Accessible STEM Diagrams With Alt-Text Generators

For educators in Europe and beyond, the ability to create accessible STEM diagrams is rapidly becoming a core aspect of inclusive teaching. As scientific and mathematical content increasingly migrates online, ensuring that complex diagrams are accessible to visually impaired students is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative. Modern advancements in artificial intelligence—particularly alt-text generation tools such as Scribe AI and ChatGPT—make it possible to bridge this accessibility gap with unprecedented precision and nuance.

The Importance of Accessible STEM Diagrams

STEM education relies heavily on visual representations: graphs, charts, circuit diagrams, geometric shapes, molecular structures, and more. For sighted students, these visuals are often self-explanatory or can be decoded with minimal guidance. However, for those who are blind or visually impaired, the absence of descriptive text renders such images impenetrable.

Imagine being a student who cannot see a diagram of a DNA double helix, a force diagram in physics, or a sinusoidal wave in trigonometry. Without accessible descriptions, a significant portion of the curriculum remains out of reach.

Legal and Ethical Context in Europe

The European Accessibility Act and its various country-specific implementations require digital content—including educational materials—to be accessible to all users. This means providing robust, meaningful alternative text (alt-text) for images. For STEM content, this is particularly challenging because:

• Diagrams often contain intricate details, spatial relationships, and specialized labels.
• Simple descriptions may omit critical information.
• Manual creation of alt-text is time-consuming and requires both subject expertise and skill in descriptive writing.

The integration of AI-powered alt-text generators has the potential to democratize access to STEM education, ensuring that all learners can participate fully, regardless of visual ability.

Understanding Alt-Text: More Than Just a Caption

Alt-text is typically a concise description of an image, designed to be read aloud by screen readers. However, for STEM diagrams, effective alt-text should:

• Convey the information and relationships depicted in the diagram
• Describe spatial arrangements and key features
• Include relevant details such as labels, scales, and legends
• Be concise, yet comprehensive enough to stand in for the visual element

Traditionally, creating such alt-text required both deep subject knowledge and empathy for the end user. With the rise of AI tools, this task can now be augmented and, in some cases, partially automated.

AI Tools for Generating Descriptive Labels

In recent years, AI-powered alt-text generators have evolved from simple captioning tools to sophisticated systems capable of analyzing and describing complex visuals. Two notable technologies are Scribe AI and ChatGPT, which can be used independently or in combination to create effective descriptions for STEM diagrams.

What Is Scribe AI?

Scribe AI is a specialized tool designed to generate detailed descriptions of images, including scientific diagrams. It leverages computer vision and natural language processing to identify key elements and relationships within an image, producing alt-text that is both accurate and contextually appropriate.

Core Features of Scribe AI

• Automated detection of diagram elements (e.g., arrows, labels, axes, shapes)
• Generation of structured descriptions, often including hierarchical information
• Customization for specific STEM domains (biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, etc.)
• Integration with accessibility platforms and learning management systems

The strength of Scribe AI lies in its ability to interpret diagrams in context, not just in isolation. For example, in a chemical reaction diagram, it can distinguish between reactants and products, and in mathematical graphs, it can identify axes, intercepts, and functional trends.

Harnessing ChatGPT for Alt-Text Refinement

While Scribe AI excels at image analysis, ChatGPT—a state-of-the-art large language model—can be used to refine, contextualize, and customize the generated descriptions. ChatGPT can help tailor the alt-text to specific learning outcomes, adjust the level of detail for different age groups, and ensure that the language is accessible and pedagogically sound.

• ChatGPT can clarify ambiguous terms, add explanatory context, or simplify complex language.
• It can collaborate interactively with educators, allowing for iterative improvement of descriptions.
• Its conversational interface makes it easy to generate multiple versions of alt-text for different audiences.

By combining Scribe AI’s image recognition with ChatGPT’s linguistic capabilities, educators can produce alt-text that is not only accurate but also meaningful and engaging for learners.

