9 Best Practices for Creating Accessible Video Content for All Audiences

Written By  Aquib Nawab

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1. Test for Accessibility

Do full testing for accessibility, both directly and automatically, in order to find and fix any possible obstacles. Similarly, continue to enhance accessibility by collecting input from users with disabilities about their experiences and what they like best.

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2. Provide Accurate Captions

Inmates with hearing problems and those in places where sound is monitored depend on subtitles. It is crucial that they match the sound, be comprehensive and errorless to convey dialogue or narration correctly.

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3. Include Audio Descriptions

In order to help blind and visually impaired people understand a video, it is necessary to provide them with audio descriptions. These should come at the right moments of silence in the soundtrack so that everyone can see all elements of the content.

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4. Offer Transcripts

Transcripts provide a different method for accessing videos, they help people who may prefer reading or have trouble with audio. Not only this, but they also improve your SEO and make the content more searchable on different platforms.

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5. Use Clear and Concise Language

Make your words understandable by all, including people with cognitive disabilities. This can be achieved by using plain and simple language. Do not use jargon or abbreviations that may confuse the reader.

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6. Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast

To make the text easier to read for people with poor eyesight, high contrast between the words and the background must be maintained. Use WCAG recommendations for minimum ratio of contrasting hues to cater for all users.

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7. Provide User Controls

Guarantee the ability for users to control video playback, volume adjustment and caption display. Ensure that these controls are accessible through keyboard navigation and indicated with clear labels to facilitate easy understanding.

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8. Design for Keyboard Navigation

Enable all video controls to be accessed by the keyboard only to cater for those who use it as a means of navigation. Use evident focus indicators so as to help users navigate within the video player interface quickly.

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9. Choose an Accessible Video Player

Pick a video player that is easy to use and allows for customized closed captions and audio descriptions. This would work better with assistive technologies such as screen readers or keyboard navigation so that they can be used by more people.

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