Audio and Video
Accessibility Guidelines for Audio and Video
The following are some guidelines that should be validated for accessibility compliance for audio and video content of a Web site:
Alternatives for Audio and Video Content
Provide an alternative format for audio and video content.
Offering descriptive transcripts and multiple audio/video file formats are considered best practice.
WCAG Guidelines referenced:
- Guideline 1.2 Time-based Media: Provide alternatives for time-based media.
- 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: (Level A)
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.
- 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded): An alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded video content is provided for synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
- 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded): Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media. (Level AA)
- 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: (Level A)
Captions
Provide captions for video with a spoken soundtrack.
You should also consider providing a descriptive transcript of the video.
WCAG Guidelines referenced:
- Guideline 1.2 Time-based Media: Provide alternatives for time-based media.
- 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded): Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
- 1.2.4 Captions (Live): Captions are provided for all live audio content in synchronized media. (Level AA)
- 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded): Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
No Auto Play
Do not auto-play multimedia content.
Allow the user to initiate the content.