The Power of Alt Text: A Small Step Toward a More Inclusive Web

Accessibility is a concept that should be second nature in today’s digital world, but for many creators and businesses—including myself—it’s often an afterthought. As a disability advocate, I’ve learned that making content accessible isn’t just about meeting guidelines; it’s about creating spaces where everyone feels included. One of the simplest, most effective ways to do this? Alt text.

Alt text (short for “alternative text”) is a written description for images on the web, and while it’s incredibly easy to implement, its impact is massive. Whether it’s helping someone who’s blind or visually impaired access visual content, improving usability for people with learning disabilities, or simply supporting users with slow internet connections, alt text is a small addition with a huge ripple effect.

Recently, I came across an excellent article by Callie Faucher from WebABLE? News, titled Alt Text for Beginners. Her thoughtful breakdown of how to use alt text effectively has not only deepened my understanding of its importance but has also inspired me to share what I’ve learned with others. If you’re new to web accessibility, I highly recommend checking out her article—it’s a great place to start.

But here’s the thing: I’m still learning. I don’t get it right every time, and I’ve definitely missed some opportunities to incorporate alt text in the past. (Spoiler alert: this is where you come in—I’ll get to that later.)

What Is Alt Text and Why Does It Matter?

Alt text is a brief description of an image that allows people who can’t see the image to access its content. It’s not just for individuals with blindness or visual impairments—alt text can also support people with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism, who may have trouble interpreting visual information.

As Callie highlights in her article, there’s another bonus: alt text isn’t just about accessibility. It’s also great for SEO (search engine optimization). Including well-written alt text helps your content rank higher in search results, making it a win-win for inclusivity and visibility.

Yet despite how easy it is to add alt text, the statistics are alarming. According to WebAIM, 95.6% of the top 1,000,000 homepages in 2024 had accessibility errors. Many of these errors could have been prevented with something as simple as adding alt text to images.

How to Write Alt Text That Works

When I first started using alt text, I made plenty of mistakes. I either overcomplicated the descriptions or left them too vague. Thankfully, Callie’s article helped me find a balance. Here are a few of her tips (and how I’ve applied them):

1. Be Concise but Descriptive.
2. Avoid Redundancy.
3. Know When to Skip Alt Text.

These simple guidelines have helped me incorporate alt text more thoughtfully into my content. And while I’m far from perfect, every effort counts.

A Quick Note on AI and Alt Text

As Callie points out, while AI can assist in writing alt text, it’s far from foolproof. AI tools often describe what’s in an image but miss the context of why the image is there. For example, a photo of a dog at a park might be described as “a brown dog on grass.” But if the dog is a service animal working to assist its owner, that detail is critical—and often overlooked by AI.

The lesson? AI can be a helpful starting point, but it’s no substitute for human empathy and understanding.

My Humble Disclaimer: I’m Still Learning

Let me be real for a second: I’m by no means perfect at this. I try to include alt text in most, if not all, of my content, but I’m still learning what works (and what doesn’t). I know there’s room for improvement, and that’s where I’d love your help.

If you rely on alt text to engage with digital content, I’d truly value your feedback. What’s one thing creators like me get wrong? How can we improve? Share your insights in the comments or send me a message—I’m here to learn and grow.

The Bigger Picture

Alt text is just one piece of the accessibility puzzle, but it’s an important one. By taking a few extra seconds to add thoughtful descriptions to our images, we can make the web a more inclusive space for everyone. And in doing so, we’re not just improving accessibility—we’re building trust, fostering community, and showing that we care.

A huge thanks to Callie for her thoughtful article, Alt Text for Beginners, which inspired this post and provided many of the insights I’ve shared here. If you’re just getting started with web accessibility, I encourage you to read her full article here. It’s an incredible resource.

So here’s my challenge to you: the next time you post an image, add alt text. Start small. Learn as you go. And if you’re already a pro, share your knowledge with others. Together, we can make the web a place where everyone feels welcome.

Let’s Connect

If this article resonated with you, let’s keep the conversation going. I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or stories about accessibility. Drop a comment below or send me a message—I’m all ears.