Alt-Text Accessibility
Task & Finish Group

The Alt-Text Accessibility Task & Finish Group (TFG) aims to deliver best-practice recommendations for the creation of alt-texts for scholarly images, to help to enable publishers to in making their content accessible to users with disabilities, and in meeting the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards.

Context and problem statement

Scholarly publishers want all users to be able to read their content. From April 2026, Title II regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of the US Department of Justice will require US institutions to ensure that all digital content, across websites and mobile apps, is accessible to people with disabilities. New content thereafter will be expected to meet WCAG 2.1 AA, one aspect of which is the requirement for text alternatives that describe any images present within the content (so-called alt-text), bringing it into line with the European Accessibility Act (EAA). To support effective processes that make scholarly content better accessible, this STM Task & Finish Group is developing a controlled and shared classification model for the creation of short description alt-text for images.

Weigh in on the draft image-type taxonomy report

Developed by this TFG, this draft image-type taxonomy aims to support accessible publishing, with a focus on helping authors and publishers write better image descriptions (alt text). Not only does it help prepare for the upcoming ADA Title II update (coming into effect April 2026), it also supports our shared goal of making scholarly content more inclusive and available to all. Learn more and share your feedback. 

LEARN MORE

Join us on Feb 10 to learn more

You’re invited to learn more about the draft image-type taxonomy at a live virtual event where we’ll cover:

  • the context and purpose for the new taxonomy
  • the latest developments in accessibility legislation
  • an introduction to the taxonomy itself
  • a demonstration of an interactive tool that has been created to facilitate interaction with the taxonomy
LEARN MORE

STM’s Draft Alt Text Taxonomy Featured on The Scholarly Kitchen

“….This taxonomy is a collaborative effort by members of the STM Association to develop a comprehensive classification system for images in scholarly publishing. In part, it is intended to assist authors and publishers in meeting the upcoming update to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), going into effect April 24, 2026, and other global legislation.”

Access the full article and chime in!

LEARN MORE

About the Alt-Text Task & Finish Group

The Alt-text TFG is comprised of subject matter experts from leading scholarly publishers. These colleagues are collaborating to share expertise and information, and to develop a common vocabulary for images as well as best-practice recommendations for authors to create alt-text for their publications. The recommendations will be purely optional and have no legal or binding effect. A draft will be made available for public comment in early 2026. Watch this space!

Meet the members of the Task & Finish Group

  • Autumne Franklin and Alison Kreckmann, American Chemical Society 
  • Stacy Tucker, American Medical Association 
  • Gabrielle Cornefert, de Gruyter Brill 
  • Beth Richard, Elsevier 
  • Parisa Zare, Emerald 
  • Casey Schwartz, IEEE 
  • Shannon Lawinger and Lorna Notsch, Sage 
  • Hollie Kay and Bjoern Miyoshi (co-chair), Springer Nature 
  • Andrew Kelly (co-chair), Sagiv Lapkin, Vincent Lizzi, James Yanchak, Taylor & Francis 
  • Lisa Fishman and Christina Volpe, Wiley 

 

Status

This Task & Finish Group is currently active.

The Latest from STM

Mar 19

link to event

Accessibility in STM publishing: addressing publisher challenges

Accessibility requirements are evolving, and STM publishers are working to respond within complex and fast-moving publishing environments. Legislative expectations, technical standards and operational constraints all play a role. This webinar will focus on practical accessibility challenges identified by publishers. The session will explore common pain points and consider how these issues can be approached in...

Apr 09

link to event

From Image to Insight: Why Microscopy Metadata Are Key to Data Integrity webinar

To ensure transparency, accountability, and reproducibility in scholarly publishing, raw microscopy image data including comprehensive metadata are essential. Yet many integrity investigations reveal critical metadata gaps that limit the ability to verify or interpret images and findings. Join Jana Christopher, Nathalie Gaudreault, Steven West, and Marie Soulière for a community webinar exploring practical ways to improve how image data...

Apr 22

link to event

STM 2-day US Annual Conference 2026

Scientific Publishing & the Industrial Shift: Are We Future-Ready? Washington, DC | April 22–23, 2026    The research ecosystem is undergoing an industrial shift. Structural pressures — from funding and policy to AI and integrity — are accelerating change across how research is created, validated, and shared. The question is not simply how we respond, but...

Jun 15

link to event

PubTech Conference & STM APAC Conference 2026

  PubTech Conference & STM APAC Conference Introduction What is the PubTech Conference? Initiated in 2023 by China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNPIEC), the PubTech Conference is an international and regular conference in the publishing industry dedicated to the integration of publishing and technology. The Conference brings together global publishing experts,...

Oct 05

link to event

STM Dinner & Conference 2026 | Frankfurt

SAVE THE DATE!   What’s this?  Every year, the STM Community convenes in Frankfurt for STM’s Annual Conference — held conveniently right before the Frankfurt Book Fair. It brings together academic publishers, innovators, societies, funders, and universities with a common goal: advancing trusted research.  What to expect? First, a welcoming dinner on Monday, 5 October, gives...
VIEW ALL Events Sponsor Opportunities