Post
Hello Masto-peeps who use screen readers!
I just learned that I need to put alt text on URLs for more accessible PDFs, but -- what should it say?
I am formatting academic citations that include a URL, so all the information about where that link will take you is in the text. I don't want it to read the URL to you and I don't want to just repeat the same information you just heard. What do you find most helpful in this situation?
Pls boost for reach!
I mean, I don't want it to do those things unless you find them USEFUL!
And of course the Section 508 website is not helpful. Sigh.
Maybe I should give an example:
Nicole Kobie, Microsoft: Get Used to Working with AI Powered “Digital Colleagues”, IT Pro (Apr. 29, 2025), available at: <https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-get-used-to-working-with-ai-powered-digital-colleagues>.
(Don't rag on the formatting, it's an in-house style, and I didn't chose it.)
So you see, the info is already in the text, the URL will be a clickable link, and I'm assuming no one wants to listen to a URL, but I'm told it needs alt text to meet the accessibility guidelines our org is using.
A space for Bonfire maintainers and contributors to communicate
