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Cornell University

Web Accessibility Reviews

All Guidelines

13

Multimedia content must supply an audio description, which accurately informs the user of any important visual information not already conveyed through audio.

WGAC 2 criterion 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (AA)
Category Multimedia
ACT Rules

WCAG 2 criterion

1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA)

Tools and requirements

  • Siteimprove helps for discovering video content (QA > Inventory)

Test procedure

All multimedia content must include the following checks.

  • Audio description must be provided where the original audio track does not describe all relevant information presented visually.
  • The audio description must be available as a separate track, or a separate video altogether with the audio description content included.
  • Audio descriptions must include the following information not already described by the default audio track
    • Any text that appears on screen.
    • The visual appearance of the scene.
    • Any visual content that is important for the user to understand what is going on (e.g., "Tom stands up and reaches for his keys").

Note: This overlaps with Guideline 11, for WCAG 2 SC 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded). The reason is that criterion 1.2.3 is required to meet the less stringent Level A compliance. For Level AA compliance, the audio description is not optional anymore and must be included.

AI Prompt