Video & Audio: Making Media Content Accessible
Video and audio can bring your content to life—but if users can’t see or hear what’s happening, they’re excluded. Accessible media ensures that everyone, including people with hearing or visual impairments, can engage with your content.
Provide Captions or Transcripts
Captions and transcripts are essential for users who are deaf or hard of hearing—and helpful for anyone in a noisy (or silent) environment.
Captions
- Appear on-screen and match spoken dialogue.
- Include relevant sounds and speaker identification when needed.
- Are synced in real-time with the video.
Best Practice: Use closed captions (CC) so users can turn them on or off.
Transcripts
- Text versions of spoken content (and optionally, key visual descriptions).
- Ideal for podcasts, audio interviews, and when users need to scan or search the content.
- Can be included directly below the media player or linked nearby.
Example:
<a href="transcript.html">Read transcript</a>
Embed Accessible Media Players
Not all media players support accessibility features like keyboard navigation or screen reader compatibility. Choose media players that:
- Allow full keyboard control (play/pause, seek, volume)
- Are screen reader compatible
- Support captions and transcripts
- Allow zoom or fullscreen
Recommended Platforms:
- YouTube: Built-in captions and keyboard accessibility.
- Vimeo: Captions supported, but requires a Pro account for some features.
- State-approved platforms: Ensure compliance with your organization's policies.
Include Audio Descriptions for Video
For users who are blind or have low vision, audio descriptions describe important visual elements—such as scene changes, gestures, or text on-screen—during natural pauses in dialogue.
- Not always required, but highly recommended for essential videos.
- Can be included as a separate audio track or integrated into the video.
Avoid Auto-Play
Auto-playing audio or video can be disruptive, disorienting, and inaccessible to users relying on screen readers or keyboard navigation.
Do:
- Allow users to initiate playback
- Mute video by default if auto-play is unavoidable
Consider File Size and Load Time
Large video or audio files can affect page performance, especially for users on slower connections or mobile devices.
- Use compressed formats like MP4 (video) and MP3 (audio)
- Offer a download link for offline access when possible
Quick Checklist
✅ Captions are available and accurate
✅ Transcripts are provided for all audio content
✅ Media players are keyboard and screen reader accessible
✅ No auto-play without user control
✅ Audio descriptions included where relevant
✅ File sizes are optimized for performance
✅ YouTube/Vimeo are configured with accessibility in mind