More Web Accessibility Network

WCAG 2.0 and Transcripts

The word "transcript" doesn't appear in WCAG 2.0 because it is strictly interpreted as being only the verbatim text version of that which is spoken. For optimal web accessibility for users with auditory disabilities, information in addition to the spoken content (such as indications of laughter or explosions, or the presentation of visual-only content) are necessary. WCAG uses the term "alternative for time-based media" to describe this descriptive transcript. WCAG 2.0 Success Criterion 1.2.3 (Level A) requires synchronized captions and either audio descriptions or an "alternative for time-based media" (i.e., descriptive transcript).

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Auto-playing Audio

Audio, such as background music, that automatically plays when a user comes to a web page can be very distracting and will interfere with screen reader audio. WCAG 2.0 Level A requires that "a mechanism is provided to stop, pause, mute, or adjust volume for audio that automatically plays on a page for more than 3 seconds". It is usually better to not automatically play audio, but allow the user to manually play the audio if they choose.

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Pop-up Windows

Pop-up windows (new windows that are triggered automatically or when a user activates a link) can cause confusion and disorientation for all users. While screen readers typically indicate that a new window has opened, managing multiple windows can be complicated, especially for blind users. Because of the various difficulties with pop-up windows, they should generally be avoided. If pop-up windows are triggered via a link, the user should typically be informed within the link text that the link opens a new window.

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Layout Tables

Tables in HTML are intended for tabular data. Although using tables for page layout is not considered best practice, this typically has minimal impact on accessibility, as long as two primary guidelines are kept in mind. First, do not use any markup that is typically used to identify data tables. This includes table headers

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