AltText: An institutional tool for change

Alternative Text (AltText) is widely recognized as a key principle of digital accessibility and accessible publishing (PAAG, 2023). It has also been discussed creative writing practice (Finnegan & Coklyat, n.d.), an access tool for museums cultural institutions (Wilson, 2011). In the January 2023 issue Curator: The Museum Journal (Cecilia et al., 2023), we considered rather fragmented decadal delays museum sector sector's peer-reviewed publishers to fully adopt principles UN Convention Rights Persons with Disabilities in migration first that editorial, announced adopted new policy increase inclusion our journal advocated wide adoption throughout sector. this Editorial, broaden discussion alternative text or “AltText” will be calling it—and more generally scholarly journals by examining it institutional, political, activist tool. Understanding way professional can deploy tools like AltText provides foundation on which journal, Journal, presenting framework structuring content benefit authors readers. insights gained from research allow reflect intricate link between images how they work together illustrate particular claim. As employ Rose's (2012) approach understand significance images, using technological, compositional, social modalities discuss images' sites production, audiencing, image itself, site its circulation. focus understanding production reflecting complex relationship potential readership, multimodal nature authorial narratives. Advocacy prioritize institutional perspective not phenomenon question at forefront since mid-1980s when physical buildings started restructuring buildings. But even after 40 years progress, professionals academics continue agree need sector-wide change. At writing, 23 into 21st century's revolution, become apparent there permeate processes operations all levels. Our 2022 quick assessment sample major websites related publications revealed vast majority webpages are without Alt attribute tags define AltText, despite these being required HTML standards than 25 (Bowen 2001; Gleason 2019; Lisney 2013). lack often main error found most accessibility-checker software flagged priority improvement. global apologize readers who have needed accommodations, admit complicity over past decades exclusions created. We making editorial before commenced transformation 2021. find important early 2002, Howitt Mattes needs users stages web resources' development. Their call equitable audience-centered development resources was prompted British “COMPASS” resource 2000. Despite critical institution, their recommendations were relegated sidebar peers. acknowledge tacit oversight exclusively own omission, remains outside priorities sector, reminder long ignored crisis legitimacy serve audiences. brief, theoretical level, consensus good starts top implemented every level experience design. Two studies (Huntsman, 2022; Jones, Wilson, 2011) continuously mounted evidence vision embraced everyone responsible publishing, step journey. Accessibility researchers demanded shift toward work, projects, where aims outcomes established. Which say, requirements guidelines provide manuscript submissions important, enough. Some standards, PAAG, W3C (n.d.), require academic material screen reader users. members team leading up change reality far fragmentary. still fundamentally inaccessible both technological epistemological perspective. effort overcome problem, response various public policies UK (i.e., Equality Act 20101 Public Sector Bodies Regulations2), USA (ADA3), EU (EAA due 20254), English language add authors, including submitting manuscripts. And, note, joins ranks working remediate historical AltText. However, what unknown whether requirement impact experienced vision-impaired other text-to-speech technology. mentioned previous part Wiley family, collaborated University College London project “Creating images,” funded UCL Centre Critical Heritage Studies. builds findings “Inclusive Visions” project, looked visitors, make meaning environment, collections, (Cecilia, 2022). images” perceives only explanatory but broader offers participation. frames political impaired people disabilities community, audiences researchers. study, interviewed 12 10 sighted academics, and/or use UK, USA, France, Italy. line idea must beginning each initial stage show concerns, adding cannot just publications' submission stage. When happens, means perceive challenging, time-consuming, boring, end-in-itself task, infer creating does contribute process. result, appears asking may lead rushed disconnected linked to. To achieve sectorial quarter century, is, therefore, necessary intimate publication. believe support responsibility include ensure embed concerns powerful interpretative reflects itself. Irrespective supporting accessibility, revising reflection dual sharing results. On one hand, take create inclusive meet aspirations legislation countries distribute process Sandell (2019, 171) described “culture compliance.” irrespective any growing audiences, going beyond culture compliance. Furthermore, policy, hope put place model larger respond users, embracing role heritage I ADHD [the different tone body text] very distracting. takes me longer information, then sense actual context. 99% cases, it's worth give up. (Research Participant) individuals participant accommodations rely readers, rarely acknowledged addressed existing legislation. enables those low no vision, context manuscript. From user's perspective, help them independently information visual elements paper. consider creatively think critically about choose publications. prior identified some challenges. More decade Rose contributes images. recently, Conrad (2021) based biases visually surrounding text. thought providing basic description, realised image. Once tried explain why specific there, didn't point trying well enough […] showed description my colleagues confirmed had interpreted chosen intended. Other verbalizing either made re-evaluate choices, strengthen through narratives, reflected final revisions Creating opportunity directly communicate less formal expected While article captions aim short set image, intentionally published observed. Should wish see example, direct your attention extensive 19th-century plate Western European prejudice test proposed (Vawda Denison, These texts do simply describe seen, voice author guiding choices research, additional decision-making relevant work. here aligning narrative styles essential develop deliver meaning. Using representation formats, narratives enable presentation diverse window seldom included By authoring, awareness meaning-making (primarily potentially video, sound, media). Authors priorities, reader's “gaze” significant situate If decision paper curatorial act, becomes breaks barrier formality establishes communication reader, casting light unseen. This ultimately guide scrolling glance. whole, same audio descriptions galleries mainstream value depth everyone. Used tool, context, added layer reader. For AltText's foremost, textual sight. Access deeply connected identity breadth lived stronger, literature structured field. led commit multi-lingual now, next access, exclusion fact actively excluded constantly underrepresented workforce regrettable condition finally surfaced Aitchison 2020; Fox Sparkes, Goudas, 2020). Within shift, visibility researchers, visible establishing best practice, would transformed hidden nuisance researchers' community. re-examination opens discourses discourse around requiring fields general, clear whose voices suppressed too long, neglected, professionals, active contributors improve Based Acknowledging power authorship era academia lie words abilities practice. Embracing leads meaningful innovation, base influence With again dialogues informed poorer because biases. changing move look forward type better workplaces learning environments all. Rafie Cecilia Associate Lecturer Studies (UCL) initiative collaboration journal. Theano Moussouri, Editor, Professor collaborator initiative. John Fraser, psychologist, Fellow American Psychological Association Research Knology, science organization New York, USA.