Digital Accessibility Basics: Video and Multimedia

When creating or updating video and multimedia, prioritize:

• Accurate captions for any content with audio
• Text transcripts for audio-only content and as a support for video content
• Provide audio description or a descriptive transcript when important visual information is not conveyed through audio alone (for example, charts, on-screen text, or demonstrations)
• Media playback that works with a keyboard and assistive technologies

Not every item below applies to every situation. Use professional judgment and focus first on instructional, public-facing, student-facing, and high-visibility media.

Accessibility Checklist

Use the checklist below when creating, publishing, or remediating video and multimedia content. Not all items will apply in every situation.

Captions and Transcripts

• Provide accurate, synchronized closed captions for all videos with audio
• Ensure captions include spoken dialogue and relevant non-speech audio that affects meaning (for example: music, applause, sound effects)
• For audio-only content, provide a complete text transcript
• When using platform captioning features or auto-generated captions, enable them by default when available and review captions for accuracy before publishing instructional, public-facing, or high-visibility content

Audio Description and Visual Information

• Provide audio description or a descriptive transcript when important visual information is not conveyed through audio alone
• Ensure on-screen text, charts, and visuals are described or otherwise made available in an accessible format

Media Players and Controls

• Use media players with keyboard-accessible controls
• Ensure controls are labeled and usable with assistive technologies
• Avoid flashing content that exceeds three flashes per second

Vendor-Provided Media

• Request captioned and audio-described versions of vendor-provided videos when available
• If accessible versions are not available, request documentation describing accessibility gaps and planned remediation timelines
• When necessary, add captions internally and provide a descriptive transcript
• Document vendor outreach, responses, and workarounds in the centralized inventory where applicable

Social Media and Public Channels

• Treat official university social media channels and public video platforms as priority content
• Ensure videos and livestreams posted to official channels include captions for spoken audio
• Provide descriptive alternatives when visual content conveys important meaning
• See Digital Accessibility Basics: Social Media for additional guidance.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Publishing videos without captions, or relying on unreviewed auto-captions for instructional or public-facing content
• Relying on captions alone when visual information is critical and not described
• Using media players that are not keyboard accessible
• Delaying accessibility until after content is widely distributed