Video

At the University of Kentucky, every member of the Big Blue Family deserves access to the full richness of our video and audio content — regardless of ability, background or learning style.

When sharing videos and podcasts, it is important to ensure that your content is accessible to everyone — including those with disabilities. Not only is it the right thing to do for our community, but it is also in accordance with federal standards that the University of Kentucky is expected to follow on all digital content channels. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:

Captions and Transcripts

• Always include captions for spoken content in videos. Captions should be:
  • Synchronized with the audio
  • Accurate and complete
  • Identify speakers when necessary
• Provide transcripts for all audio and video content. Transcripts should include:
  • Spoken dialogue
  • Relevant sound effects
  • Descriptions of visual content if no audio description is available

Audio Descriptions

• Use audio descriptions to narrate important visual elements for blind or low-vision users.
• Consider creating a separate version of the video with audio descriptions if the original is highly visual.
• Be sure that the alternate version is easy to find.

Visual Accessibility

• Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background.
• Avoid flashing content that could trigger seizures (no more than 3 flashes per second).
• Use UK’s official fonts and avoid overly stylized text.

Accessible Video Players

• Use video players that support:
• Keyboard navigation
• Screen reader compatibility
• Caption toggling
• Playback speed adjustment

*YouTube and Vimeo are considered accessible under these guidelines.

Clear Communication

• Avoid jargon or overly complex language.
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace.

Social Media Videos

• Add open captions directly into the video for platforms that don’t support closed captions.
• Include a link to a transcript in the post or video description.
• Follow UK’s Guidelines for Creating Accessible Social Media Content.

 Legal and Institutional Compliance

• Follow Web Content Accessibility (WCAG) 2.1 guidelines.
• Stay updated with UK’s digital accessibility policies via UK ADA Campus Accessibility.

*For guidelines about other social media channels where video may be shared, visit UK’s Guidelines for Creating Accessible Social Media Content.