There Is No “Alternative” to “ALT Text”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been scrolling through my church’s Facebook or Instagram feed, ready to see what’s new in parish life, only to smack headfirst into the brick wall of an unlabeled image.

Maybe someone posted a hilarious church meme. Everyone’s in the comments saying “🤣 So true!” and I’m over here with my screen reader telling me exactly… nothing. Just “Image.” That’s it. The joke may be holy, but it’s also completely hidden from me.

Or there’s a flyer for an event I really want to attend — well, I assume I want to attend, but without any details, I’ll never know. All my screen reader says is “Picture.” And let me tell you, “Picture” is not a compelling invitation to the Lenten soup supper.

It’s not just inconvenient. It’s isolating.

When churches don’t include alt text, blind Episcopalians like me are left out of the loop — missing the laughter, missing the information, and, frankly, missing out on being part of the life of the community we love.

So, What Exactly Is Alt Text?

Alt text — short for alternative text — is a short written description of an image. It’s tucked away in the image’s digital code so that screen readers (like mine) can read it aloud or display it in braille.

And here’s the part that blows people’s minds: adding alt text is not tech wizardry. On almost every social media platform, it’s literally one extra click. In fact, AI now prompts you to add alt text when you upload a photo. That means the internet itself is trying to help you be more inclusive. You just have to say yes.

How I Use It

I use a screen reader called ZoomText Fusion. I scroll my mouse over an image, and if alt text has been added, it reads the description to me. Without alt text, all I get is “Image.”

With alt text, I get something like:

“Flyer with purple background showing a loaf of bread and chalice. Text reads: ‘Maundy Thursday Service, April 17, 7 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church.’”

One tells me nothing. The other tells me I have a date with Jesus and carbs.

Why It Matters in the Episcopal Church

We promise in our baptismal covenant to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and to “respect the dignity of every human being.” That promise isn’t just for coffee hour or the passing of the peace. It applies to our digital spaces, too.

Think about it: in 2025, social media is the church’s front porch. If the front porch has steps but no ramp, we’d call that inaccessible. If the Facebook page has images but no alt text… same problem. Just digital instead of physical.

Adding Alt Text Is Ridiculously Easy

Here’s your quick cheat sheet:

• Facebook: Upload photo → “Edit” → “Alt Text” → Type description. Done.
• Instagram: Upload photo → “Advanced Settings” → “Write Alt Text.” Done.
• X (Twitter): Upload photo → “Add Description.” Done.
• Websites/Newsletters: When you upload an image, look for the “Alt Text” field. It’s there. Use it.

Even better? AI tools can auto-generate alt text for you. But please, edit what the robots write. “Image of people” doesn’t help me much if those people are, say, three acolytes in white robes holding candles in a Palm Sunday procession.

Bad vs. Good Alt Text

Bad: “Image”
Good: “Flyer with white background showing a gold cross and palm leaves. Text reads: ‘Palm Sunday Service, March 24, 10 a.m., Christ Episcopal Church.’”

Bad: “People”
Good: “Three parishioners smiling while serving coffee at Fellowship Hour, wearing red aprons that say ‘St. Luke’s Hospitality Team.’”

Good alt text tells the story so that I can see it in my mind.

Myths I’m Begging You to Retire

• “It’s too technical.” If you can post a selfie, you can write alt text.
• “No one reads it.” I do. Blind people do. It’s the only way we access your visual content.
• “We don’t have any blind members.” You might. And even if you don’t, accessibility is for everyone you hope to welcome.

The Truth: We Can Do Better

Here’s the part where I get real:
At the diocesan level, I have never seen a consistently accessible post. Not one. That means even our highest church communications offices are unintentionally leaving people out.

We can fix this. Here’s how:

1. Train your volunteers and staff to add alt text.
2. Make it policy — every post, every time.
3. Lead from the top — dioceses should model accessibility so parishes follow suit.

This isn’t “extra credit.” It’s core to who we are as Episcopalians.

The Digital Front Door

Without alt text, I’m standing outside your digital church doors. I hear the laughter, I sense something happening inside, but I’m not part of it.

With alt text, you’ve opened the door. You’ve invited me in. You’ve made me part of the Body of Christ online as well as in person.

Adding alt text isn’t extra work. It’s hospitality. It’s love of neighbor. It’s living the Gospel in the age of the internet.

So the next time you post a flyer, a meme, or a photo from coffee hour, take those 20 seconds. Because when it comes to including your whole congregation, there really is no alternative to ALT text.