Multimedia (Audio, Video, Live Captioning)

Closed captions are provided.

Closed captions must be 100% accurate, synchronized, and include speaker identification (when applicable), as well as important non-speech sounds (laughter, music cues, door slamming, etc.).

Autogenerated closed captions need to be reviewed and/or edited to ensure 100% accuracy.

For videos created using Kaltura:

1. Either record or upload a video file into Kaltura.
2. Request closed captions using the closed caption feature.
3. Edit closed captions, as needed.

For YouTube videos:

• Video Owners: Use YouTube's captioning tool to caption videos. The auto-generated captions are not accurate enough to meet accessibility guidelines; therefore, captions will need to be reviewed and edited.
• Non-Video Owners: Kaltura users may add a YouTube video to their My Media in order to utilize Kaltura’s closed captioning features.
  

  Note:

  This method does not save a copy of the YouTube video to a user’s My Media. The YouTube video must remain available on YouTube or it will not work within Kaltura.

Audio descriptions are provided for videos where key visual details are not conveyed through existing narration.

Audio descriptions must be accurate and convey all key visual information, such as actions, speaker identification (when applicable), charts/graphs, gestures, scene changes, and on-screen text. Audio descriptions should only describe what is physically observable, without adding personal opinions or interpretations.

Audio Description Exception: If all important visuals are verbally explained in the video’s primary audio, an audio description track is not required.

There are two types of audio descriptions:

• Standard Audio Descriptions (AD): Adds descriptive narration into natural breaks in the dialogue.

• Extended Audio Descriptions (EAD): Adds pauses to the video to provide more detailed descriptions when there are no natural breaks in the dialogue. 

To determine if a video needs an audio description track:

1. Review video narration.
   Play the video without watching the screen. If the narration clearly explains each step, action, and result, a separate descriptive audio track is not required. 
2. Identify missing visual information. 
   If there are visual elements (text, demonstrations, graphics, animations) not mentioned in the narration, these must be described. 
3. Add or revise narration.
   • Revise the existing audio to include descriptions of important visual elements.
   • Example: Instead of “Click here,” say “Click the Assignments link in the course navigation bar.”
4. Create a separate audio description track (if needed).
   • Record a short narration that fits in natural pauses in dialogue or video action.
   • If there are little to no pauses or the material is visually dense, use EAD.
   • Use editing tools such as Kaltura or Camtasia to add and sync the new track.
5. Verify accessibility.
   • Listen to the video without viewing it to ensure all key information is available through audio.
   • Confirm the audio levels between narration and descriptive audio are consistent.

Video files are not set to autoplay and do not loop.

Autoplay is problematic for users using screen readers, as screen readers read the text on the page aloud; having a video file autoplay can cause both the video and screen reader to play at the same time.

For Kaltura videos: Kaltura video files automatically enable user control that does not allow looping or auto-play.

For YouTube videos: Autoplay is viewer controlled and can be turned off by doing either of the following:

• Switch the AUTOPLAY toggle button, located in the upper right corner, to "off" so that it changes from blue to gray.
• Select the gear icon at the bottom of the video player to access the settings, and then toggle the Autoplay setting to "off" so that it changes from white to gray.

Images or other multimedia are not prone to induce seizures.

Animated images that contain flashing or contrasting lights or patterns can lead to seizures for people that suffer from photosensitive epilepsy, which is a very serious and potentially life-threatening condition. In addition, animated images with these characteristics can be generally unpleasant to look at, even for those not prone to seizures.

Do not use blinking or flashing media. Use a different media file or image.

A descriptive text transcript is provided that explains all meaningful visual information.

The descriptive text transcript should include actions, scenes, on-screen text, diagrams, gestures, charts, etc., and should only describe what is visually observable, without adding personal opinions or interpretations.

If the video is time-based, the transcript must be synchronized with the visual content or provided as audio description, if appropriate.

Transcripts should be easy to locate, such as next to the video player or linked directly.

To create a descriptive text transcript: Hand type a transcript that explains all meaningful visual information. 

Real-time captions are provided.

Real-time captions should be provided for all public-facing or instructional live events.

For live events in Webex: Webex offers a user-controlled captioning feature, where users can elect to turn live captioning on or off, as needed.