Step-by-Step: Creating Accessible STEM Diagrams

Let’s explore a practical workflow for generating accessible STEM diagrams using these AI tools. The process can be divided into several stages:

1. Preparing the Diagram

Before generating alt-text, ensure the diagram file is of high quality and, if possible, follows best practices for clarity. Avoid unnecessary clutter, use high-contrast colors, and label all essential components.

2. Uploading to Scribe AI

Upload the diagram to Scribe AI through its web interface or API. The tool will analyze the image, identify key features, and generate a draft description. This initial output typically includes:

• An overview of the diagram’s purpose (e.g., “A diagram of an electric circuit”)
• Descriptions of components (e.g., “A battery connected to a resistor and LED in series”)
• Spatial relationships (e.g., “The resistor is placed between the battery and the LED”)
• Details of labels or annotations present in the image

3. Refining with ChatGPT

Next, copy the draft alt-text into ChatGPT. Here, you can ask the AI to adjust the language for clarity, add or remove details, or explain specialized terms. For example, you might prompt:

• “Rewrite this alt-text for a high school audience.”
• “Add a brief explanation of how a resistor works.”
• “Simplify the description to focus on the main components only.”

This iterative process allows you to fine-tune the description to meet the specific needs of your students.

4. Reviewing and Testing

It is essential to test the final alt-text with screen readers and, if possible, consult with visually impaired colleagues or students. This helps ensure that the description is both accurate and genuinely usable in practice. Feedback can then be used to further refine the text, either manually or via additional prompts to ChatGPT.

5. Integration Into Learning Platforms

Once finalized, the alt-text can be embedded in your digital teaching materials: WordPress blog posts, Moodle courses, PDFs, or interactive textbooks. Always ensure that the alt-text is properly formatted according to the platform’s accessibility requirements.

Best Practices for Writing Effective STEM Alt-Text

While AI can automate much of the process, the quality of alt-text depends on adherence to certain best practices:

• Be specific. Avoid generic phrases like “an image of a graph.” Instead, describe what the graph shows.
• Prioritize information. What is essential for understanding the diagram in the context of the lesson?
• Use clear, concise language. Avoid jargon unless it is explained.
• Convey all necessary details. Include labels, units, axes, and relationships.
• Structure descriptions logically. Describe the overall layout before detailing individual components.

Effective alt-text is not just a technical requirement—it is a bridge to independent learning for students who might otherwise be excluded from key aspects of STEM education.

Challenges and Limitations

While tools like Scribe AI and ChatGPT represent significant progress, they are not without limitations. Some of the current challenges include:

• Interpretation errors. AI may misidentify elements in low-quality or highly stylized diagrams.
• Lack of pedagogical context. Automated descriptions may omit information critical to the learning objective unless guided by the educator.
• Language barriers. Most advanced AI models are optimized for English, although multilingual support is improving.
• Data privacy concerns. Uploading educational materials to third-party platforms may raise compliance issues under GDPR and other regulations.

Educators should therefore view AI-generated alt-text as a starting point, not a substitute for thoughtful review and contextualization.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

European legislation, including the European Accessibility Act and local laws, requires that educational content be accessible. Non-compliance can have legal consequences and, more importantly, undermines the principles of equity and inclusion fundamental to modern pedagogy.

• Data protection: When using AI tools, particularly those hosted outside the EU, ensure that student data and educational materials are handled in compliance with GDPR.
• Transparency: Always disclose to students when AI-generated content is used, and invite feedback on its usefulness.
• Continuous improvement: Accessibility is not a one-time task. Regularly review and update materials based on evolving best practices and technological advances.

The Human Touch: Empathy and Collaboration

Technology can assist, but the heart of accessible education remains human. Empathy, patience, and collaboration—with students, colleagues, and accessibility experts—are essential in creating materials that truly meet the needs of all learners. AI should be seen as a partner, not a replacement, in this ongoing journey.

“Accessibility is not a feature, it is a fundamental right.” — European Disability Forum

By thoughtfully integrating AI tools such as Scribe AI and ChatGPT into the creation of STEM diagrams, educators can open new pathways to knowledge, transforming barriers into bridges. The science classroom, once a place of exclusion for many, can become a space where every student’s curiosity is nurtured and every mind is empowered to explore.