Video Accessibility
Video Accessibility
When recording a video ensure everyone can engage and understand with the content. Plan for accessibility from the start because it requires more time and effort to fix things later.
On this page:
Plan and Script
Always begin a video project with a plan and a script. Even a brief video or screencast will be easier to create from a script. Consider the purpose of the video, subject, length, and resources required. Write a simple script including the actions you will take and what you plan to say. This script does not need to be followed rigidly but will be a helpful guide. Try to use plain language. Explain complex terms, jargon, abbreviations, and acronyms. Write for the intended audience.
To significantly enhance the accessibility of your video content, consider adding integrated descriptions to your script. By incorporating audio descriptions of visual information, all viewers are included.
Audio Descriptions
To enhance accessibility for all viewers, important visual elements in your video must be included in the audio. One method to achieve this is called audio description: an additional audio track narrating visuals and actions. Often included are descriptions of surroundings, speakers’ appearance, body language, and any other non-audio information. The description is added during pauses in dialogue and included as an optional audio track. Audio description is usually indicated with an AD or D))) logo or icon. Audio description requires a separate script and recorded audio track and some video players do not support multiple audio tracks.
Key principles of described video Include:
- Describing what is on screen
- Prioritizing essential information
- Using the present tense
- Remaining consistent with names of speakers and places
Descriptions should not:
- Explain or elaborate beyond what is visually apparent
- Interpret
- Add opinion
- Censor
- Summarize
At this time, described video is rare and not legally required.
Integrated Description
Integrated description is an intentional practice to describe visuals aloud as part of the video’s natural flow. This accessibility-focused practice benefits not only blind and visually impaired viewers and viewers with cognitive disabilities impacting their ability to read, but all viewers. The audience might be watching on their phone, while multitasking, or watching on a lower bandwidth. Integrated description helps all viewers follow along, particularly if a video includes demonstrations or instructions. As well, integrated description may help reduce audience members’ cognitive load as it reduces the need to split their attention between visual and audio elements. With integrated description, each mode reinforces the other. By describing visual material, you ensure the entire audience can understand your content.
To include integrated descriptions in your script, consider the following best practices.
Be specific by referring to:
Size, position, or unique characteristics
- “The bookshelf is about six feet high, and is 75% full of books.”
- “I’m going to click on the close button in the top right of the window.”
Navigational features
- Regions (sidebar, navigation menu, footer, etc.)
- Navigational way points like breadcrumbs or pagination
Labels
- Slide numbers
- Figure labels
- Question numbers
- Buttons
- Menus
- Links
- Headings
Learn the specific names of common components.
Relative terms
Once a specific location is identified, use relative terms. For example:
- “To the left of the search box”
- “Under the Personas heading”
- “Below figure 1.”
Work on the assumption that readers and assistive technology read in a Z pattern starting at the top left.
Describe actions
Deliberately announce actions, such as:
- “open the format menu”
- “click the Save button”
- “select checkbox”
- “highlight the text”
Identify yourself and other speakers by name
Avoid:
- Sensory-only instructions that rely on sight or colour.
- Vague references like “here” or “there” as most users will not know where you are referring to. By being specific and direct you will become a more thorough and precise speaker, enhancing your authority and audience satisfaction.
Briefly summarize or explain visual elements, including long blocks of text. Avoid reading text word for word, instead aim to summarize without extraneous detail to ensure all important information is conveyed in audio format.
- Write descriptions and practice reading them to maintain the flow of your presentation.
- Include relevant information about the relationships and hierarchy of information.
When relevant, spell names and complex words out letter by letter.
A great accessibility practices audio descriptions can also provide additional detail, context, and information for all viewers that will lead to greater engagement and understanding. Don’t wait until you think you have someone with a disability in your audience. Add integrated description to videos and presentations today.
Aim to be concise and direct while including all relevant information. Specificity aids accessibility and viewer understanding. In addition, precise language enhances the audience’s sense of the speaker as an authority on the subject. Most importantly, incorporate integrated description into your script from the start.
Recording Settings
When recording audio, such as narration or voiceover:
- Ensure there is no background noise.
- Use a dedicated microphone (not a built-in laptop microphone) when possible.
For camera recordings:
- Record in at least 720p resolution.
- Use a neutral, consistent background.
- Ensure adequate lighting.
When recording your screen:
- Remove clutter.
- Silence notifications.
- Record only main content.
If screencasting or filming a whiteboard, remember to:
- Avoid using colour alone to convey meaning.
- Use sufficient colour contrast.
Avoid flashing content
- Avoid content that flashes more than 3 times per second. Flashing content can cause seizures.
- If flashing content is essential, provide a warning at the start of the video.
Captions and Transcripts
Captions are a text equivalent of a video’s audio displayed synchronously with the video content. Rely on automatic captioning tools to create a draft of captions. Edit captions with proper grammar, ensuring names and terminology are correct. Verify that captions are synced with the audio.
Closed captions can be toggled on and off by each viewer. Open captions are part of the video file and cannot be toggled on and off. Prefer closed captions except for foreign language subtitling. Refer to the closed captioning resources in this book for more information.
A transcript is a text version of multimedia content. Some platforms automatically generate transcripts alongside captions. Transcripts can include additional information such as descriptions of action, setting, and other visuals in the video. Integrated description, as discussed above, deliberately includes this information and eliminates the need for additional work when creating a transcript.
By thoroughly and accurately planning and scripting your video you will already have a transcript. Any edits needed to a machine-generated caption file will also be made easier by referring to the script.
Accessible Players
An accessible video player supports closed captions, transcripts, is keyboard accessible, and does not autoplay. Support for an additional audio description track is a bonus, but not required. Kaltura, H5P, and Brightspace all have accessible media players.
Consider AMI guides to described video for advanced techniques.
W3 provides a brief guide to integrated description.
Deque’s blog on accessible speaking best practices covers presenting more broadly.
The practice of incorporating audio descriptions of actions or visual content into the flow of video content. For example, when recording a process on a computer, integrated description would include the narrator including steps such as: "Click on Add New. Type your answer in the textbox. Click Create."
Additional audio added to a video that describes important visual details that are not conveyed by the main audio alone.
