Chapter 7: Media

Images

Main point

One of the more important steps in ensuring your book is accessible is including alternative text (alt text) tags for any images included. An alt text tag exists behind the scenes of an image and provides screen reader users with a description of the content or function of that image.

General rules around alt text tags:

• Avoid descriptors like “image of” or “photo of.” The screen reader will announce that tag automatically.
• Keep the description simple, specific, and succinct. Your description should be under 125 characters.

The best descriptions are created by you, the author, because you know the content best and what is important to know about the image.

If you’re having trouble explaining the image within 125 characters (~20 words), it’s time to reevaluate and decide if this is the right image to use or if you will need to include a long text description.

A note about long descriptions: If your content has highly complicated images, you may want to consider developing long text descriptions of the images that will provide in-depth information about the content of the image. Reach out to the Open Education Librarian [opens email program] for assistance!

• Read the Accessibility Toolkit by BCampus to learn more about linking long descriptions within Pressbooks.

Example

• Bad: Photo of U of A mascots
• Good: Wilbur and Wilma ride in a fire truck
• Better:
  • Wilbur gives a thumbs up while riding next to Wilma in Tucson Fire Department’s Ladder 1 truck.
  • Arizona mascots Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat ride in a Tucson Fire Department truck.

WCAG Success Criteria

• 1.1.1 — Non-text Content [Level A]: All non-text content that is presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose, except for the situations listed below… [Read more about Success Criteria 1.1.1]

How-to

1. You will have to import your images into the Pressbooks Media Library separate from the text — it will not copy and paste the image, nor will it follow the document using the import tool.
2. To get your Word document ready for import into Pressbooks, we recommend writing your alt text tag within the body of your document or create a separate document with all the image information.
   1. Learn how to add files to your Media Library.
3. Once you have your media file uploaded to your library, select the image to open the Attachment details window. Here you can input your alt text tag along with the image title, caption, and extra description as needed.
   1. If the image is purely decorative, you can leave the alt text box empty in Pressbooks.
      

      

4. This information will then follow the image as you insert it into your content.

Resources

Image Description Guidelines — DIAGRAM Center

textGALLERY — the alt–text gallery from textBOX

Routledge & CRC Press Authors — Accessible Content

Videos

Main point

Multimedia resources can add an extra level of richness to your content. However, to guarantee all users can interact with the content, confirm that your media will be accessible. There are three types of access requirements related to multimedia resources:

• Transcripts: Required for audio-only materials.
• Captions: Required for content with audio and video sources.
  • If you are creating your own video content, refer to U of A’s guidelines for captioning for resources and tips.
  • If you are looking for video content created by a third party, choose material that is already available with captions.
• Audio description: Required when the visual aspects of a video are not covered in the spoken content.

If you plan on embedding any video content within your book, it is best practice to ensure that videos are accessible beforehand.

Questions about copyright or other accessibility issues related to multimedia content? Reach out to the Open Education Librarian [opens email program] for assistance!

WCAG Success Criteria

• 1.2 — Time-based media
  • 1.2.1 — Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) [Level A]: For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, the following are true, except when the audio or video is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such… [Read more about Success Criteria 1.2.1]
  • 1.2.2 — Captions (Prerecorded) [Level A]: Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such.
  • 1.2.3 — Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) [Level A]: An alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded video content is provided for synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such.
  • 1.2.5 — Audio Description (Prerecorded) [Level AA]: Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media.

Resources

Display Embedded Media — Pressbooks User Guide

List of sites you can embed from — WordPress