Multimedia Content: Ensuring Accessibility for Videos and Audio

Why Multimedia Content Matters

Videos and audio enhance your webpages by engaging users and providing rich, dynamic content. However, multimedia can present significant accessibility barriers for users with hearing, vision or cognitive impairments. Accessible multimedia ensures that all users, regardless of their abilities, can engage with and benefit from your content.

Using Multimedia Content to Support Accessibility

To make multimedia accessible, you need to provide alternative ways for users to interact with the content. Since Elon University’s WordPress CMS does not allow direct uploads of video or audio files, all accessibility features must be implemented within the third-party platforms used for hosting your multimedia:

  • Captions for Videos: Platforms like YouTube and Vimeo provide tools for adding and managing captions. Use these tools to ensure synchronized captions for dialogue, sound effects (e.g., “[birds chirping]”) and other relevant sounds.
  • Transcripts for Audio Content: If you upload audio files to platforms like SoundCloud or similar services, provide text transcripts that describe the spoken content and relevant sounds.
  • Audio Descriptions for Videos: Some platforms support audio descriptions for videos. Alternatively, include descriptive details in the video transcript to make the content accessible to users who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Accessible Media Players: The media players embedded from YouTube, Vimeo or other services are already keyboard-accessible and compatible with assistive technologies. Be sure to test the embedded content to confirm functionality.

Example of Accessible Multimedia Content

Scenario 1: Video with Captions and Transcripts

  • Content: A video showcasing Elon University’s campus hosted on YouTube.
  • Captions: Use YouTube’s captioning tools to create synchronized captions, ensuring accuracy for dialogue and relevant sounds (e.g., “[cheering at a sports event]”).
  • Transcript: Provide a downloadable or on-page text transcript that includes dialogue and visual descriptions (e.g., “Students walking through the historic quad on a sunny day.”).

Scenario 2: Audio File with a Transcript

  • Content: A podcast episode hosted on SoundCloud.
  • Transcript: Write a text version of the episode, including speaker names, dialogue and descriptions of relevant sounds or music.

General Rules for Multimedia Content

  • Use Third-Party Accessibility Tools: Implement captions, transcripts and audio descriptions using the tools provided by YouTube, Vimeo or your chosen audio hosting platform.
  • Always Provide Captions and Transcripts: Ensure that all videos have captions and transcripts, and audio files include a complete transcript.
  • Test Embeds for Accessibility: After embedding multimedia into WordPress, verify that the content functions properly with keyboard navigation and screen readers.
  • Disable Automatic Playback: Avoid embedding videos or audio files that autoplay, as this can disrupt users, particularly those relying on screen readers.
  • Ensure Mobile Responsiveness: Test embedded multimedia on mobile devices to confirm it displays correctly and remains accessible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Skipping Captions on Video Platforms: Ensure captions are uploaded or generated in YouTube, Vimeo or other platforms before embedding the video.
  • Omitting Transcripts for Audio Files: Without transcripts, audio content is inaccessible to many users.
  • Failing to Test Embeds: Neglecting to verify that the embedded video or audio is functional and accessible within WordPress can lead to usability issues.
  • Using Poorly Edited Auto-Captions: Automatically generated captions often contain errors. Always review and edit them for accuracy.

Final Tips

  • Leverage YouTube and Vimeo Tools: These platforms provide robust tools for captioning, adding transcripts, and managing accessibility features. Use these tools to simplify the process while meeting accessibility requirements.
  • Collaborate with the Multimedia Marketing Team: If you’re unfamiliar with YouTube or Vimeo’s accessibility tools, contact the Multimedia Marketing Team for guidance or training.
  • Plan Ahead for Accessibility: When creating multimedia, ensure accessibility considerations are integrated from the start. These additional steps can be time consuming and should be factored in when determining project deadlines.
  • Always Test Your Embeds: After adding videos or audio to your webpage, test the content on various devices and with assistive technologies to confirm accessibility.

By ensuring that your multimedia content is prepared for accessibility in the hosting platform before embedding it into WordPress, you can provide an engaging, inclusive experience that supports Elon University’s commitment to equity and usability.