WordPress · WCAG 2.2 Image Accessibility

Better image descriptions,
built for accessibility.

A11Y helps WordPress teams create meaningful text alternatives for images — from simple photos to complex charts and diagrams.

WCAG 2.2 Context-aware Human-reviewable

Get Early Access See How It Works

Complex image — A11Y approach WCAG 2.2

Generic AI

"Quarterly revenue bar chart"

↳ Too vague

A11Y — Short Alt

"Bar chart showing quarterly revenue, with Q3 as the highest-performing quarter."

A11Y — Detailed Description

"Q1: 12%, Q2: 9%, Q3: 17%, Q4: 14%."

Complex images may need both a concise text alternative and a more detailed description.

Image Accessibility Is Contextual

Not every image should be described the same way.

Good alternative text depends on why the image is there and what information it communicates.

Informative

Describe the essential information

Photos, illustrations, and other meaningful images should communicate the information users need from the image.

Example

"Customer using the mobile banking app to transfer money."

Functional

Describe the action, not the appearance

When an image works as a button or link, its accessible name should communicate what the action does.

Use this

"Search"
not "Magnifying glass icon"

Decorative

Sometimes the right alt text is empty

Purely decorative images should not create unnecessary noise for screen reader users.

Example

alt=""

Complex

Provide the detail somewhere users can access it

Charts, graphs, diagrams, and data-heavy images may require a short alternative plus a detailed text description.

Short alt

"Quarterly revenue bar chart. Detailed data follows."

Detailed description

"Q1 12%, Q2 9%, Q3 17%, Q4 14%."

WCAG 2.2 · 1.1.1 Non-text Content

The goal isn't more text.
It's equivalent information.

WCAG 2.2 requires non-text content to have a text alternative that serves an equivalent purpose. The right approach depends on the type and purpose of the image.

Meaningful

Communicate what matters

Alternative text should communicate the information or purpose of meaningful images.

Contextual

Context changes the description

The same image may need different alternative text depending on how it is used on the page.

Appropriate

More detail isn't always better

Decorative images may need empty alt text, while complex images may require additional detailed descriptions.

Based on WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.1.1 — Non-text Content ↗

The Difference

A caption isn't always
an accessible description.

Generic AI can identify what an image is. Accessibility often requires understanding what information the image is communicating.

Generic Description

"AI Innovation Conference poster."

Identifies the image

Contextual Description

"AI Innovation Conference. June 20, 2:00–4:00 PM at Investment Center."

Captures key information

When an image contains complex information

Program details and schedule are provided as an accessible text description. Makes complex information available.

How A11Y Helps

From image analysis to human review.

01 — AI Generation

Generate context-aware descriptions

A11Y analyzes image content and helps create meaningful text alternatives, applying image accessibility guidance during generation.

02 — Complex Images

Handle information-rich images

Charts, diagrams, posters, and other complex images can be supported with both a concise alternative and a more detailed description.

03 — Bulk Processing

Process existing media libraries

Generate descriptions for large WordPress image libraries without handling each image manually.

04 — Human Review

Keep people in control

Generated descriptions are designed to be reviewed and adjusted before or after they are applied.

Complex Image Handling

Simple images need short alt text.
Complex images need more.

A11Y's generation workflow is designed around WCAG 2.2 image accessibility practices. For information-rich images, a single short description is often not enough.

Simple image

Concise Alt Text

"Team meeting in a conference room."

One short, meaningful sentence that communicates what the image shows.

Complex image

Short Alt + Detailed Description

"Annual performance bar chart. Detailed data follows."

"Q1 12%, Q2 9%, Q3 17%, Q4 14%. Q3 was the highest-performing quarter."

The short alt conveys the image type. The detailed description makes the data accessible — available via the page or a linked description.

Automation Coming Soon

Set it once. Keep future uploads covered.

When automatic generation is enabled, A11Y can generate text alternatives for newly uploaded WordPress images.

Already have a large media library?

Bulk generation helps you process existing WordPress Media Library images without writing descriptions one by one.

History & Review

Know what changed, and when.

A11Y keeps a history of generated and edited descriptions so teams can review accessibility work over time.

Useful for internal reviews, accessibility maintenance, and documentation.

Planned WordPress Workflow Coming Soon

Designed to fit into WordPress.

Built to connect to the WordPress tools your team already uses, without changing how you work.

1

Install the A11Y plugin

Connect A11Y to your WordPress website.

2

Connect your account

Add your A11Y API key in the plugin settings.

3

Generate and review

Generate image descriptions individually, in bulk, or automatically for future uploads.

Early Access Pricing

Simple pricing for every image library.

We're still finalizing our plans. Early users will help us shape the right pricing.

Free

^$0

50 images / month

AI-generated alt text
WordPress integration
Review generated descriptions

Join Free Waitlist

Accessibility experience,
built into the product.

A11Y is developed by a team with over 20 years of experience delivering accessibility projects for public institutions and enterprises. We're applying that experience to a simpler way of managing image accessibility at scale.

FAQ

Questions before you start.

What part of WCAG does A11Y focus on?

A11Y focuses on image text alternatives, particularly the principles related to WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 1.1.1 Non-text Content. It does not make an entire website WCAG conformant by itself.

Does using A11Y make my website WCAG 2.2 compliant?

No single image tool can guarantee WCAG 2.2 conformance for an entire website. A11Y is designed to help teams implement and manage image text alternatives more effectively.

Does every image need alt text?

Every image needs an appropriate accessibility treatment, but that does not always mean descriptive alt text. Decorative images, for example, generally use an empty alt attribute so assistive technologies can ignore them.

What about charts and diagrams?

Complex images may need both a concise text alternative and a detailed description that communicates the important data or relationships contained in the image.

Can I review AI-generated descriptions?

Human review is an important part of the workflow. A11Y is designed so generated descriptions can be reviewed and adjusted when necessary.

Will A11Y work with WordPress?

WordPress integration is planned for the global launch. Join Early Access to be notified when it becomes available.

When will A11Y launch?

A11Y for WordPress is currently in preparation. Join the Early Access list and we'll contact you when invitations begin.

Better image descriptions,built for accessibility.

Not every image should be described the same way.