Captions
Captions provide a text representation of spoken dialogue and non-speech audio information, synchronized with the audio and displayed in a media player when activated.
Multimedia
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, require specific accessibility measures for audio and video content on state and local government websites, mobile apps, and social media.
Accessibility Requirements
Videos:
- Captions: All prerecorded and live audio content in synchronized media must have captions.
- Audio descriptions: All prerecorded video content in synchronized media must have audio descriptions.
Audio-Only (e.g., Podcasts):
- Transcripts: All audio-only content, including podcasts, must have transcripts.
Audio Descriptions
Audio descriptions assist people who are blind or have low vision by narrating essential visual information needed to understand the content, including on-screen text like speaker names and titles. These descriptions are integrated into the video during editing to ensure synchronization with the visuals. In television, this service is often referred to as Descriptive Video Service (DVS).
Transcripts
Transcripts are a text version of the spoken content and any relevant non-speech audio information needed to understand the content. Transcripts should be in an accessible format (e.g., plain text or HTML).