Caroline Desrosiers

And lastly, when you're describing emotion, it often feels subjective and like it doesn't belong in alt text. In this case, it's helpful to use words like "seems like" or "appears to be" to call out that you're making an interpretation.

For GIFs, it's helpful to use action words that convey movement. Stay present and describe the motion like it's happening right in front of you. When in doubt, work in as many gerunds as you can. Gerunds = verbs that end in "ing" like splashing, leaping, reaching.

Invite users to imagine being a part of the image. This is esepcially helpful when you're trying to convey the size or scale or something, or when there's a subject of an image and something is happening around them.

Appeal to senses beyond sight. Depending on the image, sometimes it's almost like you can touch, smell, or hear it. Picture a macro shot of raindrops or an extremely fluffy puppy. Choose words that convey those tactile visual messages.

A6 I love this question and have a ton of recs I can drop in this thread. Images are part of the story and do have an emotional impact. There are lots of writing techniques that can be helpful to keep in your back pocket for this... #AXSChat

@NeilMilliken It's cool that the alt text automatically pops up when an image is added. This is a good model for others to add / moderate alt text in the moment when the image is posted.

A4 A lot of social media platforms like IG and FB are using AI descriptions when users leave alt text empty, either inadvertently or for all reasons discussed. Again, it would be helpful for platforms to make it easy for users to review the AI alt text before posting. #AXSChat

A5 This is critical for inclusion and helps takes the guesswork out of alt text. I encourage organizations to develop an alt text style guide directly informed by AT user feedback. And this feedback should be collected early on in the development process. #AXSChat

@AkwyZ Agree. Total fail. Alt text should never be hidden or a few clicks away. People posting on social media are moving fast and the process for alt text should be aligned with their process.

@cdayrose The Instagram process is complicated. Many people don't know where it is located. When done, it takes more time to include the Alt Text than writing a post. #Fail #axschat

A4 We need more support for users who manage posts outside of social media platforms (via DAMs or schedulers). Instagram still hasn't established API integrations for alt text with social media schedulers. This means manual workarounds on IG for alt text. #AXSChat

A4 We need social media platforms to establish more API integrations with image source providers like @GIPHY who have alt text and can pass it when GIFs are shared from their platform. How is this not a thing yet? #AXSChat

@AkwyZ @Adobe This is a great idea for @Adobe accessibility team. The alt text dots are connected within Adobe programs, but what about outside these programs? Use IPTC metadata or establish an integration with platform partners.

@cdayrose @Adobe Most users are mobile apps. It would be fantastic if Adobe could have a mobile-first approach to content creation. When I write Alt Text on PS Express and share on X, the Alt Text is gone. #axschat

A2: Universal metadata standards across platforms can save time in describing images. Cloud-based storage for image metadata can also help in reusing descriptions. #AXSChat

@AkwyZ AI could help us get started, but we need humans to moderate and make sure alt text is accurate and helpful. Assistive technology users use alt text to understand visual content. It should measure up to the same level of quality as all the other content on a webpage #AXSChat

A3: Automated tools often miss nuances in images. Human input ensures accuracy, empathy, and context, capturing the true essence of the image. #AXSChat

A3 And... when GenAI tools make a mistake about what's in an image, they will still attempt to interpret the results and describe it. We don't have a good sense of the level of confidence. An incorrect description sounds exactly the same as a correct description. #AXSChat#

A3 AI may be getting better at "seeing" images but the describing part is still a challenge. Using AI doesn't change the accessibility requirement for alt text. We still need content publishers to provide an equivalent text alternative to the image. #AXSChat

@DestekSolutions Using systems that don't save your work makes the work feel impossible! It's no wonder we still have so much missing alt text on the web.

A2 I remember writing lots of descriptions and producing my own database, using cut and paste and input into a spreadsheet. There must be an easier way! He he #Axschat

@AkwyZ BUT... we definitely need popular content authoring platforms and tools supporting this. If you add an image to @Microsoft Word and @Google Docs it will not import the embedded alt text. #AXSChat

@AkwyZ There are also a ton of DAMs supporting the accessibility properties. Shout out @BrandFolder, @MediaBeacon, @MediaValet. We need more DAMs and CMS providers supporting these properties to help their users manage alt text #AXSChat

A2 Luckly, there's a solution. We now have @IPTC's photo metadata property, Alt Text (Accessibility). This means we can embed alt text in image files so it travels with the image between systems. Original press release: twtr.to/xkCH9 #AXSChat#