1.2.6 Sign Language (Prerecorded)

WCAG 2.2 · 1.2.6 AAA Perceivable

What it requires

Provide a sign language interpretation for all prerecorded audio content in synchronised media (video with a soundtrack). Captions help many Deaf users, but for people whose first language is a signed language, written captions can be a slow second language. A signed track conveys tone, emphasis, and meaning natively. The interpreter is typically shown in a corner inset or a separate signed version of the video.

This applies only to prerecorded synchronised media. Live content and audio-only or video-only media are out of scope here.

  • People who are Deaf or hard of hearing and use a signed language (e.g. ASL, BSL, Israeli Sign Language) as their primary language.
  • Users for whom the written caption language is a less fluent second language, who read captions slowly or miss nuance.
  • Anyone who relies on the prosody and emphasis that signing conveys but plain captions flatten.

How to detect it

Concrete checks for Sign Language (Prerecorded)
Check How Catches it?
Inventory prerecorded video List every video that has a soundtrack carrying meaning. Manual
Signed track present Confirm a visible interpreter inset or a linked signed version exists for each. Manual
Correct sign language Verify the signing matches the audience's language and covers the full audio. Manual / native signer
Discoverable & usable Signed version is reachable by keyboard and announced to screen readers. Keyboard / SR
Automated tools axe and similar scanners cannot judge signing presence or quality. No — manual only

How to fix it

  1. Commission a qualified interpreter in the audience's sign language to interpret the full soundtrack.
  2. Either composite the interpreter as a clear inset in the video, or publish a separate signed version and link to it prominently.
  3. Ensure the signed alternative is keyboard-reachable and clearly labelled so assistive-technology users can find it.
  4. Keep the signed track in sync with the audio and provide adequate size and contrast for the signer.

Linking a separate signed version with a descriptive, accessible label:

<figure>
  <video controls src="talk.mp4"></video>
  <figcaption>
    <a href="talk-asl.mp4">Watch this talk with American Sign Language interpretation</a>
  </figcaption>
</figure>

Copy-paste tests

Automated coverage

There is no fully automated axe-core rule for 1.2.6. The presence and accuracy of a sign-language interpretation track cannot be detected programmatically, so this criterion needs manual review using the console check and steps below.

Run this in the browser console

console — find prerecorded video/audio 
// Read-only: list prerecorded media that may need a sign-language track
const media = [...document.querySelectorAll('video, audio, iframe')]
  .filter(el => !el.hasAttribute('autoplay') || el.muted)
  .map(el => ({
    tag: el.tagName,
    src: el.currentSrc || el.src || el.querySelector('source')?.src || '(none)',
    node: el
  }));
console.table(media.map(({ node, ...row }) => row));
media.forEach(({ node }) => node.style.outline = '3px solid magenta');

What to check manually: for each prerecorded video with audio, confirm a human sign-language interpretation is actually provided (an inset signer or linked signed version), and that the signing matches the spoken content — captions or transcripts alone do not satisfy 1.2.6.