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Accessible Video

Videos can be a powerful way to communicate information, celebrate achievements, and engage families. However, videos that are not accessible can create barriers for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, have cognitive disabilities, or access content in noisy or quiet environments.

All videos published on Thompson School District websites, social media accounts, YouTube channels, and other public-facing platforms should be accessible.

Why Accessible Video Matters

Accessible videos:

  • Ensure all community members can access important information.
  • Support compliance with ADA Title II, Colorado HB21-1110, and WCAG 2.1 AA.
  • Improve usability for all viewers, including multilingual families and mobile users.
  • Increase engagement and discoverability through captions and transcripts.

Quick Checklist

Before publishing a video, confirm that:

  • Captions are available and accurate.
  • Important information is spoken aloud and not only shown visually.
  • On-screen text is readable and has sufficient color contrast.
  • Videos do not contain flashing or strobing content.
  • Titles and descriptions clearly describe the content.
  • Audio is clear and understandable.

Captions

Captions are required for all public-facing videos.

Best Practices

  • Review and correct auto-generated captions before publishing.
  • Ensure names, acronyms, locations, and educational terminology are accurate.
  • Include meaningful sounds when relevant to understanding the content.
  • Maintain proper punctuation and speaker identification when appropriate.

Avoid

  • Publishing videos with unreviewed auto-generated captions.
  • Relying on captions that contain significant spelling or timing errors.

Make Information Available Through Audio

Some viewers cannot see visual content, graphics, charts, or text displayed on screen.

Best Practices

  • Read important information aloud.
  • Introduce speakers by name and role.
  • Describe critical visuals during narration.
  • Explain charts, graphs, or diagrams instead of simply displaying them.

Example

Instead of:

Please see the information on the screen.

Use:

The registration deadline is August 15, and applications can be submitted at tsd.org/apply.

On-Screen Text and Graphics

Best Practices

  • Use large, readable fonts.
  • Maintain strong color contrast between text and backgrounds.
  • Keep text on screen long enough to be read comfortably.
  • Limit the amount of text displayed at one time.

Avoid

  • Small text.
  • Low-contrast color combinations.
  • Important information displayed briefly.

Audio Quality

Best Practices

  • Record in a quiet environment whenever possible.
  • Use an external microphone when available.
  • Reduce background noise.
  • Ensure speakers are clearly understandable.

Flashing and Motion

Rapid flashing content can create accessibility and health concerns.

Best Practices

  • Avoid flashing effects.
  • Minimize rapid transitions and excessive motion.
  • Use animations purposefully.

YouTube Publishing Tips

When uploading videos to YouTube:

  • Add accurate captions.
  • Use descriptive video titles.
  • Write meaningful video descriptions.
  • Include links referenced in the video description.
  • Select an appropriate thumbnail that represents the content.

Social Media Videos

Social media videos should meet the same accessibility standards as videos posted on websites.

Whenever possible:

  • Upload captions directly to the platform.
  • Use platform accessibility features.
  • Avoid embedding critical information only within graphics.