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Making images, image maps, maps and graphs accessible

Images, image maps, maps and graphs can sometimes be difficult or even impossible to describe in text. There will be people who want to access the image but cannot for any of the following reasons:

• They are colour blind
• They are browsing with images turned off
• They have a vision impairment that affects their ability to read a map
• They are blind
• They are using a text-only browser
• They cannot read English labels on maps
• They are using a keyboard instead of a mouse

Relationship to checkpoints

Checkpoint 1.1 requires that for all non-text elements that a text equivalent is provided. This means that either a text explanation of the information is given near the non-text element, or that the description is coded with the information, such as in an ALT attribute of an image.

Example solution - Maps

The Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games venue map is a very complex image that contains a lot of information. A section of the map is shown below.

http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Sports+and+Venues/Venue+Locations/

In the above example, information provided in the map includes the venue, the distance and direction the venue is from the CBD and the sports to be held at the venue. The map contains too much information to be contained in the ALT attribute and thus a long description would need to be written. The venue map still needs an ALT attribute however – a good example would be “Map of Commonwealth Games venues; for more information see the following table.” The long description provides the same information in a tabular form, for example:

Listing of Commonwealth Games Venues

Venue	Location
Docklands Precinct	The venue for Walks is approximately 1.5 km south-west of the city centre.
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)	The venue for both Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Athletics and the start and finish of the Marathon is approximately 2 km east of the city centre.
Multi Purpose Venue (Melbourne Park)	The venue for the Basketball Finals, Track Cycling and Netball Finals is approximately 2 km east of the city centre.
Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne Park)	The venue for Gymnastics is approximately 2 km east of the city centre.
Telstra Dome	The venue for Rugby 7s is directly west of the city centre

The venue name also links to a page with further statistics.

Further information

ALT attributes

• W3C Checkpoint 1.1: Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element
• WebAIM: Appropriate use of alternative text

Text description

• W3C Checkpoint 11.4: If you cannot create an accessible page provide an alternative

Last updated: 1 July 2007

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