PSA: I am asking everyone to please use the ALT tag when posting pix. It only takes a few seconds, is the right thing to do for people with low vision, and it can be used to add extra info or even something funny (as long as you get the basic description in there first). Please.
Amazing to me that I can ask (even using "please") that people help those with bad vision, and I get a couple of assholes complaining I'm telling them what to do.
I spend most of my time on Mastodon, where filling in the Alt/Text is done by almost everyone. I had to learn to do it, too.
But I have a deaf/blind follower who mentioned once that what I write gives her a full understanding of the photo, and I now do it every single time.
Because why not?
you can also put it in bluesky's settings for it to require you to add alt text! literally a single switch under accessibility, so you never forget to do it!
Bluesky Team,
maybe hash uploaded images
& save the Alt text
so next time the same image is uploaded give the poster the option to use existing text, edit existing text, or write new text.
Also maybe a button to autopost to; #AltText
Ty.
True, but this would help, as if you are able to select from the last.. say 5 alt text uploads and edit them.
I try to add alt text, however if I’m tired and it is the same image I’ve uploaded and alt texted before it become tedious.
I also am sight impaired, again not making it easy.
I’ve learned to write the post *and* the alt text in notepad, then copy/paste the whole thing & delete as needed. This also makes one a little more intentional about posting, which is probably a good thing.
That's an image description, not alt text. I think that's part of what stops a lot of folks is that they think we're asking for in depth image descriptions. This alt text could literally be "image from airline pamphlet"
Screen readers already say that there's an image. If the context is airlines ppl will understand that the image they aren't seeing relates to airlines. "Image from airline pamphlet" adds no information. The point is to allow ppl to be as in on the conversation as *sighted* ppl. Hence a DESCRIPTION.
Alt text describes an image. Screen-readers will read it aloud so people who are visually impaired can hear what’s in the image. It means people who depend on screen readers will get the point or joke you’re making.
More here: www.accessible-social.com/images-and-v...
So when you are posting a photo, it has the word "alt" in the top left, showing before you click reply/post. You click "alt" and type a description of what the pic shows. If it's a text screenshot, I paste the text into the alt text. If it's a photo, your description works best! Click the alt text 😀
I find it very useful when someone posts an image I don’t recognise in a meme thread! I’ll be like “what’s that from?” And if there’s alt text it normally tells me.
So you know how stuff is getting harder to read for some of us as we level up (get older)? Alt text is an editable text field built into bluesky for images, so I can click on the text field and read a description of it. I sometimes use the magnifier accessibility tool, but it doesn't always help.
I replied with a how-to, let me know if it works. I got bifocals, and I still can't see! I had to give up all sorts of stuff like sewing because my eyes just won't focus on anything close. My kid got a splinter, and someone else had to remove it. It sucks!!!!
