How to easily create video according to the new WCAG.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a collection of laws that aim to create increased digital accessibility on the web. In short, all citizens, regardless of disabilities, must be able to access social information and therefore WCAG applies primarily to the public sector such as authorities, municipalities and regions.
Make your video accessible to everyone
Only by using video does DIGG (the authority for digital administration) mean that you increase your accessibility. But for video to be approved as communication according to WCAG, it is required that it is also made extra accessible - for example by being provided with subtitles. Today, it is common for the communication officer to produce video and then it is also they who will make it available.
Create subtitles
According to WCAG, you should be able to offer your target groups subtitled video and audio material. For videos, there must be subtitles and for audio material, such as podcasts, there must be a text version available. This is to make it easier for people with hearing loss or have Swedish as a second language.
But it is common that everyone else also appreciates subtitles, as many people choose to watch without sound so as not to disturb their surroundings.
With Clipsk, you can easily create subtitles for your videos by either typing or speaking the text using Siri in your iPhone. You do not have to think about choosing the right font, color or size of the subtitle as it is preset and prepared by people with a professional background in video production to guarantee the best possible accessibility.
To keep in mind when creating subtitles
According to WCAG, the subtitles do not have to be completely literally (for example, it does not have to reproduce incorrect statements), but it must convey the same information as is said in the video.
The subtitle should also describe other relevant sounds if necessary for the user to understand the content. Examples: "knocking on the door", "[person] laughs" or "dog barks". These can be added in separate subtitles on the screen or included in the subtitle between square brackets, for example "[There is a knock on the door] - Hi, how are you?".
In some tools, such as Clipsk, you can create SRT files so that the viewer can choose to see the subtitle or not.
Make sure the subtitles are synchronized with the audio. According to WCAG, there should be no more than a maximum of 100 milliseconds between when sound is heard and when the corresponding subtitle is visible. With Clipsk, you add the subtitle with very high precision.
Visual interpretation video recordings
According to WCAG, you should also be able to offer all users a visual interpretation of video recordings. This means that you enter a spoken voice that describes important visual information that is not apparent from ordinary sounds.
All relevant visual information must therefore appear with sound - such as dialogue, speaker voice and environmental sound. With Clipsk, you easily create descriptive so-called speakers without having to delete ordinary sounds. You have three audio tracks to use, and therefore have the opportunity to experiment with audio to create inclusive content.
Need help creating videos under WCAG? We are happy to show you how to produce video according to WCAG in Clipsk. Contact us for a demo!