Video Accessibility

Video accessibility ensures that video content is inclusive and usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Disabilities that may affect video use include hearing, visual, cognitive, and motor impairments. By making video content accessible, you create an inclusive experience and improve usability for a wider audience.

Key Tips for Creating Accessible Videos

Here are best practices to help you create accessible video content:

Provide Captions

Captions are text versions of spoken content, synchronized with the video. Captions benefit users who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as those in noisy environments or without access to audio.
Closed captions can be toggled on or off by the viewer, whereas open captions are always visible. Closed captions are recommended for greater flexibility.
Captions should include all spoken content, as well as relevant sound effects or background sounds that are important for understanding the video.
Use tools like YouTube’s auto-captioning or services like Rev to create accurate captions.

Provide Audio Descriptions

Audio descriptions are additional audio tracks that describe important visual elements in the video. This is crucial for users who are blind or have low vision.
Audio descriptions should describe actions, settings, expressions, and other visual information that is not conveyed through the original audio.
Tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or YouDescribe can help you create audio descriptions.
If creating a separate audio track is not feasible, consider adding a description of key visual elements in the video itself.

Include Transcripts

Transcripts are a textual version of all spoken dialogue and important visual content. They are useful for users who prefer reading or for those who use screen readers.
A basic transcript includes only the spoken dialogue, while a descriptive transcript includes descriptions of visual elements and sound effects.
Provide a downloadable version of the transcript alongside the video to give users more access options.

Use Accessible Video Players

Use a video player that supports accessibility features, such as keyboard navigation, captions, and audio descriptions.
Ensure that all controls (e.g., play, pause, volume) are operable with a keyboard for users who cannot use a mouse.
Popular accessible video players include Able Player and YouTube’s built-in player.

Avoid Auto-Playing Videos

Avoid setting videos to auto-play when a page loads, as this can be disorienting for users relying on screen readers or those with cognitive disabilities.
If auto-play is necessary, provide a clear option to pause or stop the video immediately.

Provide Sufficient Contrast and Readable Text

Ensure that any text displayed in the video (e.g., titles, subtitles, overlays) has sufficient color contrast with the background to make it readable for users with visual impairments.
Use simple, sans-serif fonts and ensure that text is large enough to be read easily.

Color Contrast Examples:

Two 'Submit' buttons showing contrast compliance. Left: purple with white text, contrast ratio 13.09:1 (passes). Right: yellow with white text, contrast ratio 1.54:1 (fails).

Test with Assistive Technologies

Test your video content with assistive technologies, such as screen readers and keyboard-only navigation, to ensure that users with disabilities can access all features.
Consider using tools like NVDA or VoiceOver for testing.

Accessible Video Tools and Resources

Captioning Tools: Use tools like Rev, Amara, or YouTube’s caption editor to add accurate captions to your videos.
Audio Description Tools: Use YouDescribe to add audio descriptions to YouTube videos or Adobe Premiere Pro for more advanced editing.
Accessible Video Players: Implement video players like Able Player that support a range of accessibility features.