Add Alt Text to Images in Canvas

Quick Links: | Why This Matters | What You Can Do | Instructions |

Images can enhance learning by visualizing complex concepts, but they can also create barriers for students who rely on screen readers. Without alternative text (alt text), screen readers cannot convey the meaning or context of images, leaving some students without critical information. Adding thoughtful, descriptive alt text ensures that all students, including those who are blind or have low vision, can fully engage with course materials.

Why This Matters

Images without alt text are invisible to students using screen readers, excluding them from critical content. This barrier particularly affects:

  • Students who are blind or have low vision, as they rely on screen readers to access visual information.
  • Students with slow internet connections or technical issues, where alt text serves as a backup when images fail to load.

Without alt text, these students lose access to important visual cues, context, and meaning.

What You Can Do

Providing alt text for images ensures all students can understand and engage with course materials, regardless of how they access them. Alt text communicates the purpose and content of images succinctly and meaningfully, supporting a more inclusive learning environment. This practice:

  • Enhances comprehension for all students by clarifying the context of images.
  • Provides alternative access to content for students who use screen readers.
  • Offers a backup description when images fail to load.

Instructions

To add alt text to an image in Canvas, do the following:

  1. From the Canvas dashboard, open your course.
  2. Open the page containing the image.
  3. Select Edit to open the Rich Content Editor.
  4. In the Rich Content Editor, select the image you want to edit [1].
  5. Select Image Options [2] from the toolbar.
  6. In the slideout menu, enter a concise description of the image in the Alt Text [3] field.
    • The description should convey the same information as the image.
    • Include any text present in the image.
  7. If the image is purely decorative and conveys no critical information, mark it as Decorative Image instead.
  8. Select Done [4] to save your changes.
    A teacher adds alt text to an image in Canvas
  9. Save the page to finalize your updates.

By following these steps, you can ensure that images in your Canvas course are accessible to all students.

We’re Here to Support You—Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help

Still need help? Drop in to Academic Technology's live faculty support room via Zoom, schedule a one-on-one consultation with an instructional designer, or reach out to the Technology & Learning Program to ensure your courses are fully accessible.

Your commitment to creating accessible content in Canvas makes a world of difference to all students, ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity to do and dare.

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