announced, and the alt text (if present) will be read.
You do not need to add alt text to text boxes, since the contents are directly read by a screen reader, but you must add alt text to other non-text objects, including shapes and icons (and of course, images, graphs, charts, etc.).
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