Ensure all videos include human-edited captions of spoken dialogue and descriptions of other audio such as sound effects and applause. All videos must also have an accompanying audio description track or text transcript that describes both its audio and visual elements. Provide transcripts for audio-only recordings.
Impact
Video, audio, and multimedia are used across the university and medical center and have become a regular part of our daily lives. Digital media is used in our classrooms, in meetings, in presentations, on websites, on social media platforms, in emails, and so on. It is important that these resources accommodate the diverse needs of all users, promoting equal access and opportunities to engage with the digital media.
Video Captions
Captions provide equitable access to people who cannot hear or process the original audio. This can include people who are D/deaf, hard of hearing, neurodivergent, or listening to audio in poor conditions.
Transcripts
Transcripts are a text version of audio and/or video content. Transcripts offer an alternative method for blind and D/deaf people to access the content. Additionally, they can be beneficial for visitors looking for information via search engines.
Audio Descriptions
An audio description is an audio-narrated description that helps blind, low vision users, and users with cognitive disabilities understand what is going on in a video. It provides information about speakers, scene changes, on screen text, and may describe the mood or visual reaction of characters.
What to do
Review Producing Accessible Video, Audio, and Multimedia Content to find detailed information on how to think through your video creation process, including creating captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions (if needed).
- Tip: You should pay special attention to narrate what is happening on the screen so that it will be captured in the caption/transcript file.
Video Captions
- Manually edit captions to make sure they are synched properly with the speaker’s words. Review spelling and make sure the auto-captioned word choice is accurate.
- In addition to spoken dialogue, captions must include non-speech information conveyed through sound such as music, laughter, and sound effects.
- Every time a new speaker speaks, be sure they are identified by name in parenthesis.
Transcripts
- Use regular sentence structure and punctuation.
- Describe any unspoken (visual, text or audio) information that is contextually important, unless the narration within the video already summarizes it.
- Include line breaks at the end of a complete thought or section.
- Identify speakers.
- Spell out any text presented on the screen when it is relevant.
Audio Descriptions
- Review the video to make sure the audio adequately explains what is happening on the screen. If it does not, describe the unspoken content in a secondary audio track or create a separate version of the video with the audio description in the main track.
- Learn more about audio descriptions in this video from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB):