Adding audio descriptions to videos helps blind and visually impaired users understand visual content. This ensures an inclusive experience, enabling non-sighted users to grasp all video aspects.
To ensure all users, regardless of visual ability, can fully comprehend video content through audio descriptions. Achieving this criterion will automatically satisfy 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded).
In videos, crucial actions essential to the narrative are often conveyed through visual cues. For instance, imagine a scene where two people are speaking while a fire breaks out in the background, foreshadowing a later dramatic reaction. If these cues aren't communicated to blind or visually impaired users, they may struggle to follow the subsequent events.
Audio descriptions provide additional auditory details of these visual cues. In the previous example, during a silent moment, an audio description could say, "A fire breaks out in the background."
If the video already includes descriptions of these cues, additional audio description is unnecessary.
For prerecorded videos featuring an individual speaking against a static background, alt-text is sufficient. however, if the video includes text (e.g., identifying the speaker's name and role or providing credits), this text should also be included in the alt-text description.
Identify visual cues: Identify visual cues in your videos that are not presented in auditory format, and ensure to add an audio description for them.
Use embedded videos from accessible platforms: Use embedded videos from platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo, which offer robust accessibility features and support methods for ensuring audio descriptions.
Example: A cooking video with an audio description that narrates visual actions, like chopping vegetables or adjusting the stove.
Failing to provide audio descriptions for essential visual elements such as stirring food or setting flame height, which are not mentioned in the video dialogue. A video that only includes audio descriptions for dialogue, omitting critical visual actions and settings. This leaves visually impaired users without complete information, reducing their understanding and engagement.
Ensure the audio description encompasses all significant visual details to provide a comprehensive understanding of the video content. Due to insufficient breaks in the original video where additional audio description could overlap with existing audio, an extended version of the video has been created. Users have the option to choose between the original video and the extended version. In this revised version, there is a pause in the video, featuring new audio descriptions. In the extended video, planned pauses allow for the inclusion of auditory cues, such as "The instructor stirs the food for 10 seconds.