Hey all, with the continued influx of Twitter people, I'm once again seeing a drop in the number of people who add alt text/image descriptions to what they post, denying access to many disabled users here.
Exactly how you do this varies by Mastodon client app, but it is usually just below the image once you upload & before posting.
Even a short-but-useful description is better than nothing—focus on what you're trying to get others to get from the image rather than describing every detail.
Every time “Can’t you just” starts to come out of your mouth, that is a cue to:
1. STOP
2. repeat to yourself, “I do not understand”
3. and then listen.
Practice the habit in advance, so you’re ready in the moment. I’ve certainly found •I• have to. It is so hard to tame this unhelpful reflex! But it’s also possible.