Accessibility in VoiceThread

Provide concise and meaningful alternative text for images in VoiceThread to ensure users who rely on screen readers can understand the content of visual elements, even if they can’t see them. While VoiceThread slides may be described using text comments and slide titles, it is important that you utilize VoiceThread's dedicated alt text option. When editing a slide, you’ll find a field to add a text description for images, videos, or audio files. Text entered here will be read aloud by a screen reader, helping create a fully accessible and inclusive learning environment.  

When using slides with complex images (e.g. charts, graphs, diagrams, maps, cartoons, etc.), it is important to provide long descriptions. Long descriptions provide a textual explanation of the essential information being presented in a detailed or complex image. In VoiceThread, you have several options for adding long descriptions: 

• Add a slide that textually explains the image in detail (either before or after the image slide).
• Provide the long description in a text comment; text comments in VoiceThread have no length limit. 
• Describe and explain the image using audio and/or video comments.
• Upload a pre-recorded audio description of the image.

Regardless of which method you choose, you will need to include alternative text in the Edit Slide pane. This text should be concise, identifying the image type and the location where the long description can be found. 

For more help with long description, enroll in our Making Complex Images Accessible workshop.

Upload audio descriptions for VoiceThread slides that are visual in nature. Audio descriptions function like alternative text for videos, providing a narrative explanation of the visuals for users who are unable to see them. VoiceThread also allows you to upload audio descriptions separately, without needing to add a comment. At this time, audio descriptions must be uploaded as pre-recorded audio files, as VoiceThread has not yet provided a way to record them directly within the platform.

In VoiceThread, you can add an active URL to a slide, allowing viewers to access external content when selected. When adding a link, ensure that the link title is descriptive, as this provides users with clear context about where the link will take them. In other words, they tell users exactly where they will go and what to expect when they click. 

VoiceThread supports keyboard navigation for all major functions, enhancing accessibility for everyone. Share keyboard shortcuts with all students prior to assignments in VoiceThread. By providing this information to everyone, you avoid singling out individuals with disabilities and acknowledge that disabilities, including invisible ones, may not always be apparent.

Users may choose to toggle between Dark and Light Mode. Dark mode alters VoiceThread's interface background to black, offering assistance to users with visual impairments or sensitivity to bright light. 

VoiceThread's gallery view allows you to see all slides at once, streamlining navigation through your media. This feature allows users to view a slide while keeping the gallery view open. It also makes it easy for users to jump to any other slide while recording a multi-slide comment.

Users can customize the text size of comments (both theirs and others) to meet their individual needs. Text sizes range from "smaller" to "bigger." To adjust the size, simply click on the comment you want to view. Then, select the Adjust Text Size button.

VoiceThread offers zoom buttons (+ and -) that allow users to zoom in on slides. Additionally, users can drag the slide to pan around, providing better access to visual elements that may be too small to see.