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Issue 3288: Make all of the images come with the Alt attribute
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Reported by [email protected], May 5, 2011 
Hello.

I would like to suggest a request that would greatly help us making more accessible developments with Google Maps.

When validating (in terms of accesibility) my pages, one problem always arises: there are images, such as these:

http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/es_es/mapfiles/cb/mod_cb_scout/cb_scout_sprite_api_002.png
http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/es_es/mapfiles/google_white.png
http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/es_es/mapfiles/mapcontrols3d6.png
 
and some others, that show up in a screen reader software (such as JAWS) and don´t have the “Alt” attribute. It’s one of the really few accessibility issues we can’t fix, but I guess you can, and maybe with not much effort, but sure with great results in accessibility.

As a bonus, if the content of that “Alt” attribute could come in the language that was specified in the <script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false&language=XX">
 line…

Thanks.
Sep 22, 2011
#1 [email protected] 
I don't know how a blind person would use a map, nevertheless I think WAI-ARIA is the correct specification to check google maps against, since it's not only content, but a rich application. 
The alternative text for images is obviously necesary, but there are other things, like custom controls and content changes that can't be handled with WAI-WCAG2.
Sep 22, 2011
#2 [email protected] 
About what [email protected] says, "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe", blind people using smartphones more and faster than 95% of the non-blind, using it with one hand without taking it out of his coat pocket.
Jul 30, 2012
#3 [email protected] 
(No comment was entered for this change.)
Owner: [email protected]
Jun 13, 2013
#4 [email protected] 
Just simply adding a blank alt attribute would be wonderful. We use the google maps api for our store locator app and we're currently trying to make it as accessible as we can. We have custom controls and everything and works pretty well, but when the screen reader reaches the map.. it just starts moving around saying "Image. Image. Image. Image. Image." over and over for each one. A blank alt attribute would tell it to skip over the images completely.. which I think would be a far better and quick experience.
Mar 2, 2015
Project Member #5 [email protected] 
Hi! Hopefully you're not still getting stuck with "Image. Image. Image." on your maps --- we've been trying to fix that recently. We'll take this issue with the Alt attribute onboard and prioritize it accordingly.
Status: Accepted
Owner: [email protected]
Labels: Internal-19568930
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