Web Design Garage

Chapter 36. Making Image Maps More Accessible

Everybody knows that, to make an image more accessible, you write a detailed text description. Accessibility tools such as screen readers go specifically for the text, and the visually impaired visitor hears a verbal description of what the image shows.

But an image map is a special case, because it isn't just an image. An image map combines an image with clickable areas that work like links. Therefore, it only stands to reason that a more accessible image map requires both an overall text description and a text description for each clickable area.

Use the alt attribute of the img tag to give a text description for the overall image, just as you would for any other image on your site:

 <img src="images/mars.jpg" ...