seahorsepencils

[seahorsepencils]

This guide is great! I especially love the last bit: "trying is always better than not trying." When I first started learning about alt text, I found the idea overwhelming, and sometimes I would conveniently "forget" to do it because it felt like a mini-writing assignment where doing it imperfectly meant I was bad at accessibility and inclusion.

But I think it's one of those things where practice is the only way to get good at it - so you have to give yourself permission to do it imperfectly. That ultimately makes it easier to learn and get in the habit of doing it regularly.

Since almost all the art and pictures I come across on Tumblr have no alt text, I figure maybe people don't understand what it's for or know how to use it. Here's an explanation!

What is alt text?

Some people (mostly blind people, but it can be useful for other disabilities too) use programs called screen readers to navigate the computer and read text aloud. That's why pictures need to have a text description (alt text), for the screen reader to read aloud. Alt text is usually hidden and just there for screen readers, though on this site, anyone can click the button in the bottom left corner to access it on any image that has it.

Why is it important?

Alt text makes the internet accessible for anyone using a screen reader. I used a screen reader for a while, so I can tell you how much it sucks to try and use social media only for every post to be like,

"This is the funniest thing I've ever seen!" (image with no alt text)

"This info is so important, everyone please read this!" (image with no alt text)

And then all the responses are agreeing and everyone is having fun and being social, but you can't join, you have no idea what's going on, you're left out of the fun, the cool stuff, the funny stuff, the important stuff, all of it.

How to add alt text?

On this site, when you upload an image, just click the three dots on the bottom right corner and click the option to update image description. You can also add it later by editing the post, if you forget when posting.

What to type?

I'm not the authority on alt text, so I can only give advice based on my experience as a sighted person and what people have told me.

One advice I've seen is to describe it like you're describing it to someone over the phone.

I think a good method is to start by stating the general, then moving onto details. I might start with, "Digital art of an octopus merman," and then go on to describe the pose, the emotion/facial expression, the body, the hair, the colors, the background.

Every screen reader user has different preferences, I've talked to people with completely opposing opinions. But usually someone can move on if they find there's too much description, whereas there's nothing they can do if there's not enough. So I lean toward over-describing.

Additionally, make sure you include anything referenced in your post. If you're just sharing a screenshot of a group of characters, you probably won't describe the shape of each of their noses. But if you say, "I love Bob's nose!" now you should still describe the overall picture but also include the shape of his nose in your description.

That also applies to things like, "This tree looks how I feel." If your alt text just says, "A leafy tree," that doesn't explain the feeling. "A leafy tree that appears to be hunched over with sagging branches, looking tired," is more helpful.

If there's text, include the text. I also like to give context (e.g. screenshot of a tweet). You can even use websites like this one to extract text for you.

Don't just put the word "image." Don't use alt text to credit artists/photographers. Don't use it for jokes, unless the joke is genuinely helping to describe the image.

And remember, trying is always better than not trying, even if your description isn't perfect!

[seahorsepencils]

Doctor Who AU where an alien mind control device causes every human on Earth to wear a fluffy bathrobe/dressing gown to work and act like it's completely normal.

The Doctor shows up to UNIT, where Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT staff are all hard at work. She says "Glad you're here. Let's see if we can stop these aliens before they attempt a full-scale invasion." She makes zero acknowledgment of the fact that she's wearing this:

The Doctor asks "Oh, do you want to get changed first?" and she just gives him a confused look like "What? Why would I do that?"

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I am extremely normal at gaming

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migraines are dumb.

plummeting barometric pressure

is my nemesis.

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what's the first movie you remember seeing in theaters? don't try and be all edgy and cool and say like tetsuo: the iron man. be honest.

Go!!

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she's so real

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buying a portable charger/power bank for your portable air purifier because you keep forgetting to charge it before work: peak long covid brain fog life

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Holby City - Series 20_ 49. Love Is

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found in my drafts:

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women's thighs. you agree. reblog.

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I need to finish applying for jobs so I can get a steady full-time job with decent health insurance. but mostly so I can afford a gaming PC in time for the release of Art Shop Simulator, and make a Berena-themed art gallery.

there will be an entire wall of extremely high-priced MRI art. it will be magnificent.

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so comfi, so snug

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This would heal me

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banning TikTok won't protect the American public from this green-sweatered menace. she will find another way.

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AU where I don't have to teach tomorrow, and I can just stay home and clean my apartment and get up at 7am only to immediately take a nap on the couch.

life goalsssss.