Overview
Audio-Only And Video-Only (Prerecorded)
An encoder is required in order to provide audio-only or video-only content in an accessible format, ensuring that the services are available to all users.
In the case we happen to receive personal data in accordance with a customer agreement, we may be acting as our customer’s data processor.
This requirement would ensure that data included in playable media may be accessed through alternative means.
If the content is solely audio-based, such a speech recording, a transcript of the speech should be provided. Similarly, a transcript is preferred for video-only content, such as silent demonstration videos, since it includes all the necessary visual information and allows AT to modify it in various ways. Alternatively, content that is demonstrated solely through videos might have an audio track.
Exceptions
The requirement does not apply when audio or video content is used as an alternative media format for text content, and it should not contain anything not already in the text.
Captions (Prerecorded)
For all prerecorded audio contents in synchronized media, captions are included.
There are two types of captions: While open captions are actually embedded in the still image and cannot be shut down by anyone, closed captions are switchable by the user with the help of another data path that is synchronized. Most closed captions can be manipulated, for instance, as for size, font, color, and contrast. The source material for captions can also be a transcript or can be further processed into other media types by any of the assistive technologies.
Exceptions:
Captions are unnecessary for media that display textual information certified as such, such as those aiding users with cerebral palsy, dyslexia, or learning difficulties.
Audio Description Or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)
For synchronized media in the form of time-based media or audio description of prerecorded video content, the following is an option.
The accessibility of multimedia content, particularly for those with visual impairments, is ensured through the use of audio commentary and scripts. Time-based media, such as audio, video, and animations, provide detailed descriptions of activities, non-textual information, and characters, while scripts provide all visible or heard information.
Exceptions:
If media is presented as an option to text and it is specifically stated as an audio description, it does not have to be included.
Captions (Live)
Captions are used for live audio content in synchronized media to provide visual aids for users with vision impairments. Narration is timed to content, including actions, characters, scene shifts, and screen text, often using a secondary or extra soundtrack.
Note: This requirement links with requirement 1. 2. 3: Audio description or Media alternative which may be in the form of Audio recorded before the event . While compliance with 1. 2. 3 requires that services and information be made available with either an audio description or a text alternative; fulfillment of requirement 1. 2. 5 specifically requires an audio description.
Exceptions
In situations where audio captures all visual information or video doesn’t contain crucial information, such as a ‘talking head’ scene with an unchanging back drop, no audio description is needed.
Info And Relationships
Attributes of presentation, such as information, structure, and relations, need to be either programmatically determined or presented in the text.
Other Information With Your Consent
We obtain further data, if you have agreed to provide such data at the time of data collection, for the intended uses explained to you at that time.
This requirement makes sure that Assistive Technologies (AT) can identify and understand information and its layout and connections that are visually presented. Such accessibility enables the screen reader and magnifier to vocalize or describe screen formats depending on the users’ preferences. Other graphical elements like heading, captions or labels, forms and tables with headings, images normally with captions, lists, stress (as bold or italics), links and paragraphs should be marked by means of programmatic attributes typical for a given platform. Where graphics have not been provided with programmable identification, other textual forms such as double asterisks (**), must be offered. This requirement goes beyond the signals perceived by the sight to include audio signals that require markup, or textual labeling for clarification.
Meaningful Sequence
When the sequence of presentation of the contents matters in a document an audible and programmatically distinguishable next content order is mandatory.
This requirement make sure that the order of the content, for instance in the two big columns, is semantically and logically a sensible sequence for a screen reader. Screen reader users require one item at a time to be presented as this is how they derive meaning from it. For instance, if content in a two-column format Reader log: & in order to read this a column by column understanding is necessary, then the reading sequence has to be the same. Lack of significant sequence may be caused by the CSS styling or layout tables or even by too much blank space used for content placement.
It is possible to have different kind of order such as reading order and navigation order where they may not be the same. While navigation order relate to the tab order or how a user gets from one interactive control to the other using the keyboard, meaningful sequence only relates to the sequence that reflects the correct reading order of a content in as much as it preserves the meaning of the content. Screen readers present the content linearly and therefore, this is a crucial need for testing for accessibility.
Sequence doesn’t matter; for example side navigation vs main content doesn’t affect meaning. So while aligning visual and reading order helps accessibility, non-essential sequence discrepancies don’t fail this guideline.
Sensory Characteristics
Instructions can’t just rely on sensory characteristics like shape or position.
This means instructions are understandable without relying on visual or audio cues. Use visible text labels so content is clear on different devices or reflowed content. This prevents accessibility issues when sensory characteristics change.
Orientation
Content must work in multiple orientations (portrait and landscape).
This means content isn’t limited to one orientation, for users who can’t change device orientation. Exceptions where orientation is fundamental to content functionality, like piano keyboard emulators where other orientations don’t make sense.
