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Why Alt Text Matters
Alternative text (alt text) provides a description of an image for students who use screen readers or who cannot see the image. Adding meaningful alt text helps ensure all students have access to the same information.
The Most Important Rule
Add alt text where students see the image—in the Canvas Rich Content Editor (RCE).
This is the most reliable way to:
- Improve your Ally accessibility score
- Support screen reader users
- Ensure alt text remains attached when course content is copied to a new course shell.
Recommended Method
When editing a Page, Assignment, Discussion, Announcement, Quiz, or other content item:
- Select the image.
- Choose Image Options.
- Enter a meaningful description in the Alt Text field.
- Save the content item.
You can also use the Ally Accessibility Checker or the Canvas Accessibility Checker within the Rich Content Editor to add alt text directly to an embedded image.
When you add alt text to an image in the Rich Content Editor, that alt text will also be added to the image in the Files tool.
Will My Alt Text Copy to Future Courses?
Yes
Alt text will copy when:
- It is added in the Canvas Rich Content Editor.
- It is added through the Ally Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor.
- It is added through the Canvas Accessibility Checker in the Rich Content Editor.
Maybe Not
Alt text may not copy when:
- It is added only in the Files area.
- It is added only through the Ally Course Accessibility Report.
Why Do I Sometimes See Different Ally Scores?
The same image can exist in two locations:
- As a file in Files
- Embedded in a Page, Assignment, Discussion, or other content item
If alt text is added only to the file, Ally may recognize it in Files but not on the embedded version viewed by students. This can result in different accessibility scores for the same image.
Quick Tip
If you're unsure where to add alt text, use this rule:
Add the alt text in the Canvas page, assignment, discussion, or announcement where the image appears—not just in Files.
This approach provides the most consistent results in Ally and helps ensure alt text remains with your content when courses are copied.
Ally Alt Text Myths vs Facts
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Myth
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Fact
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"I added alt text in Files, so I'm done."
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Alt text added only in Files may not carry over to embedded images or copied course content.
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"The same image should always have the same Ally score."
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Images can have different scores depending on whether the alt text was added to the file or to the embedded image in course content.
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"The best place to add alt text is wherever I happen to see the Ally indicator."
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The preferred location is the Rich Content Editor where students actually encounter the image.
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