DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY / AUDIO & VIDEO

Plan the story.
Include every audience.

Make speech readable, visual meaning audible and controls usable. Choose the right media alternatives before production, then check them in the finished player.

Build a media planUnderstand the formats

Four formats. Different jobs.

READ ALONG

Captions

Text follows the timing of speech and meaningful sound. Include speaker identification and sounds needed to understand the scene. Dialogue-only subtitles can leave out essential information.

Review automatic captions against the actual recording: names, numbers, missing words, timing and speaker changes. Merely switching on automatic captions does not establish accuracy.

WAI: captions and subtitles

READ AT YOUR OWN PACE

Transcripts

A transcript gives the spoken content and meaningful sounds in text. For video, a descriptive transcript also includes relevant actions, visible words and other visual meaning in sequence.

Provide accessible text beside the player or through a clearly named link. A transcript helps people search, review and use braille; an ordinary speech transcript is not a substitute for synchronized captions.

WAI: transcripts

HEAR WHAT MATTERS

Audio description

Describe meaningful visual information that the soundtrack does not communicate: a chart's result, a silent action, an on-screen instruction. Plan narration and pauses during scripting, or provide a described version.

If the original audio already conveys all important visual information, additional description is unnecessary. Check the entire recording, including titles and closing screens.

WAI: description of visual information

COMMUNICATE IN THE AUDIENCE'S LANGUAGE

Sign languages

Sign languages are full languages; written captions do not replace interpretation for everyone. Ask the audience which sign language they use and plan interpretation, framing and visibility with qualified people.

WCAG 1.2.6 requires sign language for prerecorded audio in synchronized media at AAA. It is not an A/AA requirement under that criterion; audience needs can still make it an essential production choice.

W3C: sign language, 1.2.6

Build your media production plan

Select a format and target level to see the relevant WCAG 1.2 requirements. Level AA includes Level A. This is a planning aid for selected media criteria, not a conformance evaluation or an assessment of your files.

Media production plan






 
The A/AA requirement map

 

  
RECORDED AUDIO ONLY · A
Equivalent information in text
Provide an equivalent alternative for the audio, typically a transcript. 1.2.1.

  
RECORDED VIDEO ONLY · A
A descriptive alternative or audio
Provide an equivalent text alternative or an audio track that communicates the video information. 1.2.1.

  
RECORDED VIDEO WITH AUDIO · A
Captions and visual meaning
Provide captions under 1.2.2. For visual meaning, choose audio description or a complete descriptive text alternative under 1.2.3.

  
RECORDED VIDEO WITH AUDIO · AA
Audio description is the required route
Level AA adds 1.2.5: a descriptive transcript alone does not meet this audio-description requirement. Existing audio can already convey all the important visuals.

  
LIVE VIDEO WITH AUDIO · AA
Provide live captions
1.2.4 covers live audio in synchronized media. It concerns broadcasts; it does not impose a blanket caption requirement on every two-way call regardless of participants' needs.

  
LIVE AUDIO ONLY · AAA
Keep the level distinction clear
1.2.9 covers equivalent live audio-only alternatives at AAA. Live text access is still a valuable audience choice at A/AA; it is not an AA requirement under 1.2.4.

 

 
Check exceptions carefully. Criteria 1.2.1–1.2.3 exempt media that is an equivalent alternative for text and clearly labelled that way. The definition of synchronized media also excludes such media, affecting 1.2.5. A page with a brief summary does not establish this exception. For 1.2.3 and 1.2.5, no additional description is needed if all important visual information is already in the audio.





 
Build accessibility into production

 
    
  
  1. Brief: identify audience languages, media format and delivery channels. Assign who will produce, review and publish each alternative.
    2. 
  
  2. Script: speak useful on-screen information naturally. Leave space for description and plan clear views of any interpreter.
    3. 
  
  3. Record: capture clean speech. Ask speakers to identify themselves and explain meaningful demonstrations.
    4. 
  
  4. Edit: correct captions, add descriptions and prepare accessible transcripts. Keep each alternative aligned with the final cut.
    5. 
  
  5. Publish and review: test real controls and content with the intended audience. Recheck captions and descriptions whenever the recording changes.
    6. 
 

 
For live events, arrange captioning and interpretation before the broadcast. Rehearse with the actual platform and have a way to report problems. A published replay is recorded media: make a separate plan for it. WAI production planning.





 
Test the player, as well as the file

 
Operate it
  • Reach and use play, pause, seeking, volume and alternative-track controls with a keyboard.
  • Keep focus visible and leave every control without a trap.
  • Check control names, roles and state changes with a screen reader.
  • Zoom the page and check labels, menus and caption controls remain usable.
Experience the content
  • Watch with sound off: do captions convey speech, speakers and meaningful sounds?
  • Listen without watching: is important visual information available?
  • Find the transcript and described version from the media's page.
  • Check caption readability and placement on a small screen; do they hide relevant information?

 
Keyboard access, focus, names, contrast and other page requirements still apply separately from WCAG 1.2. Use the testing worksheet to record the full interaction review. Source: WAI media player guidance.





 
Try three production decisions

 
A recorded workshop shows a chart while the speaker says “this improves.”
Plan: caption the speech and meaningful sounds. At AA, add spoken description of what the chart shows, including the relevant trend and values. A descriptive transcript is useful, but alone cannot meet 1.2.5. Reword the original narration before recording when possible.
Review: listen without looking. Can someone identify what improved and by how much? Read captions with audio off. Can they identify the speaker?

 
A silent animation demonstrates how to adjust a desk.
Plan: for recorded video-only, 1.2.1 allows an equivalent descriptive text alternative or an audio track. Explain the sequence, controls and final position. Captions for nonexistent speech are not the needed alternative.
Review: follow the alternative without the animation. Does it communicate every necessary step? If the animation only restates an existing complete text guide, verify and clearly label that relationship before using the exception.

 
A live community presentation will be available as a replay.
Plan: live captions address 1.2.4 at AA. Arrange caption access and any needed interpretation before the event. Ask presenters to verbalize meaningful visuals.
Review: monitor the live caption feed. Before publishing the replay, review it as recorded video with audio: correct captions and check whether additional audio description is needed under 1.2.5.





 
Keep learning from the source

 
This guide uses original explanations based on the W3C sources linked beside each topic. Reviewed 15 September 2026. The Understanding documents explain criteria; the normative requirements are in WCAG 2.2, time-based media.

 
WAI audio and video collection covers user needs, production, captions, description, transcripts, sign languages and media players.