Making Your YouTube Video Accessible

Creating accessible videos is essential for ensuring all viewers, including those with disabilities, can engage with your content. YouTube offers several free tools to help make your videos more accessible, and we’ll walk you through the basics. We’ve also included some manual steps you might want to consider for the best results, along with a few other free or low-cost options you can use.

Add and Edit Subtitles/Closed Captions

(WCAG 2.1 AA 1.2.2, 1.2.4)

YouTube automatically generates subtitles for your videos, but it’s important to review and edit them for accuracy.

Access Auto-Generated Subtitles:

1. Upload your video to YouTube.

2. Go to YouTube Studio and select the video you want to work on.

3. Click on “Subtitles” in the left-hand menu. YouTube will show you the auto-generated subtitles.

4. Review these subtitles carefully. You may find errors, especially with names, technical terms, or any unusual pronunciation.

Manually Edit Subtitles:

1. In the Subtitles section, click “Duplicate and Edit.”

5. Go through the text line by line, making corrections as needed.

6. Once you’re happy with the subtitles, click “Publish.”

Use Descriptive Titles and Descriptions

(WCAG 2.1 AA 2.4.2, WCAG 2.1 AA 2.4.6)

Titles and descriptions help users understand your content, especially those using screen readers.

• Optimize Your Title: Keep your title clear and concise. Make sure it reflects the content accurately.

• Write a Detailed Description: In the “Description” section of your video, provide a summary of the content. Include key points, themes, and any important context. This helps viewers who might have difficulty following the video but can read the description to get the gist.

Add an Audio Description (Optional but Recommended)

(WCAG 1.2.3, 1.2.5, and 1.2.7)

Audio descriptions narrate visual elements for the blind or visually impaired. While YouTube doesn’t automatically add these, you can include them manually.

How to Add an Audio Description:

1. Record an additional audio track describing the key visual elements of your video.

7. Use video editing software (like iMovie or Windows Video Editor, both of which are free) to combine this audio track with your original video.

8. Upload the new video with the integrated audio description to YouTube.

Provide a Transcript

Transcripts offer a written version of the video content and are useful for both accessibility and SEO.

Create and Upload a Transcript:

1. Write a full transcript of your video, including all spoken content and relevant sounds.

9. In YouTube Studio, go to the “Subtitles” section and click “Add” under “Subtitles.”

10. Select “Upload File” and choose your transcript file.

Use Other Free or Low-Cost Tools

If you need additional accessibility options, here are a few tools that might help:

• Amara.org: Offers a platform to add subtitles to videos from YouTube or Vimeo. It’s easy to use and allows for collaboration if you have a team. https://amara.org/en/

• Kapwing: A free online video editor that can be used to add subtitles, trim videos, and even add simple audio descriptions. https://www.kapwing.com/

• Aegisub: A free, open-source tool for creating and editing subtitles. It offers more advanced features if you need greater control over your captions. https://aegisub.org/

Final Thoughts

Ensuring your videos are accessible is a great way to reach a wider audience and make sure everyone can enjoy your content. By following these steps, you can take advantage of YouTube’s free tools and a few additional resources to provide the best experience for all your viewers.

If you find any additional insights or tools, or if you find something that could be improved or added to these guidelines, please let us know

Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance or have any questions!

References and Resources:

• WCC: Making Audio and Video Media Accessible: https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/

• YouTube Help: Add Subtitles and Captions: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2734796?hl=en

• Amara: Subtitle Your Video: https://amara.org/en/

• Kapwing: Video Editor: https://www.kapwing.com/

References on ADA WCAG compliance

1. W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI): Introduction to Web Accessibility. Overview of WCAG and its ethical and legal importance.

2. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): Justice Department Issues Web Accessibility Guidance Under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Describes the legal obligations for digital accessibility for government and private sector websites and digital materials.

3. WebAIM: Introduction to Web Accessibility.

4. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C): Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Overview. Detailed overview of WCAG standards.

5. ADA.gov: Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA. Official U.S. government resource on how the ADA applies to websites, with guidance on ensuring compliance.

6. American Bar Association (ABA): Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Website Compliance. Legal insights on the necessity of ADA compliance for websites.

7. U.S. Chamber of Commerce: ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuits: How to Protect Your Business. Experts advise businesses on how to keep their websites legally compliant with ADA accessibility to avoid potential lawsuits from happening down the road.

8. National Federation of the Blind (NFB): Twenty-First Century Mobile Apps and Website Accessibility Act. Websites are required by law to be accessible, but without implementing regulations, most businesses and retailers have little understanding of what accessible means.

9. Jackson Lewis P.C.: Disability Access Litigation and Compliance. The stakes are high, the ability of persons with disabilities, advocacy groups, and the Department of Justice to bring non-compliance lawsuits puts businesses at significant litigation risk.

10. Accessibility.com: Complete Report - 2023 Website Accessibility Lawsuit Recap.

11. UsableNet: ADA Lawsuits Blog.

12. American Bar Association (ABA): Disability Rights Section.

13. Forbes: How ADA Compliance Impacts Design: ADA compliance influences web and digital design, emphasizing that accessible design not only meets legal requirements but also enhances user experience and broadens audience reach.

14. Bloomberg Law: Federal Web Accessibility Focus Has Private Sector on Notice. Overview of recent legal cases and changes in the law related to digital accessibility.