Documents today contain varied media including images, video and sound, which can be embedded into a document in only a few steps. Keep in mind that, just as these kinds of media have grown, the size and variation among the audience for whom these documents were intended has grown as well.
In this lab, the focus is on adding alternative text to images in Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat. Individuals who are blind or have visual impairments may rely on a screen reader to understand the information that is either implied or conveyed in a visual image. But, without some kind of description of what the image is, the screen reader cannot convey any additional information.
Acrobat works closely with Microsoft Office to ensure that the document is consistent while being converted into the PDF format. This is beneficial because during the translation into a PDF, the alternative text that was specified for an image carries over into the PDF.
Some images, such as a decorative border or background, do not need text equivalents. The general rule is if the image does not convey important information, then a text equivalent is not needed.
The next page offers a lab that focuses on alternative text within PDF files.
College of Architecture (COA)
Fax: 404-894-9320
Phone: 404-894-4960 (v/tty)
User Agreement
PDF
Alternative Text
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