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Digital audio and video

Overview

All pre-recorded, informative digital audio content produced or controlled by the University must be published alongside an audio transcript.

All pre-recorded digital video content produced or controlled by the University must be published with captions, a transcript and audio description.

What and why: Transcripts, captions and audio description provide the information in digital audio and video in alternative ways. Providing them means that people with things like hearing, sight, cognitive and motor disabilities have equal access to information.

Guidelines for digital audio and video

  • Digital audio: Learn how to approach providing things like podcasts in an accessible way.
  • Digital video: How to use YouTube videos on your site or provide video in education and remain accessible.

Captions, transcripts and audio description

Learn how to product alternatives for digital audio and video used around the Leeds digital estate.

Commissioning digital audio or video

A supplier would typically be expected to provide the following, as appropriate, in line with this guidance:

  • Captions.
  • A transcript.
  • A separate version of a video that includes audio description if there is important information shown that’s not relayed in the audio as well.

These requirements should be included in the brief or request for proposal (RFP) sent to prospective suppliers. This should also be included in any statement of work, written agreement or similar.

If a third party has supplied a digital audio or video that isn’t accessible but should be, staff should determine whether this requirement was included in any statement of work, written agreement or similar. If it was, staff should request the supplier remediate the deliverables. If it wasn’t, the University owners of the deliverables will be responsible for ensuring their media meets this guidance.

Foreign language

Digital audio or video intended for an English-speaking audience that contains spoken foreign language should use a voiceover to relay what is being communicated. Captions and transcripts should not be relied on for translation. Instead, they should relay the translated audio.

Similarly, audio or video intended for non-English-speaking audiences should provide additional audio content in a manner suitable for the intended audience. For example, a video intended for a Spanish-speaking audience that uses an English-language interview from an academic should provide a Spanish voiceover to communicate the interview information. Captions and transcripts should be provided in a language appropriate for the intended audience.