Evaluating Video, Audio, and Multimedia Content for Accessibility

Testing Video and Multimedia Accessibility

When to Test

The guidance on this page is intended to help users evaluate preexisting media for accessibility. If the media is used to deliver information related to a program, service, or activity at OSU, it must be tested and remediated before sharing with others.

For detailed information on basic accessibility requirements and how to produce accessible media, please review Producing Accessible Video, Audio, and Multimedia Content.

Manual Accessibility Checks 

Pre-recorded multimedia (video plus audio) 

Verify the following are true:

  • Captions
    • Captions are synchronized with the audio content.
    • Captions use correct spelling and punctuation.
    • Captions include spoken dialog, sound effects, music, speaker identifications, and all other auditory information needed to fully understand the content.
    • Video content is not obscured by the captions.
  • Visual Alternative
    • A transcript or audio description track is available.
    • The transcript or audio description track fully describes the visual information needed to understand the content.
    • The transcript or audio description is easy to locate.
    • If providing a transcript, each speaker is identified.
    • If providing a transcript, correct spelling and punctuation are used.
  • The multimedia is identified by text near it.
  • If the multimedia plays automatically and for longer than 3 seconds, there is a keyboard accessible way to pause or stop it from playing.
  • The multimedia does not contain content that flashes more than 3 times per second. 
Live multimedia (video plus audio) 

Verify the following are true:

  • Captions
    • Captions are as synchronized to the audio content as possible.
    • Captions use correct spelling and punctuation whenever possible.
    • Captions include spoken dialog, sound effects, music, speaker identifications, and all other auditory information needed to fully understand the content whenever possible.
    • Video content is not obscured by the captions.
  • The multimedia is identified by text near it.
  • If the multimedia plays automatically and for longer than 3 seconds, there is a keyboard accessible way to pause or stop it from playing.
  • The multimedia does not contain content that flashes more than 3 times per second. 
Pre-recorded audio

Verify the following are true:

  • Transcript
    • A transcript is available.
    • The transcript includes spoken dialog, sound effects, music, speaker identifications, and all other auditory information that is needed to fully understand the content.
    • The transcript is easy to locate.
    • Correct spelling and punctuation are used.
  • The audio player is identified by text near it.
  • If the audio plays automatically and for longer than 3 seconds, there is a keyboard accessible way to pause or stop it from playing or to adjust the volume independently of the overall system volume level. 
Pre-recorded video-only content (including GIFs) 

Verify the following are true:

  • Visual Alternative
    • A transcript or audio description track is available.
    • The transcript or audio description track fully describes the visual information needed to understand the content.
    • The transcript or audio description is easy to locate.
    • If providing a transcript, correct spelling and punctuation are used.
  • The video is identified by text near it.
  • If the video plays automatically and for longer than 5 seconds, there is a keyboard accessible way to pause, stop, or hide it.
  • The multimedia does not contain content that flashes more than 3 times per second.

 

Resources

DCMP Captioning Key – captioning guidelines published in 1994 by the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP). A reference for captioning for entertainment and educational media, distributed internationally and translated in multiple languages.  

DCMP Description Key – audio descriptions developed through a partnership with by the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) and the American Foundation for the Blind in 2006.

WCAG 2.1 Understanding SC 1.2 Time-based Media  

WCAG 2.1 Audio Description or Media Alternative 1.2.3 (Prerecorded)

The W3c Guide on making transcripts  

Credit  

The OSU Digital Accessibility team would like to thank the following for sharing some of their digital accessibility best practices and guidance: OSU Engineering Technology Services, OSU Wexner Medical Center -  Marketing and Strategic Communications, IT Accessibility at the University of Michigan, and University of Arkansas Explore Access.