Accessibility for Developers

Audio transcripts should be provided for audio content, so that deaf people can still access the content

This means you should have a written copy of words spoken in audio content - such as podcasts, voice recordings etc.

Videos with audio should also have captions, so they can be understood even if no access to sound

Why should we add captions and transcripts?

As well as enabling deaf or hard of hearing people to consume the content, adding captions and transcripts benefits many other people:

• Those who may not understand the language in spoken form, but are able to read it
• Those who are in loud environments, environments where you cannot play sounds, or where listening through a speaker is not possible

What is the difference between captions and transcripts?

• Transcripts are when audio is presented as text (such as the entire transcript of a podcast).
• Captions, more commonly used with videos, are when they’re displayed at the correct time to match up with the content shown.

WCAG specification for captions and transcripts

• WCAG 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A) https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/audio-only-and-video-only-prerecorded.html
• 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) (Level A) https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/audio-description-or-media-alternative-prerecorded “An alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded video content is provided for synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such.”
• 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA): Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media. https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/audio-description-prerecorded
• 1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AAA): Where pauses in foreground audio are insufficient to allow audio descriptions to convey the sense of the video, extended audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media. https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/extended-audio-description-prerecorded
• 1.2.9 Audio-only (Live) (Level AAA): An alternative for time-based media that presents equivalent information for live audio-only content is provided. https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/audio-only-live.html