Creating Accessible Content
The European Accessibility Act made one thing clear: alt text isn't optional anymore, and it can't just be a repeated caption. DCL generates contextual alt text automatically, at volume, using a closed-system AI that reads both the image and its surrounding narrative to describe not just what's shown, but why it matters. The result is EAA-compliant, genuinely useful descriptions for readers with visual impairments, produced across entire catalogs without manual bottlenecks or security tradeoffs. Accurate, consistent, and built for scale.
DCL creates contextual alt text for publishers in an automated manner. Publishers provide content files then DCL software is paired with a closed-system AI to analyze the text and images to create meaningful alt text. DCL’s solution automates alt text creation at scale, producing high volumes of contextually accurate, EAA-compliant descriptions that are genuinely useful to readers with visual impairments.
Examples
The following examples are taken from a photograph in the Project Gutenberg text, The Story of Westminster Abbey
Standard Alt Text
The High Altar
Standard alt text often defaults to the image caption, resulting in repetitive descriptions that fall short of conveying the depth and nuance visual readers gain from simply seeing the image.
15-Word Contextual Alt Text
The image depicts the High Altar in Westminster Abbey, showcasing its intricate architecture and historical significance.
Extending alt text to around 15 words allows for more context, clarity, and nuance, which is especially important in complex or content-rich images. While overly brief alt text can leave users guessing, a slightly longer description offers enough detail to convey the image’s true purpose and relevance within the content. For users with visual impairments, this added context improves comprehension and engagement. For publishers, it supports both accessibility best practices and compliance with the EAA.
25-Word Long Description
The image depicts the High Altar at Westminster Abbey, showcasing its intricate design and historical significance. The altar is surrounded by pillars, with statues of notable figures such as Abbot Ware, King Sebert, and Richard II. The reredos features four white figures representing the four living creatures from Revelation, while the glass above reveals a glimpse of the Chapel of the Kings. In the background, the three Eastern Windows are visible, although they have undergone repairs over time. The image also highlights the architectural beauty of the Abbey, with its slender arches and Rose Window. Notable statues include those of Chatham, Goldsmith, Campbell, Addison, Shakespeare, and the Duke of Argyll.
Extending alt text to 25 words or using the long description tagging creates space to integrate not just what’s shown in the image, but why it matters in the context of the surrounding narrative. This approach connects the visual to the text’s intent, reinforcing key ideas and ensuring that users with visual impairments receive the same interpretive cues as sighted readers. For publishers, this level of contextual alignment enhances the reading experience, supports deeper understanding, and strengthens compliance with accessibility standards that emphasize meaningful, user-centered content.