Videos and Closed Captioning

All videos linked or embedded on an EVMS Website or posted on an approved social media channel must contain a text alternative in the form of closed captions, description or text transcription.

Videos must also be published through a platform that contains accessibility features (e.g. YouTube).

These features give users the ability to tab through the controls of the video player (e.g. play/pause, volume, full screen, etc.) and toggle closed captions on or off while the video is playing or access another text alternative (e.g. a text transcription).

Videos posted on third-party websites (e.g. other higher education institutions) can be hyperlinked on EVMS Websites for convenience and information, in accordance with the EVMS Privacy Policy. EVMS is not responsible for the accessibility compliance of such videos.

Accessibility requirements

Videos with no audio

Live video-only content must provide a short text alternative to describe the purpose of the video.

Pre-recorded video with no audio requires an alternative, either with text describing the video or with audio describing the video.

Videos with audio

Any video that contains audio must be closed captioned.

Any event that is live streamed (e.g. meetings, events, grand rounds) must also have an option available for live captions. 

Zoom and BlueJeans have features to enable live captioning as an option for meeting attendees. Contact Media Services at EVMSIT@evms.edu about using Zoom at EVMS.

Creating closed captions

If you have a video that needs to be captioned, there are a handful of ways to create captions. There are a handful of platforms available at EVMS that can automatically add captions to recorded and live videos.

Live and automatic captions

Auto-captions for recorded videos often result in text that does not accurately match what is said in the video. These captions must be reviewed and edited for accuracy before the video is published online or disseminated via electronic communication.

Live captions are highly recommended to make events and meetings accessible. These captions cannot be exported after the fact -- so any event ot meeting recording will need to be captioned before being uploaded.

Official YouTube channel

Videos be published through the official EVMS YouTube channel can be embedded using T4 content types.

Reach out to Marketing and Communications at news@evms.edu to request a video. If you have a video recording, make sure to include a captioning file (if possible) prior to submitting a video to be uploaded to YouTube. 

Panopto and Blackboard Collaborate

Panopto and Blackboard Collaborate are available for faculty to create live and recorded video materials. These platforms have features for live captions and auto captions.

Contact Instructional Design and Technology at evmsonline@evms.edu to learn more about using these services.

Zoom and BlueJeans

Zoom and BlueJeans have features to enable live captioning as an option for meeting attendees. Contact Media Services at EVMSIT@evms.edu about using these platforms at EVMS.

Third-party services

Services like Rev and 3PlayMedia can caption videos for varying rates and turnaround times.

While this approach is helpful in time-sensitive situations, it can prove costly depending on the video length and the number of videos needing to be captioned.

Scripting

Writing a script – and sticking to it – is one of the easiest ways to generate accurate captions. Going off of a script can make it easier edit auto captions.

3PlayMedia has a comprehensive breakdown of closed caption documents, the different formats and elements of a caption file.

WCAG Success Criteria

• 1.1.1 Non-text content: All non-text content that is presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose. (Level A)
• 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded): For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, the following are true, except when the audio or video is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
  
  • Prerecorded Video-only: Either an alternative for time-based media or an audio track is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded video-only content.
• 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded): Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
• 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded): An alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded video content is provided for synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
• 1.2.4 Captions (Live): Captions are provided for all live audio content in synchronized media. (Level AA)
• 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded): Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media. (Level AA)