(27 Jan 2026) The International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers’ (STM) Alt Text Task & Finish Group has released a draft image-type taxonomy for scholarly images and opened the document for public feedback.
The draft taxonomy was developed through collaboration among STM members to support accessible publishing and to assist authors and publishers in writing image descriptions, commonly known as alt text. The work also aligns with preparation for the ADA Title II update scheduled to take effect in April 2026 and reflects efforts to improve the inclusivity and availability of scholarly content.
The taxonomy addresses differences in how images should be described by distinguishing among charts, medical scans, photographs, diagrams, and other image types. The taxonomy includes 15 top-level categories, each accompanied by definitions, guidance, examples, and subcategories to support the identification of image types and the creation of appropriate descriptions.
The draft taxonomy is available for download online. Public comments can be submitted through an online form by February 28. A live virtual overview of the draft report, including a demonstration of the interactive tool that accompanies the taxonomy, is scheduled for February 10.
Click here to read the original press release.
