Accessibility

Audio and Video

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Getting Started

We often interact in real time (video calls) or create asynchronous content (podcasts, videos) through audio and video. The tips below can help all of us ensure these interactions and content are accessible. Quick tips for creating accessible videos.
    • An accessible player that is fully keyboard-accessible is used.
    • Neither audio nor video plays automatically without user input.
    • Video does not contain anything that flashes or blinks more than three times in any one-second period — strobe effects should never be used.
    • Any text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 and doesn’t convey information through color alone.
    • Any graphical elements have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 and don’t convey information through color alone.
    • For videos with short dialogue pauses, a version with extended audio descriptions is provided where the video pauses to allow for detailed narration.
    • The video player needs to be accessible by keyboard and the controls need to be labeled properly so that a screen reader user can access all of the video controls
    • Avoid blinking or flashing content. It is distracting and can trigger seizures.
    • Moving content longer than five seconds should have capability to be stopped, paused, restarted, and/or closed
    • Prepare in advance for an accessible session. Find a quiet site so there's no background noise. Have presenters look at the camera so people can see facial expressions and/or read lips.
    • Provide accessible materials. Slides presented in Zoom are not accessible to screen readers, so try to send materials in advance or post them somewhere to make them available. Make sure those materials (PPT or a document) are themselves accessible.
    • Be accommodating. Let participants know they can request accommodations if necessary.
    • Describe what's going on in the meeting. Describe charts and graphics, announce who's speaking. Remember, not everyone may be able to see what's going on.
    • Inform the audience. Inform the audience if the meeting is being recorded and/or captioned. For captioning, mention that it's important to speak clearly and not talk over others.
    • If you are going to record and post a Zoom session to a website, you need to be sure to caption the video, if you didn't arrange for live captioning during the meeting. Be sure to inform the audience if the meeting is being recorded.
      • UC Guidelines for Transcripts and Captions. This overview describes what transcripts and captions are, how to prioritize work, and provides an introduction to getting started.
      • Automated Transcripts of Zoom Meetings. Zoom lets you create a post-recording transcript of a recorded meeting that you have uploaded to Cloud Recordings. You can then display the transcript text within the video itself, almost like captions.
    • A transcript of the audio is provided.
    • If an automatically generated transcript is used, it is manually reviewed and edited to at least 99% accuracy.
    • An audio description track is provided.
    • A text description is provided.
    • Provide an alternative audio description track that describes the video unless that description is already a part of the video’s primary audio track.
    • A transcript is provided.
    • Closed captions are provided. Closed captions are a separate track that can be turned on and off. Make sure the video player being used supports closed captions. Captions don’t need to be a word-for-word audio transcript, but they should be an accurate and concise equivalent.
    • If automatically generated closed captions or transcripts are used, they are manually reviewed and edited to at least 99% accuracy.
    • Open captions are not used. Open captions are integrated into the video frames and cannot be turned off, nor can they be read by screen readers or adjusted in size or color.
    • Subtitles are provided for all intended audiences if the content is presented in another language.
    • Provide audio descriptions on a separate audio track that describe important visual content
    • When choosing a video that has been created by someone else, make sure it is captioned. Automatic captions do not provide equal access.
    • If you are uploading a video to a platform, such as Youtube, which provides for automatic captioning, you will need to go back and edit the captions to meet accessibility standards.
    • Alternatively, you can create your own captions using a free online tool like amara.org. You can save your SRT captioning file and upload it onto your video. 
    • Make sure your closed captions do not block other onscreen text and include speaker identification and hash marks to indicate changes in who is speaking.
       
    • Audio description refers to providing information about the visual aspects of a video to someone who is blind or who has low vision.
    • Audio description can be provided as part of the general narration or can be added after the fact.
    • If the video is simply a recording of you providing a lecture, then there would be little need for audio description. If you are also showing slides, you'll want to describe what is in the slides.
    • Consider what aspects of a video need additional audio description:
      • Are there sections of the video that provide content in text only (i.e., credits, section titles, statistics, etc.)?
      • Are the names and/or titles of speakers listed under the speaker?
      • Are there presentation slides that are being shared that are not spoken by the narrator?
      • Are there other visuals that add to the content of the video?
      • Is something being demonstrated in the video?
    • Avoid starting video or audio files automatically
    • Make sure users can stop, start, control volume, and turn closed captioning on or off.
      • There should also be an option to choose the language when available
    • Once you have your transcript for the captions and the audio descriptions, you can combine the two to create a document that will make your video accessible to those who are deaf, blind, or have visual or hearing impairments.
    • Simply create an accessible MS Word document with the caption transcript and the audio descriptions and provide a link to it below the video.
    • Accessible transcripts should use headings, links, lists, and other structure to make navigation efficient
    • If you have audio-only content you are also required to supply an accurate text-based transcript.
    • Create an accessible MS Word document with audio descriptions and provide a link to it.
    • As with other multi-media solutions, if you have audio-only content you are also required to supply an accurate text-based transcript. 
    • Create an accessible MS Word document with audio descriptions and provide a link to it
    • Automatically generated closed captions are provided. Closed captions are a separate track that can be turned on and off. Make sure the video player being used supports closed captions for accessibility. For streaming, use a platform that supports automatic live speech-to-text captioning.

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