zara weinbergNov 5, 2022
Rachel Handley

As #mastodon grew this week I noticed more photos being posted without a description of the photo.

Please include it! Part of the reason I joined is because this placed seemed more accessible.

What I'm trying to say is I want to boost your cat photos, but I can't in good conscience do so unless those photos are accessible.

#disabled #accessibility

Nov 5, 2022 at 9:43amWeb
Show threadClaire LeeNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley I really like how they make it super obvious to you that you haven't added alt text before you post! I try to always remember but I do sometimes forget. The visual reminder is really helpful!
Show threadGemma 👽Nov 5, 2022

@_RachelHandley twitter had the option to remind one before posting, if alt text hadn’t been written. I don’t know if Mastodon has that, but I haven’t encountered it. Would be great if that existed. Could that be something mods could enforce per instance to actually forbid one from posting without alt…

Anyway good to spread the word and hopefully people would just remember it on their own 😅

Show threadRachel HandleyNov 5, 2022
@prettyhuman I think there's a bot on here that'll remind you. I can't remember the name of it sadly, but hopefully it's searchable.
Show threadSarah LawtonNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley @prettyhuman the bot is @PleaseCaption — very helpful!
Show threadFeòragNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley - One thing that got me was when I first tried to do this, which I note in case someone else has the same issue. In the iPad OS Mastadon app, it’s quite tricky to select, and there’s no feedback to say you’ve successfully selected the text field. In the end, I typed and hoped, and it worked.
Show threadshannaNov 6, 2022
@feorag @_RachelHandley Yes, same for me. It’s much easier/clearer how to add in the web browser. That seems like an easy fix to the iOS app—the placeholder text could be set to disappear when you click in the field, etc.
Show threadRobin WiltonNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley @Floppy Hi Rachel - Lucia says ciao, from her personal barrel in Ragusa.
Show threadKaty MoranNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley really good reminder - thank you for that!
Show threadTaylorNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley ok so I never did this on Twitter—and I don’t have a good reason for why—but I’ve found myself doing it every time on #mastodon. Thinking it’s bc the call to action appears on each photo, so I’m like ok sure why not. But then idk how to view it once the pic is posted, so I hope I’m doing it correctly. Anyway, here’s Dexter Zamolodchikova.
Show threadTaylorNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley did it work?
Show threadRachel HandleyNov 5, 2022
@tsmith it did!
Show threadTaylorNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley omg yay!
Show threadLpcProfNov 11, 2022
@tsmith @_RachelHandley Hi, Dexter! Happy Caturday Eve!
Show threadmartyNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley I follow this useful bot which reminds me if I post a picture without a description. @PleaseCaption
Show threadBunny Jane's HumansonaNov 5, 2022

@_RachelHandley Just wanted to add that an image description doesn't have to be perfect. A bad image description is better than none, but here's some tips:

• Use proper punctuation. This helps screen reader software work properly.

• Be brief.

• Note if it's a photo or illustration at the bottom. For example: "My cat riding a Roomba. Photo."

Show threadKristina W KellyNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley I’ve uploaded one photo so far. Did not get an alt text prompt - unless it’s so different than Twitter my mind dismissed it? How do we turn a prompt on?
Show threadAlfred R. BaudischNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley Thanks for the heads up.
Show threadMinnesotaMinnNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley This is a great reminder that one thing we can all to help with accessibility (in addition to fixing our own stuff) is to avoid boosting inaccessible content
Show threadMarieke de la CroixNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley we need to be educated! Tweeps are spoiled kids, I am one of them. Lack of consideration. We newbies should adapt not doing a hostile takeover!
Show threadbacigalupeNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley good advice thanks and will do
Show threadtom o’connorNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley
I hear you and am making it a point to add descriptions. hope they are good. Thanks for pointing it out.
Show threadlb1aNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley there you go, more cute cat pictures to boost :-)
Show threadCautionWIP 🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈Nov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley working on getting in and staying in the habit. Thanks for the reminder!
Show threadCarnyNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley Sadly not all clients support the addition of ALT text to an #image, eg #Tootle on iPhone does not support the #ALTtext. Personally I would add it if I could, but not being able to do so doesn’t warrant using an otherwise less userfriendly client to me. I am pretty sure many more people face this issue. Perhaps directing some of your attention towards the #developers would prove more fruitful than focusing on the users.. Just a thought. Hope #APPdevelopers chime in!
Show threadJonNov 5, 2022

@_RachelHandley can I ask a question about how it works?

I realized I neglected to include an alt description in an image. I tried to edit the post to add a description, but trying to post the edited image gave an error. I could add the description into the post itself. Would that “in post” description connect with accessibility solutions?

