Behind the Lens with Lloyd Media Group

Creating content that is accessible to all is more than a best practice, it’s the responsible thing to do. A significant part of the global population lives with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.3 billion people – or 16% of the global population – experience a significant disability.

Armed with that intel, digital content – particularly videos – should be inclusive. This commitment to accessibility isn’t just about social responsibility and compliance; it’s about reaching a wider audience with effective communication. It ensures everyone – regardless of their abilities – can access and enjoy online videos.

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, captions provide a way to understand the audio content of a video. For those who are blind or have low vision, audio descriptions provide a way to understand the visual content of a video. Video accessibility also benefits people with cognitive or physical disabilities, allowing them to access information and participate fully in online activities.

Providing accessible video content creates an inclusive environment where everyone has equal access to information, but it also fulfills compliance and legal obligations.

Compliance with standards like Section 508 is particularly important for ensuring that videos are accessible to all, especially in government and public sectors. Adhering to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is essential for federal agencies and benefits all organizations by ensuring their electronic and information technology is accessible.

Simply put, it’s about equal accessibility. All videos must provide the same level of information and engagement to users with disabilities. These include:

-Subtitles and Closed Captions: Critical for viewers with hearing impairments.

-Audio Descriptions: Providing narrative descriptions for visually impaired viewers.

-Accessible Media Players: Compatibility with various assistive technologies, including screen readers.

Implementing accessible videos is not just a principled imperative; it offers significant benefits for businesses and organizations. Such as:

-Wider Audience Reach: Accessible videos tap into a larger demographic, including the disabled community, enhancing the overall reach of your content.

-Improved SEO and Engagement: Search engines favor accessible content, potentially increasing your visibility online. Moreover, accessible videos can lead to higher engagement and viewer retention.

-Corporate Responsibility and Brand Image: Demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity can strengthen your brand image and position your organization as socially responsible.

-Legal Compliance and Risk Reduction: Adhering to accessibility standards reduces the risk of legal complications and demonstrates compliance with international guidelines.

Creating accessible video content is a critical step toward making digital media truly inclusive. By focusing on accessibility, businesses and organizations not only meet compliance standards but enjoy the benefits of a broader audience reach and enhanced brand image.

Below are resources that cover various aspects of video accessibility, including the creation of content, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards, and providing a better experience for all viewers.

Additional Resources:

Section508.gov Offers comprehensive guidelines for creating accessible video, audio, and social media content. It includes tips on how to make 508-compliant videos, use a 508-compliant video player, and create audio descriptions. It also offers information on synchronized media and electronic signatures, which are crucial for video accessibility.

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) at W3C – Provides detailed guidance on making audio and video media accessible. It covers user needs, planning, content creation, descriptions, captions/subtitles, transcripts, and using an accessible media player. The guide is based on the requirements from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standard.

BOIA.org Checklist – Offers practical tips, such as using easily readable text, avoiding fast-flashing content, choosing an accessible video player, adding captions, and providing a transcript. It also emphasizes the importance of choosing current video formats for the web and ensuring that video players support accessibility features.