General
Multimedia content (such as videos, audio recordings, and images) that is not accessible can create barriers to accessing and understanding the content for people with disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairments, cognitive disabilities, or mobility impairments.
By making multimedia accessible, you can help ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and understand the information presented. Accessible multimedia also helps to promote inclusivity and diversity in the workplace, in education, and in society as a whole.
Key tips
- Provide text equivalents
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For all images, videos, and audio, provide text equivalents in the form of captions, transcripts, and alternative text. This makes the content accessible to users who are blind or have low vision, as well as those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Descriptive language
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Use descriptive language to provide context for images and videos. This helps users who are blind or have low vision to better understand the content.
- Ensure enough colour contrast
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Use enough contrast between relevant elements and background to make the information legible for users who are color-blind, have low vision, or have other visual impairments.
- Accessible multimedia players
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Ensure that multimedia players are accessible and can be used with a keyboard, screen readers, and other assistive technologies.
- Ensure readability
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Use plain language and avoid using overly complex language, jargon, or acronyms. This makes the content more accessible to users with cognitive disabilities and learning disabilities.
- Provide audio descriptions
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For videos and animations, provide audio descriptions that explain what is happening on the screen. This makes the content accessible to users who are blind or have low vision.
- Provide closed captions
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Provide closed captions for all videos and audio content. This makes the content accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing or have difficulties understanding the spoken language.
- Test the accessibility periodically
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Test all multimedia content for accessibility using assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, and colour contrast checkers. This ensures that the content is accessible to all users. If possible, involve end-users in the testing..