Accessible Web Content

Write accurate but concise alt text.

• Alt text should describe the most relevant parts of an image.
   
  • Ask yourself:
     
    • What’s the most valuable things to know about the image?
       
    • What does the image communicate?
       
    • What are the parts you need to describe to get your point across to a reader?
       
• Be concise: describe the image with roughly 20 words.

Use headings to give pages a logical and systemic structure.

• H1 for page titles
   
• H2 for sections
   
• H3 to H5 for subsections

Link text should tell the user where the link will take them.

• Avoid using language like "Click here" for link text.

Use bulleted or numbered lists when describing a series of items.

• This means avoiding tables whenever possible.
   
• Tables are not completely prohibited
   
  • if you have any questions about using tables on a web page, please reach out ASC Web Services.

Keep your paragraphs short.

• Paragraphs should be from 1 to 3 sentences.
   
• Shortened paragraphs make it easier for users to skim the page and easily find the information they're looking for.

Descriptive transcripts are full text versions of all a video's speech and important audio and visual information.

Accessible Transcripts

For a transcript to be accessible, it must:

• Identify all the speakers in a video
   
• Indicate when a speaker changes in a video
   
• Have precise spelling and punctuation
   
• Describe when important contextual events occur
   
  • Example: a description of a crowd clapping would look like "[crowd applauds]".
     

What media requires transcripts?

The only media that require transcripts are:

• Audio-only content (like podcasts)
   
• Videos with important information that isn't spoken AND an audio description is unavailable

Transcripts aren't necessary for videos where all information is conveyed by spoken language, though we encourage providing them if you'd like to.

However, all videos require captions to meet Ohio State's accessibility policy.

Method 1: Accordions

Add an accordion with the transcript text below the media.

Method 2: Embed the Transcript to Page

Attach a text file below the audio file.

• We recommend using file formats such as .txt, .docx, or .rtf for your transcript.
• .txt files have an advantage over other formats because it can open inside a user's browser.

Caption Resources for Accessible Media

Making your media accessible is an essential part of inclusive education. These resources will help you create proper captions for your content:

• YouTube Captioning Guide - A step-by-step guide from Ohio State University on how to create and edit captions for YouTube videos, including best practices for educational content.
   
• Section 508 Captioning Guidelines - Federal guidelines for creating effective captions and transcripts, including caption timing, accuracy standards, and best practices to ensure your media meets accessibility requirements.