Social Security Administration Guide: Alternate Text for Images

Alternative text is needed for images, links, controls and form elements

Screen reading software is used by people who are blind or who have low vision. Screen readers can only speak text that is in the document or web page. For any non-text content, text must be added, so that alternative non-visual presentation of the information is possible. Alternative text:

• is read by screen readers in place of images, allowing the content and function of the image to be accessible to people who cannot see;

• is also used by voice input software (the kind used by many people who cannot use their hands) to speak elements on the screen; and

• provides a semantic meaning and description to images that can be found by search engines.

To locate guidance on alternate text for links, controls and form elements, see Agency-specific information at the back of this document.