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What Makes a Video Accessible?

According to the ADA and other global accessibility standards, all videos on your website must be accessible.

Updated over a week ago

In this article, you will learn the proper steps to make video content accessible in line with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). We’ll break the process into two categories, depending on whether your video includes audio. This helps ensure an inclusive experience for both sighted and non-sighted users.


Category 1: Remediation for Videos Without Audio

If your video is purely visual (no spoken words or audio), you must remediate it by doing one of the following:

  • Add an audio description that explains what’s happening visually,
    or

  • Provide a text transcript that describes all visual elements

Note: If an audio track is added that covers all the necessary visual information, a separate transcript is not required.

What is an Audio Description?

Audio descriptions narrate key visual details of a video that are not explained through dialogue. This is essential for blind or visually impaired users to understand the content fully. Audio descriptions are also helpful for users with cognitive impairments who benefit from additional context.

An audio description should include:

  • Scene changes

  • Settings and atmosphere

  • On-screen actions or gestures

  • Any visuals not referenced in the dialogue

Example Video with Audio Description:

You can either:

  • Create a separate audio track with descriptions

  • Or embed the audio description directly into the original video


Category 2: Remediation for Videos With Audio

If your video already contains speech or sound, it must include a full transcript of the audio plus a description of visual elements that are important to understanding the content.

Your transcript must include:

  • All spoken dialogue

  • Speaker identification

  • Descriptions of visual context

  • Notable sound effects or music cues

Example Video with a Transcript:

📝 Transcript includes speaker tags, scene cues, and full narration.


Manual Video Remediation Available

UserWay offers manual video remediation services that ensure your content meets WCAG and ADA compliance. This includes full transcription, captions, and audio descriptions. You can request this service via the UserWay Dashboard or by visiting: https://userway.org/video


Need more help? Contact the UserWay Support Team — we're here to assist you.
Get in touch with UserWay Support.

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