Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
7
↓
Is it possible to make a video with no narration and embedded text 508 compliant and accessible to someone blind on Youtube? (self.Blind)
submitted by SchrodingersNutsack
My work group often makes public safety videos that need to be 508 compliant, but I'm not sure we are doing it correctly. We've been told to add closed captions for the hearing impaired and visual descriptions for the visually impaired. That doesn't make sense to me because a blind person can't read visual descriptions in closed captions and I'm assuming you guys aren't using screen readers to read closed captions to you while videos are playing. I used the accessibility function on my galaxy note this morning just to see if it would even read closed captions and it doesn't. Our main concern is reaching everyone, but it seems like youtube might have some limits. We can't seem to figure out how to get a message to your community on youtube in videos that do not have a narrator. We discussed adding the text and visual descriptions to the description section below so that a screen reader could read it, and we also discussed exporting a second video where we add a narration and visual description audio track. I would genuinely appreciate any advice or perspective from this sub on what is the best way for us to reach your community better on youtube. Thanks :)
vwlsmssng 3 points 3y ago
I'm assuming you are USA based so covered by the FCC. This may help fill in any gaps.
https://www.fcc.gov/audio-description
> Audio description (referred to as video description in the Commission's rules) is audio-narrated descriptions of a television program's key visual elements. These descriptions are inserted into natural pauses in the program's dialogue. Audio description makes television programming more accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
I don't think Youtube allows the addition of an AD track alongside the default audio track, that would be the ideal. You may have to publish a second version of the video with AD mixed in with the audio as the main track.
https://www.fcc.gov/audio-description
> Audio description (referred to as video description in the Commission's rules) is audio-narrated descriptions of a television program's key visual elements. These descriptions are inserted into natural pauses in the program's dialogue. Audio description makes television programming more accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
I don't think Youtube allows the addition of an AD track alongside the default audio track, that would be the ideal. You may have to publish a second version of the video with AD mixed in with the audio as the main track.
SchrodingersNutsack [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Thanks so much! Correct USA based. This is exactly what I was telling my bosses was the problem and also the work around we were thinking of proposing to them. I appreciate your response, I felt like I was taking crazy pills trying to explain this to my bosses.
It's a little surprising and pretty disappointing that Youtube doesn't have better accessibility features.
It's a little surprising and pretty disappointing that Youtube doesn't have better accessibility features.
CloudyBeep 2 points 3y ago
It took YouTube years to allow people to edit the auto-generated closed captions. The W3C (the organization that makes the standards websites have to meet) are in the process of making some standards for adapting video players to support audio description, but this probably won't be useful for YouTube because it uses a custom player.
SchrodingersNutsack [OP] 2 points 3y ago
This is good to know. I'm going to mention this to my coworkers tomorrow. Thanks :)
CloudyBeep 2 points 3y ago
Most government agencies (in the US and internationally) that make videos with audio description publish one version with it and one without it, mentioning the difference in the title.
vwlsmssng 2 points 3y ago
My knowledge of Youtube and AD is really only based on a quick search, but this seems to be the case.
Unless the regulators come down hard, business tends not to do accessibility. Apple seems to be an exception here.
Unless the regulators come down hard, business tends not to do accessibility. Apple seems to be an exception here.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.