Audio Visual & Multimedia

In today's digital landscape, creating accessible multimedia content is crucial to ensure that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, can engage with your material. Whether it’s videos, podcasts, presentations, or interactive media, ensuring accessibility allows you to reach a broader audience and demonstrate inclusivity. Accessibility not only benefits people with disabilities but also enhances the user experience for all.

Creating Accessible Audio Visual & Multimedia

1. Provide Text Alternatives for Audio and Visual Content

  • Provide captions for all prerecorded audio content in videos. Include audio descriptions for videos when visual information is essential for understanding.
  • Offer captions for live-streamed content.

IMPORTANT: Auto-captioning is adequate for supplementary lecture recordings used as a reference or review tool and not retained beyond the current semester. However, fully accessible captioning must be provided if accommodation is requested. For questions about accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center.

 

2. Use Descriptive Audio for Visual Content

  • Audio Descriptions: These are essential for individuals with visual impairments. Descriptive audio provides spoken narration of visual elements, such as actions, scene changes, or important on-screen text.
  • For Example: “The scene transitions to a bustling city street. A person in a red jacket enters a cafe.”

3. Design with Color Accessibility in Mind

  • Color Contrast: Ensure high contrast between text and background colors. For users with color blindness, avoid relying on color alone to convey information. Use patterns or text labels in addition to color coding.
    • At least 4.5:1 for text 18 points or smaller (regular weight) and 14 points or smaller (bold).
    • At least 3:1 for larger text (above 18 points regular or 14 points bold), graphical objects, and user interface components.
    • Avoid using color alone to convey the meaning.
    • Test your content with tools that simulate how colorblind users see your designs (e.g., Color Oracle, Coblis). This ensures that color choices are inclusive.

4. Provide Accessible Navigation and Controls

  • Keyboard Navigation: Ensure all interactive elements (play buttons, volume sliders, etc.) are accessible via keyboard for those who cannot use a mouse.
  • Custom Controls: Allow users to pause, stop, or adjust multimedia that plays automatically for more than 5 seconds.

5. Offer Multiple Formats for Media

  • Different Formats: Not all users can interact with the same types of media. Offering alternative formats (such as audio files for video content or HTML versions of multimedia) allows users to choose the option best suited for their needs.
  • Consider Screen Readers: For all interactive content (slideshows, multimedia forms), ensure it is screen reader compatible. Use HTML tags and ARIA roles for structure and clarity.

6. Avoid Flashing Content

  • Avoid Flashing Content: Content that flashes more than three times per second to prevent seizure risks.

7. Provide Clear and Simple Language

  • Avoid Jargon: Use simple and clear language, particularly in audio and video scripts. This ensures all users, including those with cognitive impairments, can easily understand the content.
  • Concise Descriptions: Keep descriptions brief but informative, ensuring users get the most relevant information without overwhelming them.

8. Test for Accessibility Regularly

  • Tools and Software: Use tools such as WAVE, Axe, or Lighthouse to assess the accessibility of your multimedia content. These tools can help identify barriers like missing alt text, poor color contrast, or inaccessible interactive elements.
  • User Feedback: Gather feedback from individuals with disabilities to continually improve the accessibility of your content.

 

Digital Accessibility Training