How do I add alternative text to images with UDOIT?

UDOIT can be used to scan, check for, and fix insufficient or missing alternative text (alt text) for images.

UDOIT has a SpeedFIXIT Beta feature to help you create alt text. This feature provides three AI suggestions for alt text for each image. You may review the suggested options and edit and approve one of them to apply it to the image.

Alternatively, you may fix alt text issues within UDOIT's standard UFIXIT window. Skip to the step to remediate issues without AI suggestions.

Note: When a course is scanned by UDOIT, a file named udoit.json is added automatically to the course's Files tool. UDOIT uses this file to track when accessibility fixes have been applied to content copied across course sites, and it is unpublished by default so it will not display to students. For additional information, see the Cidi Labs help article about the udoit.json file (opens new window).

Remediate issues with SpeedFIXIT Beta.

Go to UDOIT Accessibility Report.

Screenshot of link in menu.

Select UDOIT Accessibility Report from the Course Navigation Menu.

Select the UFIXIT tab.

Screenshot of the location of the tab.

Select the UFIXIT tab near the top of the page.

Scan your content. (Optional)

Screenshot displaying information and options for scanning.

The first time UDOIT is selected from the Course Navigation Menu, it will automatically scan course content. After 24 hours, UDOIT will scan new (previously unscanned) content when accessed again from within the course. You can view when the course content was last scanned and manually start a scan for added or edited content if desired by:

  1. Reviewing the last scanned date.
  2. Selecting Scan Now.

Got to SpeedFIXIT Beta.

Screenshot of the button's location in UDOIT.

If there are image-related issues in the course that can be addressed with SpeedFIXIT, a SpeedFIXIT Beta button will appear in the upper-right corner of the UFIXIT tab.

Select SpeedFIXIT Beta.

Filter by Issue Type.

Screenshot of the Issue Type drop-down menu in SpeedFIXIT.

Select Images from the Issue Type drop-down menu.

Use SpeedFIXIT to add alt text to images.

Screenshot example of SpeedFIXIT interface as described below.

SpeedFIXIT will generate three AI suggestions for each image's alternative text (alt text). You may edit and approve one of the suggestions to apply it to an image, as follows:

  1. Select the link to the right of Found in: to open a new browser tab or window displaying the potential accessibility issue within the course.
  2. One of the AI-generated alt text suggestions will be displayed in the Edit Alternative Text field. To review additional suggestions for the image's alt text, use the Previous Suggestion (left arrow) and Next Suggestion (right arrow) buttons. You may choose one of the available options and edit the alt text for the image as needed in the Edit Alternative Text field, or you may enter your own alt text in the field. If the image is purely decorative, you may delete the text in the field and select the checkbox Mark image as decorative.
    Tip: You can find more information about making images accessible in How can I make images more accessible? (opens new window).
  3. Select Approve to use the text in the Edit Alternative Text field as the image's alt text.

Note: You may select Skip to address an issue with another image first. You will be able to return to update the current image's alt text later.

Tip: For more information on SpeedFIXIT, see: Remediate Content Quickly with SpeedFIXIT (opens in new window).

View confirmation and next image issue.

Screenshot of SpeedFIXIT with Saved! confirmation outlined.

If you have additional image issues that can be fixed with SpeedFIXIT and have not been skipped, a "Saved!" confirmation message will appear near the top of the page under the number of fixed and skipped issues. You will be taken automatically to the next issue to review.

Note: If all other issues in the course that can be fixed with SpeedFIXIT were fixed, you will be taken to a page indicating that everything was fixed. If you skipped other image issues, you will be asked to review the skipped issues.

Remediate issues without AI suggestions.

If you prefer not to use SpeedFIXIT's AI suggestions, you may remediate alternative text issues in the standard UFIXIT window.

Go to UDOIT Accessibility Report.

Screenshot of link in menu.

Select UDOIT Accessibility Reports from the Course Navigation Menu.

Select the UFIXIT tab.

Screenshot of the location of the tab.

Select the UFIXIT tab near the top of the page.

Scan your content. (Optional)

Screenshot displaying information and options for scanning.

The first time UDOIT is selected from the Course Navigation Menu, it will automatically scan course content. After 24 hours, UDOIT will scan new (previously unscanned) content when accessed again from within the course. You can view when the course content was last scanned and manually start a scan for added or edited content if desired by:

  1. Reviewing the last scanned date.
  2. Selecting Scan Now.

Filter issues.

Screenshot outlining the Filter button in the UDOIT interface.

Select the Filter button to open the collapsible Filters menu.

Screenshot of the Filters menu.
  1. Scroll down on the Filters menu,
  2. Select Images from the Issue Types drop-down menu.

Review the filtered issues.

Screenshot example of filtered issues in a table.

A table will display with the following columns:

  1. Status: Icons indicating suggestions or errors as follows:
    • A red exclamation point in a circle - An error that needs to be resolved
    • A blue italicized "i" - A suggestion that needs review
  2. Title: The title of the item where an issue has been found.
  3. Type: The content type where the issue was found, for example, an Announcement or Assignment.
  4. Issue: A brief summary of the potential accessibility issue.
  5. Review: Button to open the UFIXIT interface for the corresponding issue.

Select Review for the desired issue.

Remediate issues in UDOIT.

Screenshot example of the UFIXIT interface as described below.

A UFIXIT window will pop up to allow you to review and address the accessibility issue. In this window:

  1. Select the link to the right of Found in: to open a new browser tab or window displaying the potential accessibility issue within the course.
  2. Update the alternative text for an image in the Edit Alternative Text field. If the image is purely decorative, you may delete the text in the field and select the checkbox Mark image as decorative.
    Tip: You can find more information about making images accessible in How can I make images more accessible? (opens new window).
  3. Select the Save button when you have finished making changes.
  4. Alternatively, if you fixed the accessibility issue directly in another browser tab or window:
    • Select Manual Resolution.
    • Select the confirmation checkbox to indicate you fixed the issue.
  5. When you are finished making changes, select:
    • Close to close the window,
    • Previous Issue to navigate to the previous item in the issue list,
    • Or Next Issue to navigate to the next item in the issue list.

Tip: If you need more than 120 characters to describe an image, consider editing the text surrounding the image in Canvas to include a longer description.

Rescan course files. (Optional)

Screenshot outlining the Scan Now button in UDOIT.

After revising content, you may select the Scan Now button in UDOIT to update the list of accessibility issues in the course.