Process for producing accessible videos
An efficient and cost-effective way of creating videos so that disabled people can use them.
The following 6 steps are based on TetraLogical’s article, An inclusive approach to video production.
Step 1 — plan the visual and audio content
At the planning stage, before making the video, think about all the audio and visual content that will be in the video.
Step 2 — animated content
For any animated content, make sure that no content on the screen flashes more than 3 flashes per second.
For more information, see Understanding Success Criterion 2.3.1: Three Flashes or Below Threshold — W3C.
Step 3 — text content
For any text that will appear on the screen as part of the video content, ensure that text:
- is big enough so that people can read it, but not so big that it obscures other information on the screen
- has a sufficient contrast against background colours (a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 or 4.5:1, depending, on the text’s size). For more, see Contrast for text and images of text.
Step 4 — script
Write a script that includes all important visual information that people who cannot see the video need to know. For example, if the video is narrated, have the narrator:
- describe specifically what’s happening as it’s happening
- read aloud any important text that’s displayed, such as titles indicating changes in topic or scene, lists of key points in the video, or the URL of a web page.
For a typical conference presentation that’s to be video recorded or streamed, have the presenter, if possible:
- describe specifically what they’re doing or showing as they’re doing or showing it
- read aloud the content of any slides displayed.
If all the video’s important visual information is described in the audio track, there’s no need for a separate (and potentially expensive) audio description.
Step 5 — captions
Using the script, add captions to the video.
Step 6 — descriptive text transcript
Write a descriptive text transcript that contains the script and any additional meaningful visual information that is not included in the script but still relevant to the story in the video — for example, a sign that says the building is closed.
Add the descriptive text transcript to the page with the video.