[Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
Mary Salome
msalome at chi.ucsf.edu
Thu Aug 30 12:24:40 CDT 2007
Thanks everyone, this was really helpful. One of my co-workers also
emailed a Google listserv and received similar info, and a suggestion we
use style sheets for formatting. For a quick fix we can search & replace
our alt tags.
-----Original Message-----
From: accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org
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Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 4:23 PM
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Subject: Accessibility_sig Digest, Vol 28, Issue 8
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Today's Topics:
1. Alt tags (Mary Salome)
2. Re: Alt tags (Jan Heck)
3. Re: Alt tags (McMillen, Node)
4. Re: Alt tags (Jim Thatcher)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:20:47 -0700
From: "Mary Salome" <msalome at chi.ucsf.edu>
Subject: [Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
To: "accessibility_sig at knowbility.org"
<accessibility_sig at knowbility.org>
Message-ID: <0cf2104d5158ba468b5ccd8f725215f0 at never.ucsf.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi there,
We have a question about alt tags. We've heard that alt tags for things
like transparent gifs are an annoyance for people using screen readers,
who don't want to read "transparent gif" over and over again. When we
try to use alt=" " as an alternative, our code does not validate as
compliant with HTML 4.01 standards (using HTML Tidy).
Does anyone know of a way to be compliant *and* convenient? Or, has
anyone had experience validating their HTML that shows that alt=" " is
actual compliant?
Mary
Mary Salome
Production Manager
UCSF Center for HIV Information
http://chi.ucsf.edu
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:28:16 -0700
From: "Jan Heck" <jan at id4theweb.com>
Subject: Re: [Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
To: "'Discussion list for web and software accessibility issues'"
<accessibility_sig at knowbility.org>
Message-ID:
<20070829222814.BFLE5837.fed1rmmtao105.cox.net at fed1rmimpo02.cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi, Mary,
I think it's best if you don't include a space between the two quotation
marks, i.e., alt="" rather than alt=" ". I don't know if that will help
it
validate with HTML Tidy, but I have used other validators that have no
problem with the null alt text, and it passes accessibility checks as
well.
--
Jan Heck (jheck at coastline.edu)
Instructor, Accessible Learning Technology
Coastline Community College
_____
From: accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org
[mailto:accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org] On Behalf Of Mary
Salome
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 3:21 PM
To: accessibility_sig at knowbility.org
Subject: [Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
Hi there,
We have a question about alt tags. We've heard that alt tags for things
like
transparent gifs are an annoyance for people using screen readers, who
don't
want to read "transparent gif" over and over again. When we try to use
alt="
" as an alternative, our code does not validate as compliant with HTML
4.01
standards (using HTML Tidy).
Does anyone know of a way to be compliant *and* convenient? Or, has
anyone
had experience validating their HTML that shows that alt=" " is actual
compliant?
Mary
Mary Salome
Production Manager
UCSF Center for HIV Information
http://chi.ucsf.edu
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:29:56 -0500
From: "McMillen, Node" <Node.McMillen at hhsc.state.tx.us>
Subject: Re: [Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
To: 'Discussion list for web and software accessibility issues'
<accessibility_sig at knowbility.org>
Message-ID:
<3B176A39548F634DA3FC424A7BF9E6D407ED3F at mhmrcoes1.co.mhmr.state.tx.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Our users say that the alt tag is very annoying when the graphic
doesn't
contain any useful information. They recommend using alt="" (no spaces)
even if it doesn't validate. I don't know why alt="" wouldn't validate,
it
does in Dreamweaver and JAWS doesn't object to it. Most webworkers I
know,
use alt="" with no problems
Nod? McMillen, Ph.D.
Distance Learning Technician
Competency Training and Development
Facility Support Services
Health and Human Services Commission
Telephone: 512-206-4527
Fax: 512-206-5986
E-mail: node.mcmillen at hhsc.state.tx.us
Mail Code: 2059
http://www2.hhsc.state.tx.us/655/supportsvcs/CTD/CTD_default.asp
<http://www2.hhsc.state.tx.us/655/supportsvcs/CTD/CTD_default.asp>
_____
From: accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org
[mailto:accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org] On Behalf Of Mary
Salome
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 5:21 PM
To: accessibility_sig at knowbility.org
Subject: [Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
Hi there,
We have a question about alt tags. We've heard that alt tags for things
like
transparent gifs are an annoyance for people using screen readers, who
don't
want to read "transparent gif" over and over again. When we try to use
alt="
" as an alternative, our code does not validate as compliant with HTML
4.01
standards (using HTML Tidy).
Does anyone know of a way to be compliant *and* convenient? Or, has
anyone
had experience validating their HTML that shows that alt=" " is actual
compliant?
Mary
Mary Salome
Production Manager
UCSF Center for HIV Information
http://chi.ucsf.edu
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:23:01 -0500
From: "Jim Thatcher" <jim at jimthatcher.com>
Subject: Re: [Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
To: "'Discussion list for web and software accessibility issues'"
<accessibility_sig at knowbility.org>
Message-ID: <001601c7ea93$8b7aee50$0400a8c0 at jtcom2400>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
As others have just said is alt="" (no spaces) compliant and correct.
Think
of it as saying, IGNORE this image.
Jim
Accessibility Consulting: http://jimthatcher.com/
512-306-0931
-----Original Message-----
From: accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org
[mailto:accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org] On Behalf Of McMillen,
Node
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 5:30 PM
To: 'Discussion list for web and software accessibility issues'
Subject: Re: [Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
Our users say that the alt tag is very annoying when the graphic
doesn't
contain any useful information. They recommend using alt="" (no spaces)
even if it doesn't validate. I don't know why alt="" wouldn't validate,
it
does in Dreamweaver and JAWS doesn't object to it. Most webworkers I
know,
use alt="" with no problems
Nod? McMillen, Ph.D.
Distance Learning Technician
Competency Training and Development
Facility Support Services
Health and Human Services Commission
Telephone: 512-206-4527
Fax: 512-206-5986
E-mail: node.mcmillen at hhsc.state.tx.us
Mail Code: 2059
http://www2.hhsc.state.tx.us/655/supportsvcs/CTD/CTD_default.asp
_____
From: accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org
[mailto:accessibility_sig-bounces at knowbility.org] On Behalf Of Mary
Salome
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 5:21 PM
To: accessibility_sig at knowbility.org
Subject: [Accessibility_sig] Alt tags
Hi there,
We have a question about alt tags. We've heard that alt tags for things
like
transparent gifs are an annoyance for people using screen readers, who
don't
want to read "transparent gif" over and over again. When we try to use
alt="
" as an alternative, our code does not validate as compliant with HTML
4.01
standards (using HTML Tidy).
Does anyone know of a way to be compliant *and* convenient? Or, has
anyone
had experience validating their HTML that shows that alt=" " is actual
compliant?
Mary
Mary Salome
Production Manager
UCSF Center for HIV Information
http://chi.ucsf.edu
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