European Accessibility Act (EAA) and Your Ebooks, Part 2 of 2: Alt-text
- Michelle M. White
- Oct 9
- 5 min read
This is Part 2 of our European Accessibility Act series. In Part 1, we covered the basics of the EAA and what indie authors need to know about the EU’s 2025 accessibility rules. Now we’re zooming in on the one accessibility step most authors overlook, and the one only you can do best: alt-text.
While your designer handles design and formatting, writing the alternative text for your images is up to you. Done well, alt-text makes your ebook fully accessible to readers who rely on screen readers and magnification tools. It’s a requirement under the European Accessibility Act, and it’s also a simple way to welcome more readers and give them the full experience of your book.
What Is Ebook Alt-Text?
If you’ve never heard the term before, alt-text (short for alternative text) is simply a short, written description of an image. It sits “behind” the image in your ebook file and is read aloud by screen readers or displayed by assistive technology.
Think of it as a bridge between your visuals and your readers who can’t see them clearly. Done well, alt-text:
Describes what’s in the image in plain, natural, grammatically correct language.
Conveys meaning or mood so non-sighted readers get the same context as a sighted reader would.
Is invisible to sighted readers unless they’re using a screen reader or the image fails to load.
Alt-text is not needed for purely decorative elements like small flourishes or repeated icons, like on the first page of every chapter. But for any image that adds meaning, like a chart, a photo, or a diagram, alt-text gives your audience the full experience of your book.
For Example: Instead of “photo of a mountain,” try “Snow-capped mountain at sunrise, signaling a new journey.”
Why Alt-Text Matters
Alt-text is a major accessibility requirement, and may not be automatically built into your EPUB workflow. Amazon and other platforms have required tagged headings and navigation for years, but alt-text remains author-driven.
Writing it yourself ensures your intent, tone, and context carry over, like writing a small but vital part of your book. Done well, alt-text adds depth and inclusivity, ensuring every reader can understand the meaning behind your visuals.
Tip: Treat alt-text as part of your creative process. It’s your author voice, not just a technical label.
Guidelines for Writing Alt-Text
Writing alt-text may sound technical, but it’s really just about describing your images in a way that feels natural and helpful to a reader who can’t see them.
Think of it as a bridge: you’re giving someone the missing piece of the picture so they experience your book as fully as possible.
Use these tips to make your alt-text effective and reader-friendly:
Be concise. Aim for under 130 characters. Short, clear sentences work best for screen readers.
Skip decorative images. Icons, flourishes, or repeated motifs don’t need alt-text because they don’t add meaning to the story.
Don’t repeat captions. If your image already has a caption, your alt-text should add something new (context, feeling, or details), not copy the caption verbatim.
Make it equivalent. Describe the essence, context, and mood if relevant. Think about what a sighted reader would gain from the image and try to mirror that understanding.
Handle complex visuals carefully. If your book includes infographics, charts, or other detailed visuals, you don’t have to describe every single element if it’s covered within the main body. Instead, focus on the key takeaway or most important information the image provides.
Another option may be to provide a longer description, known as long alt-text. These more detailed descriptions link to a page at the end of the eBook, and everyone can see them, not just voice devices.
When in doubt, imagine explaining the image to a friend over the phone, that’s the tone you’re aiming for in alt-text.
Alt-Text and Author Control
Alt-text is the one part of ebook accessibility that only you can write. Your designer or ebook service can insert alt-text into your ebook file, but they can’t write it for you without your input. They don’t know your intent, tone, or which details matter most in your images.
Think of it this way: your images are part of your storytelling. Handing off their descriptions to someone else is like letting another person write a few lines of your book. When you write your own alt-text, you ensure your voice, nuance, and meaning carry over to every reader.
Once you’ve written your alt-text, your formatter or ebook conversion service can integrate it during formatting, but the words themselves need to come from you.
Tip: Jot down alt-text ideas while you’re drafting your manuscript, when the images and emotions are still fresh in your mind. If you include them in the manuscript, then your editor can check them before you publish.
How to Add Ebook Alt-Text
Adding alt-text isn’t something you can usually do in Word alone. It has to be included when your ebook file is built. Here’s how to handle it depending on your process:
If you’re using Adobe InDesign:
Meaningful images: Right-click the image → Object Export Options > Alt Text > Custom > Type Text.
Decorative images: Right-click the image → Object Export Options > Tagged PDF > Artifact.
If you're using another formatting app:
Make a simple list: In a Word or Google Doc, write down each image’s filename and its alt-text right below it. And don’t forget to run it by your editor or proofreader to ensure it is error-free. Give this list to your ebook formatter or conversion service.
Most ebook conversion services (including KDP, Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, and other EPUB tools) can insert alt-text into your EPUB file during production, but you must supply it in order to have control of the alt-text content.
DIY tools: Platforms like Vellum, Atticus, and Calibre are gradually adding alt-text support. Check their help pages or ask their support how to attach alt-text during upload.
More technical resources here: https://bornaccessible.benetech.org/resources/
Final Thoughts
Alt-text is your direct connection to readers who rely on assistive technology. By taking the time to write thoughtful descriptions, you’re honoring your full audience and making your ebook genuinely inclusive.
Small steps like this, especially when done early, can save time, prevent costly updates, and expand your audience long after your book launches.
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