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Colorado Free Application Days & National Transfer Student Week

Colorado Free Application Days: Colorado residents and students can apply to CU Denver’s undergraduate programs for free Oct. 20–22 with code FREEAPPDAYSCO

National Transfer Student Week: All transfer applicants to CU Denver’s undergraduate programs will have their application fee waived automatically Oct. 19-23. 

Adding Alt Text

How to Create Alt Text in Canvas

Alt text allows assistive technology to “see” an image, describe it, and allow those using the screen reader to better understand an on-page image.

New Images

Uploading from Images Tab

If you upload an image from the images tab in edit mode, you are required to add alt text or mark the image as decorative. A decorative image is an image that is not essential to understanding the purpose or content of the material.

Type the alt text in the text box titled Alt Text.

Screenshot of image editor in Canvas LMS highlighting Alt Text field

Uploading/ Importing from Rich Content Editor

You are not required to add alt text when adding and image using the rich content editor, but you can add it in the uploading process.

Enter text in the Alt Text Box under Attributes.

Screenshot highlighting the button to add an image into rich content editor in canvas

Images from a File

If you upload images from a Canvas file, you will not automatically be prompted to add alt text.

  1. Click the picture and select “Image Options.”
  2. Type the alt text in the box titled Alternative Text.
Screenshot showing the image options button in the Canvas file editor

Existing Images

If you already have images in your course, you can add alt text by clicking the image and selecting the image editor icon in the rich content editor. Then follow the directions for the rich content editor.

Alt Text in Emails

Sometimes emails include images or are completely image based. When creating emails, avoid using text in images as the sole method of conveying information. If you do use an image with text in it, repeat the text in the document.  For images, use alt text to describe the image and mention the text and its intent.

In Outlook, there are a couple of ways to add alt text to an email.

  1. Right click the image, graphic, or chart.
  2. Select edit alt text, the alt text pane will open and you can add a description of the image.
Screenshot showing Add Alternative text button in Outlook.

There is also a built-in accessibility checker.

  1. In the top bar, select the … and select “Check for accessibility issues.”
  2. If alt text is needed, the accessibility checker will flag the image. Click “Fix This” and the Alt Text window will open.
Screenshot showing the "Check for accessibility issues" button in Outlook

If alt text is needed, the accessibility checker will flag the image. Click “Fix This” and the Alt Text window will open.

Screenshot showing the error message in Outlook