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Why Multimedia Accessibility Matters?

Videos and audio can make your website more interesting. But if they're not accessible, some people won't be able to use them. This includes people who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, or who have difficulty processing information. Making your multimedia accessible means that everyone can experience it, regardless of their abilities. In this page, we'll explore the fundamentals of multimedia accessibility and provide actionable tips for creators.

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Enhanced Engagement

Accessible multimedia is more engaging and enjoyable for everyone. This can lead to increased views, shares, and overall interaction with your content.

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Improved Visibility

Captions and transcripts provide text that search engines can index, making your content easier to find

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Improved UX

Accessibility features like captions and transcripts don't just benefit people with disabilities. They can also help people who are in a variety of environments and prefer to read.

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Legal Compliance

Websites run by federal agencies are required to provide captions for all their videos under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Tips for Creating Accessible Content:

1. Captions for Videos:

    • What they are: Captions are text versions of the spoken words in a video. They appear on screen as the video plays.
    • Why they matter: People who are deaf or hard of hearing rely on captions to understand the audio. Captions also help people who are learning a new language or who are in a noisy environment.

How to create captions:

    • Automatic captions: Many video platforms (like YouTube) offer automatic captioning. However, these are not always accurate, so it's important to review and edit them.
    • Manual captions: You can create captions yourself using a text editor or captioning software.
    • Professional captioning services: If you need high-quality captions, consider hiring a professional captioning service.

CDA provides captioning services for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, or otherwise approved CDA students.

More Information about Captioning Services

2. Transcripts for Audio:

  • What they are: Transcripts are written versions of audio content, like podcasts or recordings.
  • Why they matter: Transcripts make audio content accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They also help people who prefer to read or who want to search for specific information within the audio.
  • How to create them:
    • Manual transcription: You can transcribe audio yourself using a text editor.
    • Automatic transcription: There are many automatic transcription services available, but they may require editing for accuracy.
    • Professional transcription services: For high-quality transcripts, you can hire a professional transcription service.

3. Audio Descriptions for Videos:

  • What they are: Audio descriptions provide narration about the visual elements of a video, such as actions, scenes, and body language.
  • Why they matter: Audio descriptions make videos accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.
  • How to create them:
    • Write concise descriptions: Focus on the essential visual information.
    • Time the descriptions carefully: Make sure the descriptions align with the video's action.
    • Use a clear and neutral voice: Avoid using expressive or emotional tones.

4. Accessible Multimedia Players:

    • Keyboard accessibility: Make sure your video or audio player can be controlled using only a keyboard.
    • Clear controls: Use clear labels and visual indicators for player controls.
    • Avoid autoplay: Autoplaying audio or video can be disruptive and startling for some users.