(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content).

What is meant by a text equivalent?
A text equivalent means adding words to represent the purpose of a non-text element.

How much information actually needs to be in the text equivalent?
The text information associated with a non-text element should, when possible, communicate the same information as its associated element. For example, when an image indicates an action, the action must be described in the text.

What is meant by the term, non-text element?
A non-text element is an image, graphic, audio clip, or other feature that conveys meaning through a picture or sound. Examples include buttons, check boxes, pictures and embedded or streaming audio or video.

Alternate (ALT) attribute text appears when a mouse pointer moves across an image. Because the screen reader reads the ALT attribute text for the visually impaired, it is imperative that the text is descriptive.

The goal is to simulate, as closely as possible, the visual elements of the page. For example, a visually impaired person cannot see an image of a group of people meeting around a table, but with ALT attribute text reading, "A group of people meeting at a round table," the experience and purpose of the image are the same.

This includes:

• Images and Graphical Buttons
• Grapical representation of text ( including symbols )
• Images used as List Bullets
• Images used as 'spacers'
• Image Map Regions
• Animations ( e.g., animated GIFs )
• Sounds (played with or without user interaction)
• Stand-alone audio files, audio tracks of video, and video
• ASCII Art

How to insert or modify the ALT tag:

• Using Netscape Composer
• Using Microsoft FrontPage 2000