Captions And Transcripts

Accessible content requires captions and transcripts

Accessible digital content must provide equivalent access to audio information for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who cannot effectively process audio. This includes all audio-only content (such as podcasts) and any video content that has an audio component.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, California Government Code 11135, CSU policy, and the ADA Title II web and mobile accessibility rule, public universities must ensure that web content and media conform to accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.1 Level AA. For time-based media, this means:

  • Captions for videos with audio, and
  • Transcripts for audio-only content and, when appropriate, for video.

When captions are required

  • All pre-recorded instructional videos used in courses.
  • Videos posted on public-facing web pages (for example, news, marketing, or informational videos).
  • Videos used in online, hybrid, and HyFlex courses.
  • Any video where a student, employee, or member of the public has an approved accommodation that requires captioning.

When transcripts are required

  • All audio-only content (for example, podcasts, audio lectures, and recorded interviews) must provide a full-text transcript.
  • For video content, transcripts can supplement captions by providing a complete script that is easy to read, search, and reference.
  • Transcripts should include spoken dialogue and important non-speech information (for example, sound effects that are important to understanding the content).

Best practices

Synchronized captions

  • All videos that have audio components should have accurate, synchronized captions.
  • Captions should match the spoken words in the dialogue, identify speakers when needed, and include meaningful sound effects.
  • Ideally, users can turn captions on or off based on their needs and preferences.
  • Standards for high-quality captioning can be found on the .

Full-text transcripts

  • All audio-only content should provide a full-text transcript that users can read, print, or use with assistive technology.
  • Transcripts are usually provided on a separate web page or as a downloadable file (for example, a tagged PDF or accessible Word document).
  • For videos, transcripts can be combined with captions to support different learning preferences and study strategies.

Checking for correct usage

  • View each video with captions turned on and off to confirm that they appear when enabled and are absent when disabled, as expected.
  • Verify that captions are complete, accurate, and synchronized properly with the video.
  • Play audio-only content while reading the transcript to confirm that the transcript is complete and understandable.
  • View video content with the audio muted to confirm that the information is still available and understandable through captions and on-screen text.

Campus support for captioning and transcripts

  • Captioning at AVÀÇ – campus policies, prioritization guidance, and information on when and how to request captioning support.
  • Media and Technology Services – media support services for faculty, including captioning and transcript services, media conversion, and recording support.
  • Accessibility Services – student accommodations, including alternate media and assistance with captioning and transcripts when required as part of an approved accommodation.

Related WCAG 2.1 criteria

  • 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A): Provide an alternative for time-based media.
  • 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) (Level A): Provide captions for prerecorded audio content in synchronized media.
  • 1.2.4 Captions (Live) (Level AA): Provide captions for live audio content in synchronized media when required.
  • 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA): Provide audio description for prerecorded video content where needed to make visual information accessible.

Accessibility of this content

We aim for this page and the resources it links to to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA and the requirements of the ADA Title II web and mobile accessibility rule.

If you encounter video or audio content at AVÀÇ that is not properly captioned or transcribed, please contact Accessibility Services or complete the .

Last updated: December 2025