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Overview
This article is for university faculty, staff, and students to create and share accessible video and audio content. It explains why video and audio content may pose accessibility challenges and provides best practices and how-to documentation to help them meet digital accessibility standards.
Making Video and Audio Content Accessible
All digital content must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA digital accessibility standards. Videos and audio content rely on sound and visuals that some users cannot perceive. Without captions, transcripts, or audio descriptions, users may miss critical information needed to fully understand the content. Accessible media supports all users, including those with hearing loss, non-native English speakers, and people using content in varied environments.
Formats That Make Media Accessible
Accessible media typically relies on four formats. The correct format depends on the type of media and how information is presented.
Captions
- What they are:
- Synchronized on‑screen text of spoken dialogue and meaningful sounds.
- When required:
- Required for all prerecorded and live video that contains audio.
- Use-case examples:
- D2L lecture videos, promotional videos, TikTok/Instagram Reels, and live‑streamed basketball games.
- Sample:
- [Professor]: Today we’ll cover photosynthesis.
- [Door closes]
Transcripts
- What they are:
- Text versions of all spoken content and important audio cues.
- When required:
- Required for all prerecorded audio‑only content.
- Use-case examples:
- Podcasts, audio‑only interviews, sports radio coverage.
- Sample:
- Host: Welcome to the Accessibility Minute podcast.
- Guest: Thanks for having me.
- [Intro music fades out]
Audio Descriptions
- What they are:
- Supplemental spoken narration that describes essential visual content not otherwise conveyed through audio, timed to occur during natural breaks in dialogue or sound, and can be heard alongside the original soundtrack. Thoughtful, intentional narration of on‑screen visuals during production can reduce or eliminate the need for separate audio descriptions.
- When required:
- Required for prerecorded video when visuals convey meaning not already spoken aloud. Audio descriptions provide information about actions, characters, scene changes, and on‑screen text that would otherwise be unavailable to someone who cannot see the video.
- Use-case example:
- Lab demonstrations, campus tour videos, sports highlights showing plays or score changes not mentioned in commentary.
- Sample:
- Narrator: This fountain is a popular gathering spot on campus.
- [Audio Description]: Water sprays upward in several arcs from a circular stone fountain.
- Narrator: Students often pass by on their way to class.
- [Audio Description]: Grass surrounds the fountain, and students sit nearby talking and studying.
- Narrator: In warmer months, it becomes a focal point for campus life.
- [Audio Description]: Sunlight reflects off the moving water as people walk along the paved path.
Descriptive Transcripts
- What they are:
- Text versions of Audio Descriptions.
- When required:
- Used when a text‑only alternative is needed, when audio description cannot be added to the video (for example, there are no natural pauses, or the platform does not support an additional audio track), or when someone needs to understand everything in the media using text alone—including what is said, heard, and seen.
- Note:
- A descriptive transcript does not replace audio description for compliance, but it does provide a complete, accessible alternative and is especially important for deafblind access.
Kaltura MediaSpace
Kaltura Mediaspace is the recommended video platform for all students, faculty, and staff. It automatically generates captions and transcripts (which must be edited for accuracy) and includes built‑in tools for trimming and editing. You can also order professional captions and audio descriptions.
Training
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