Banner image should have configurable alt attribute

[maxkadel]

Steps to recreate

1. Add a new Banner image for another page, e.g. Undergrad Alumni Index, using the configuration.
2. Note that the alt text for the image, no matter what it is, is "geometric pattern"

Issues

Images should have meaningful alt text that reflect the image

Severity

WCAG Success Criterion

WCAG Conformance level (A, AA, AAA)

User impact

Misleads a user using assistive technology about the display of the page, loses any meaning conveyed by the image, such as a sense of place.

Recommended fix

Add alt text for banner image to the configuration

Acceptance criteria

• [ ] I can successfully use this feature with Voice Over in Safari.
• [ ] I have checked this feature using one of the following browser extensions and confirmed that it does not add any level A or level AA issues:
  • axe dev tools
  • Lighthouse
  • Wave
• [ ] ...

Notes

[kevinreiss]

I believe we've closed this issue in this commit: https://github.com/pulibrary/static-tables/commit/dd4e5fc787aa4670be991ad0bdf087a5cf2602a0.

[maxkadel]

In the linked commit the alt text for the banner image is still alt="geometric pattern"

[kevinreiss]

Does having at least some text (even if it's boilerplate) meet the accessibility requirement?

[maxkadel]

I don't think so? I think if the image adds meaning to the page it needs meaningful alt text, and if it does not add meaning to the page it should be hidden from screen readers.

[christinach]

The allt attribute should describe the image. If the image is not a geometric pattern it shouldn't be geometric pattern. I agree that we should try to configure it in a config file for all the sites.