Show threadMark HenickNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley Great tip - still figuring out how to use this thing
Show threadPaul "Princejvstin" WeimerNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley bad habit of mine just to put out photos without description, I should do better
Show threadmikejNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley How is this for accessbility in general? Have a friend who was hoping to try before signing up and finding out it's inaccessible to them (blind)
Show threadCate CallahanNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley I haven't figured out yet how to tell if the alt text is there? Using Mastodon on Android and I typed in the alt text on the picture I posted but I can't find it now.
Show threadNickNov 5, 2022
@catecallahan @_RachelHandley Not sure for the official mastodon app, but hearing many folks on here recommend Tusky for Android over the official app convinced me to switch. On Tusky, the alt shows up at the bottom of every image.
Show threadCate CallahanNov 5, 2022

Thanks @nyates314

Tusky was not working earlier but I have just managed to log in. Alt text now showing when viewing the image full screen.

Show threadThibaultmol 🌈Nov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley wish that crowdsourced image description was a thing.
Like: have users be able to suggest descriptions for images without them. And then the original poster can "approve" the suggested description
Show threadJoshua Lückers - JacobsenNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley can you give some examples of a good description for a photo? I’m so bad at writing them.
Show threadShoq 🌿Nov 5, 2022

@_RachelHandley
I am 100% sympathetic to your need. But I doubt anyone is going to ever take the time on their "general postings." But I believe there should be a special class of posting like "Info referral" that can't be posted without image descriptions.

And someone might build an AI bot that scans the image and suggests a basic description and then pops it up for tweaking. That will encourage the practice.

Show threadTryCatchHCF Nov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley And Mastodon makes it so easy and painless to add photo descriptions! This is the first platform where I've added alt-text to every picture I've posted.
Show threadStephNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley Yeah, haven't got tagging photos to work yet. Maybe it's the server, not sure.
Show threadAllison ONov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley is that under the edit function, like writing a caption?
Show threadRick ThomanNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley Thanks for the reminder. I was not sure how to do that but I now see it's underneath the image "edit" button.
Show threadmem_somervilleNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley How do you tell if an image has text or not included?
Show threadDr Elisha FoustNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley thank you for the reminder to learn how to add descriptions!
Show threadRyuno-KiNov 5, 2022

@_RachelHandley
If you find people omitting them, they might welcome a recommendation for one of the bots DMing them whenever they attached an image without an alt :)

Are you aware of those bots?

Show threadTim StevensNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley a great reminder, thank you.
Show threadPseudoRandom#Nov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley can you recommend a source for best practices.? I'd like to go back and correct a 4 panel comic and am not sure how best to get that humor across
Show threadfridayNov 5, 2022

@_RachelHandley I am hoping to look into dev on building a bot to help do this like we seen in twitter.

Where you call the bot and it reads the image and tries to get the text but doesn't work well with just images. Some image recognition might work but not much.

Will publish when I can get some work on it!

Show threadOrnwenNov 5, 2022
@_RachelHandley Can’t seem to publish when my post has an image at all, don’t know why.
Show threadCaro SilvaNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley @ornwen if you are using the official IOS app like I was I had the same trouble. I switched to MetaText and the problem went away. I also liked the features much better. Easier navigation for the different feeds. If you are an android user an app switch will also fix it.
Show threadCarsten RossiNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley yep, sorry. Will do better in the future.
Show threadBriteNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley and here I just posted one with out alt text. I won't make that mistake again
Show threadOkazuYuriNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley I tried!! But it would not add the description...I think it was a glitch.
Show threadolivierlacanNov 6, 2022

@_RachelHandley I was actually looking for this on the iOS app the other day and on the web and didn’t notice a way to add a caption. Today however I noticed prompts on both and a fairly simple experience, easier than Twitter I’d say.

Any chance some older versions or instance settings might lead to different experiences there?

Show threadLogist PsychoNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley I'm trying to retrospectively add image descriptions but it's just throwing error messages at me. I'll try again later and try to put them in next time. Thanks for the reminder.
Show threadThesiswhispererNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley thanks for the reminder!
Show threadSandyMamoliNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley Thanks for pointing it out. Just did my first toot all wrong. Now I know, so no more inaccessible images.
Show threadStephNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley Haven’t yet been able to do it without encountering an error. Not sure if user error or the tech. Just to let you know that maybe there are some who try but for some reason are unable.
Show threadAndrea Johnston Nov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley
I've followed @pipou.academy/@alttxtreminder
to get reminders
Show threadsunny☀️Nov 6, 2022

@_RachelHandley
The #Fedilab App prompts you to enter a description.

Works for me.
Can't forget it now.
But now I'm working longer on the description as for the toot.

Should be a good description then.

Show threadRab Bruce’s SpiderNov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley i agree. I’ve seen a few folk add photo descriptions on here, but there’s always room for more to adopt the habit.
I must admit I’m not a cat lover, but even a pic of a cat will gain my attention if it’s got a description my screen reader can read.
Show threadAlastair Bor 🇦🇺Nov 6, 2022
@_RachelHandley How do you add the description? I just made a post with a photo in it but there was nowhere to put the description (other than in the body of the toot, obvs).