Media benefits most users,
particularly those with strongly visual
preferences, those from
different language backgrounds or those
with print disabilities.
Although media elements provide many
accessibility benefits, they can
also provide barriers for those who can't
see or hear or otherwise
engage with the media element in question.
Your approach to improving accessibility
will be different depending on the context of use and the source of the content. These are
explored below.
- Inform users how to use closed
captions in your videos and where to
find the transcripts when
available.
- Provide transcripts of audio
recordings and videos. In some cases
it will be okay to summarise the main
teaching points.
- Where a video's main teaching content
is in the visuals rather than the
narrative, ensure these are adequately
described.
- Provide synchronized captions, i.e.
text versions of the spoken words and
sounds presented in video.
- Ensure the video player
enables the learner to stop and play
the video or audio. Controls should
also work with the keyboard
only.
- Avoid auto-play or ensure it is
limited to 5 seconds maximum. Make it
clear how to stop or pause autoplaying
content.
- Use sharp, clear, good resolution
media elements in the videos and test
for different device sizes.
- Clearly signal potential barriers and
alternative sources of information
(e.g. transcripts / handouts/ online
articles).
- Encourage students to use a
descriptive file name and a short
description of the key points along
with a video upload.
- Include accessibility in the
assignment marking rubric so students
are required to provide a transcript
or closed captioning.
- Create a script before you record and
then use it. This will make the video
better and provide an instant
transcript to upload.
Remember! Some compromises may be
inevitable at times but the guiding
principles should be to add value
to as many as possible and to create
barriers for as few as possible.
Where compromises are required they should
be clarified in the
appropriate accessibility statement for
the VLE or the specific
course/module. Remember that transcripts
and captions - even short 'key
point summaries' - add value for
everyone.