Video and Audio Accessibility in Course Content

Captions (prerecorded): WCAG’s intent is that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can access synchronized media; captions should include dialogue and relevant non-speech information such as meaningful sound effects and speaker identification. The Described and Captioning Media Program’s (DCMP) Captioning Key and related educator-focused guidance emphasize that captions should be synchronized with the audio, equivalent in content to the audio, and include key information such as speaker identification and sound effects—aligning with WCAG’s intent for captions.  

Captions (live): WCAG similarly requires captions for live synchronized media, with the same intent of supporting real-time participation.  

Transcripts: World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) distinguishes between basic transcripts (speech + needed audio info) and descriptive transcripts (which also describe necessary visual information). It notes that descriptive transcripts are required to provide video content to people who are both deaf and blind.  

Audio description: When visual information is needed to understand a video, it must be provided via audio description or an alternative for time-based media (audio description is required for prerecorded synchronized video).