OzWiki

Making Video Accessible

Video has become the number one content consumed online, but many users will have a poor video experience. Or, worse yet, one they cannot access at all. A great video experience is one that is easy to interact with and allows all users to enjoy the video content.

You’re most likely here because you need to make sure the way you use video doesn’t make your web content inaccessible to people with disabilities.

You might have a specific problem, like:

  • how to ensure a video is keyboard accessible
  • how to avoid keyboard traps
  • whether to start a video automatically
  • how user controls affect video accessibility
  • how Flash and JavaScript affect video accessibility
  • how to make video content available in alternative formats
  • how to use audio descriptions, captions and transcripts

Perhaps you need a comprehensive list of likely accessibility issues with video – and how to address them. Or maybe you just want to ask a direct question and get a clear, expert response.

You’re in the right place.

OzWiki will tell you what you need to know in order to use video in an accessible way. The Video section details 30 accessibility problems and how to address them, demonstrating compliance with 25 WCAG Level A success criteria, and 5 WCAG Level AA success criteria.

As a subscriber, you’ll also be able to request further or more detailed information relating to your specific situation.

See an example

Video does not have a transcript

Video does not have a transcript

CategoryVideos
TopicTranscripts
WCAG SC 1.2.1: Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, the following are true, except when the audio or video is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such:

  • Prerecorded Audio-only: An alternative for time-based media is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded audio-only content.

  • Prerecorded Video-only: Either an alternative for time-based media or an audio track is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded video-only content.

http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/media-equiv-av-only-alt.html

See more errors for this SC

LevelA
Technique(s)

G159: Providing an alternative for time-based media for video-only content

G69: Providing an alternative for time based media

ImpactHigh

Error

Videos do not have a transcript.

Incorrect Example(s)

Example 1

Growing better crops in Kenya video with no transcript

2. In this video of Castiel, there is no transcript.

Screenshot of a video playing on the Fandom website.

3. In the CW app, you can watch episodes of different television shows. The episodes do not have transcripts.

Screenshot of an episode of Nancy Drew playing.

4. In this example, the transcript does not include descriptions of the visuals.

Screenshot of a video with a transcript underneath.

5. A transcript is provided, but it is not equivalent to the information in the video file.

Screenshot of a video playing on a news site accompanied by a related news article.

Correct Example(s)

1. A video showing the exercise is accompanied with a text transcript that accurately describes the entire video.

Screenshot of an exercise video playing with a transcript underneath describing what the instructor is doing.

2. The AccessibilityOz web site provides transcripts for all their videos.

Screenshot of a video playing with closed captioning and an interactive transcript.

3. The 3PlayMedia web site provides transcripts for all their videos.