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media

GUIDELINES 1.2

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Overview

Media accessibility ensures audiovisual content is usable by all individuals. It emphasizes providing alternatives for those with disabilities and details various implementation methods.

Who is impacted

Users who are deaf or hard of hearing, and users who are blind or have low vision who cannot see video content.

How to test

Verify all video content has captions and all audio-only content has transcripts. Check that audio descriptions are available for important visual information.

Resources

Visit W3C WAI Media Accessibility and WebAIM Captions guide for detailed guidance.

Captions and Subtitles

Captions are text versions of the spoken word and important sounds presented within media. They are essential for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Captions should be synchronized with the audio and include speaker identification and sound effects when relevant.

There are two types of captions: open captions which are always visible, and closed captions which can be toggled on and off by the user. Closed captions are generally preferred as they give users control over their viewing experience.

Audio Descriptions

Audio descriptions provide narration of important visual information in videos for users who cannot see the screen. This includes descriptions of actions, scene changes, on-screen text, and other visual content that is essential to understanding the media.