Overview
This article helps students, faculty, and staff understand the meaning, purpose, and best practices of captions and transcripts on video and audio to help meet digital accessibility standards in their content. It provides tips and more resources. Always refer to ADA digital accessibility standards for the most up-to-date compliance requirements.
What Are Captions and Transcripts?
Captions display dialogue, music, and sound effects in written format on videos. Transcripts provide a text version of audio-only or video-only content, such as podcasts and animations. Captions and transcripts make audio and video content accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing and benefit anyone who cannot listen to audio.
Best Practices
Source: Section508.gov – Captions and Transcripts
Captions
- Captions must be 95%+ accurate. Unedited captions don’t meet digital accessibility standards.
- Synchronize captions with the audio so text appears at the same time as speech or sounds.
- Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Include all dialogue and important sounds.
- Keep captions on screen long enough for viewers to read.
- Remove captions when no meaningful sounds occur.
- Use a consistent style for identifying speakers, sound effects, and music.
Transcripts
- For audio-only content, include all dialogue and important sounds.
- For video content, describe important visual elements.
- Make transcripts available in the same location as the original content.
- Provide transcripts in an accessible format.
How to Create Captions and Transcripts
Kaltura MediaSpace is the recommended video hosting tool available to all students, faculty, and staff. It provides automatic captions and transcripts that can be edited for accuracy.
Still Need Help?
IT Solutions primarily supports digital accessibility for academic and course-related materials including document accessibility, captioning and transcription services. Support for other content may be available if time allows, with costs applying to non-course materials. Submit a ticket to request IT Solutions services