1.2.2: Subtitles and captions for recorded media
All non-text content must be described in a way that people with sight or hearing impairments, or other difficulties, can perceive and understand. Such content may consist of video, audio, animations, etc.
This requirement applies to material published from 23 September 2020 onwards.
Live broadcasts are exempted from the requirement, but if a live broadcast is published and remains available for more than 14 days it must have subtitles/captions.
Recommendations
- Offer closed captions for digital video. This allows users themselves to choose whether or not subtitles and captions are displayed.
- Inform users that subtitles/captions are available.
- Describe all sounds that are essential to understand what is happening in the film.
- It’s a good idea to offer a separate text version (a document containing all the subtitles and captions for the recording).
- If subtitles/captions appear in the film clip, make sure the text doesn’t obscure other important information.
- It’s helpful for lipreading if the speaker is visible.
- Avoid background sounds, e.g. music, when someone is speaking.