A common question is whether every image needs alt text. The short answer is no. Some images are informational and some are decorative, and the difference matters a lot. The tricky part is that faculty often know an image is "just there" visually, but have not stopped to ask whether a student would lose meaningful information if the image disappeared entirely.
The Practical Rule
Ask one simple question: if this image vanished, would a student lose information they need? If the answer is yes, the image probably needs alt text or some other text equivalent. If the answer is no because the image is only decorative, it may be better handled as decorative instead of forcing a pointless description onto it.
Real Example
A chart showing grade weights is informational. If the chart disappears, the student loses real course information, so it needs alt text. A horizontal divider graphic or purely decorative banner is different. That kind of image may contribute to visual style without carrying instructional value. Treating both images the same is what creates confusion.
Where Faculty Get Stuck
The hardest cases are often logos, screenshots, and lightly decorative images that also carry a little information. A university logo at the top of a syllabus may be decorative if it is only branding. A screenshot of instructions, however, often contains real text students need and usually should not be ignored. The question is always about function, not aesthetics alone.
Workflow
Review each image in the document one by one. Decide whether it is informational or decorative, add alt text where students would otherwise lose meaning, and handle decorative images appropriately. Then use AdaDocumentMaker or Word's checker to catch missing-image issues and confirm nothing important was skipped.
FAQ
Do logos need alt text?
Sometimes. It depends on whether the logo is serving an instructional purpose or only a decorative one.
Do charts need alt text?
Usually yes, because they communicate information students need.
What about screenshots?
Often yes, especially if they contain text, directions, or examples students must understand.
Can decorative images be ignored?
They should be handled intentionally, not just forgotten.
A Practical Place to Start
If you are unsure which images in your syllabus or Word documents need alt text, upload the file to AdaDocumentMaker and use the report to sort informational images from decorative ones.