Alt text for images for accessibility
Season Hoard
Currently, Gamma is lacking basic accessibility features. Despite some requests, these have not been addressed. At the bare minimum, Gamma should offer Alt Text for images and the ability to edit Alt Text. These features should remain when exporting to PowerPoint or PDF. Items that don't transfer well (like boxes) should also have alt text since they seem to transfer to PDF as images. Tables don't transfer well either making them inaccessible once exported to other files. It is simply unacceptable not to have basic accessibility features and to wait for an "update."
Nik Payne (Gamma design)
Merged in a post:
Alt-text
Emily Donahue
I use Gamma as an extension to our city websites. Since we are a local government department, we are having to change our websites to comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. Is Gamma working on capability to add alt-text to images and videos? What about other accessibility features such as permitting keyboard-only navigation, allowing text resizing up to 200%, and providing sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 ratio). Thank you for your consideration.
Nik Payne (Gamma design)
Totally hear you — and thanks for laying out the specifics. Accessibility (WCAG/ADA) is a big deal, especially for public sector folks, and alt-text is one of those “can’t ship without it” basics.
A couple quick questions so I can pass something useful to the team:
- Are you embedding Gamma on your city site (iframe) or linking out to a Gamma page?
- Which parts are the biggest blockers for you right now: image/video alt text, keyboard-only navigation, text resize to 200%, or color contrast? If you’ve got an example page (or a screenshot/Loom + what tool flagged it, like WAVE/axe/Lighthouse), that’d be super helpful too.
Emily Donahue
Nik Payne (Gamma design) Thank you. We link to our Gamma sites from our primary city webpage. The purpose of our Gamma sites is to inform the public, so we need to be sure everyone can access the websites. I would say those are all important, but alt-text seems like the easiest first step. We will eventually have to implement all the changes you mentioned. I have not audited our sites yet to see what flags, but I know not having alt-text will be one of the most obvious issues with our Gamma sites.
Nik Payne (Gamma design)
Emily Donahue: Thank you!
Nik Payne (Gamma design)
Merged in a post:
Alt Text for Images
Tracy Mendolia-Moore
When exporting to PPT, for accessibility reasons, it would be nice if the export of the images could also include the alt-text and the H1, H2, etc. labels. This would help with easy compliance with Accessibility Guidelines per ADA requirements for PPT development within education...primarily for those students who require screenreaders to assist in their learning.
Nik Payne (Gamma design)
Merged in a post:
Accessibility
Beth Callahan
Make accessibility checker part of the process. Also add alt text to graphics and pictures. I had to download my presentation into PowerPoint just to make it accessible to all audience members.
Nik Payne (Gamma design)
Merged in a post:
Alt Text Support for Uploaded Images
Scott Griffin
Uploaded images need to have a way to add alt text for accessibility purposes