Forum Discussion
Accessibility: Shapes with text vs text boxes
Hello. I am updating content in an Articulate Storyline file & ensuring it is Section 508 compliant. If there is a shape with text on a slide (rather than a text box), will the text be read/recognized by a screen reader if the shape is part of the slide focus order? I would appreciate the feedback. Thanks.
3 Replies
Yes it will. It will be treated in the same way as a text box provided it is marked as accessible (appears in the focus order)
Add Alt Text to the Shape
Even though the shape contains text, it still needs proper Alt Text so screen readers can interpret it.- Do not mark the shape as decorative.
- Provide a concise, meaningful description that conveys the purpose of the shape and the text inside it
Review the Reading Order
Check the Reading Order panel to confirm that:- The shape appears in the correct sequence.
- The order flows logically when read aloud by a screen reader.
- Nothing is skipped or read out of context.
Hi KevinNolty , just to clarify, you do not need to specifically define alt text. The text that you type into a shape is the alt text. The only time you would specifically need to add alt text is if the shape does not contain text, and the shape is non decorative, or you want the text that is picked up by assistive tech to be different to the text you have typed into a shape.
