Alt-texts are important features of accessible ebooks. They describe imagery that appears in electronic texts to better include readers with visual impairments. While there are numerous accessibility guides that suggest best practices, some images are more difficult to describe than others and examples of visual art can be especially challenging. While bias-free language is important to describe images, how does visual art pose issues in communicating a material type, a mood, or an atmosphere?

Please join Concordia University Press and Mehrnoosh Alborzi for a conversation and an example-driven presentation on writing alt-text descriptions for visually illustrated books. Presenting findings from her Elspeth McConnell Fine Arts Award–funded research project, Alborzi will share information with attendees about when best practices guides are lacking, what kinds of images are especially difficult, and how to communicate nuances without imparting too much bias or interpretation.

Following Alborzi’s presentation, attendees with experience in alt-texts are encouraged to bring examples of their own work for a collaborative discussion and sharing session, as well as time for questions.