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adaptlearning / adapt-contrib-core

Adapt Framework kernel. Responsible for boot loading, data loading and core APIs.
GNU General Public License v3.0
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Images should have a "decorative" property (boolean) #187

Open brennanyoung opened 3 years ago

brennanyoung commented 3 years ago

Subject of the issue/enhancement/features

This concerns accessibility of images, non-text content and all that.

In adapt, images may be marked as decorative by leaving their "Alternative Text" field empty (whether in authoring or with framework). This adds aria-hidden=true to the image, concealing it from screen readers, which is fine if you know what you are doing, but it is indistinguishable from the case where the author simply forgot to enter Alt text.

I am proposing that images get a boolean property called "decorative" (or perhaps "presentational" or whatever). This would make it explicit that the empty alternative text really does mean decorative, and is not simply an omission by the author. Currently there is no way to tell the difference.

In the authoring tool (sorry, another board, but very relevant to this request), any corresponding "decorative" checkbox for images should (if checked) disable the Alternative Text field completely.

Perhaps most important of all, it should not be possible to add any image with an empty Alternative Text unless the "decorative" checkbox is checked. Pure sophistry, perhaps, but I am convinced this would help to remind authors that Alternative Text is not optional unless you explicitly want a decorative image, in which case, you use an explicit UI control for that purpose, rather than relying on the occult interpretation of null Alternative Text. It's a matter of making the design intentions clear for authors, and thereby making the experience better for end users who rely on ATs.

Your environment

data-adapt-framework-version="5.13.0" data-adapt-authoring-version="0.10.5"

StuartNicholls commented 1 year ago

There is an issue here, but the way I see it is that it doesn't necessarily need a functional fix.

To me it's partly verbiage and partly UI / UI decoration. So, 'Alternative text' doesn't really convey what it's for, and you have to rollover the small icon to find out. Calling it say 'Text description for Accessibly' and having an accompanying accessibility icon next to that (and thought out the tool) might work. Also, obviously that help icon with the pop-over could do with a fix anyway, I'm not sure if thats even accessible which is ironic, so a fix here would be perhaps to have a 'more info' or 'help' button that reveal's the info - and it be more helpful info - much like how the accordion works.

brennanyoung commented 1 year ago

Suggested label "Accessible text alternative"