ACCESSIBILITY TOPIC: VIDEOS
Audio and video materials can make web pages and course content more dynamic and engaging. At the same time, if they’re not created with accessibility in mind, they can present barriers for some users.
When producing or sharing multimedia content, be sure to address the following accessibility considerations:
Captions
Captions are the text equivalent of audio, shown at the same time as the audio (usually a few lines at a time).
Captions make video accessible by providing a text version of spoken dialog and meaningful sound for people who cannot hear or process the original sound. They usually include:
- Speech
- Music
- Sound effects
- Speaker identifications
- Any important information that is conveyed in sound
Captions are used by people who are deaf, have hearing loss, are less familiar with the language or topic, process text better than audio, or are in a noisy environment.
Captions are required for videos, whether live-streamed or pre-recorded, by digital accessibility standards.
YouTube will auto generate captions, or they can be manually added there too. You should always review captions to ensure they are free of typos and easily understood.
If you are using Adobe Premiere Pro, you can manually type them, import them from a file, or use Premiere Pro's automatic transcription feature to generate them from the audio.
Transcripts
Transcripts provide a full text version of video content, offering an alternative way to access information without watching the video. They are especially helpful for people who are deaf-blind and use Braille devices, as well as for users with slow internet connections or technical issues that prevent media playback. Transcripts are also easy to search and skim, making them a quick and efficient option for busy users.
Because a transcript serves as a complete alternative to the video, it should include both spoken dialogue and descriptions of key visual elements.
Full video transcripts are needed to meet a wide range of WCAG standards. You can view the transcript requirements on the WCAG website.
You should always review captions to ensure they are free of typos and easily understood.
Auto-Play Videos
WCAG 2.1 states that for any moving, blinking, or scrolling information that starts automatically and lasts more than five seconds, there should be a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it.
Autoplay or continuous motion can be disruptive for users with certain disabilities, including those who may be sensitive to movement or have difficulties processing visual information. A pause button provides users with control over the video and allows them to adjust the viewing experience to their needs.
Videos must also have an easily seen and accessible “Pause” button if they are set to auto-play.
Color Contrast
While not an accessibility guideline, it is good practice to ensure captions do not blend into the video. White text on a black background is recommended.
Avoid using colored text alone, as this may prevent readers who are color blind from seeing the captions.
What’s Next?
If there are videos on your website, Cascade contributors and approvers will soon be receiving an email with an Excel file that lists all videos in a specific site.
- You will need to check each video to ensure they meet the guidelines described above. There will be instructions included about what you can do to fix the issue that has been found.
Updates must be completed by December 31, 2025.
A review of all pages on the unomaha.edu site will begin in January of 2026. Pages that have not been corrected may be removed from the website.
Please email uno.web@nebraska.edu if you need assistance.
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