Making Audio and Video Media Accessible

First, Understand User Needs

Before we get into details and descriptions, it’s useful to understand the user experiences of people with disabilities. Then you’ll know the “why” behind the media accessibility requirements in this resource. For example, a person who is Deaf can’t hear the audio, so you need to provide important audio information in another form.

(More information is in separate pages: How People with Disabilities Use the Web and Media Accessibility User Requirements.)

How to Make Audio and Video Accessible

Planning Audio and Video Media

This resource helps you understand how to make media accessible, whether you are outsourcing it or creating it in-house. To figure out which accessibility aspects your specific audio or video needs, for project management guidance, and to learn about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards, see Planning Audio and Video Media.

Audio Content and Video Content

When you are creating new audio or video, there are several accessibility barriers to avoid such as flashing that can cause seizures and distracting background noise. These are explained in Audio Content and Video Content.

Media Players

Most default browser media players have limited functionality to support accessibility. Some third-party players are designed specifically for accessibility. Learn more from Media Players.

Specific guidance for other aspects of making your media accessible are in the following pages:

Example Video

An example accessible video is on the Colors with Good Contrast page.

That page provides:

Benefits to Organizations and Individuals

Organizations that make their audio and video accessible can realize benefits such as:

Benefits to organizations are illustrated in these other resources:

Used by People With and Without Disabilities

Accessible audio and video is essential for people with disabilities, and is useful for everyone in a variety of situations.

For example, transcripts can be:

And captions can be used:

This resource helps make your media usable in all those situations, by people with and without disabilities. The next page gets you started Planning Accessible Audio and Video Media.

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