What this criterion requires
Prerecorded video must have audio description of visual information that the soundtrack alone does not convey. At Level AA a transcript is no longer a substitute.
Who it helps
People who are blind or have low vision.
Example: fails vs passes
A product tour whose soundtrack says "as you can see, this makes it much faster".
A version whose narration describes the visuals: "the new import button on the toolbar cuts the process to one step".
At AA, a transcript alone no longer substitutes - the description must be audio.
How to meet and fix it
- Record an audio-described version or an extra description track
- Write narration that speaks all essential visual content so no separate description is needed
Common failures auditors find
- Charts, demos or on-screen text discussed as "as you can see here" with no spoken equivalent
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 1.2.5: Audio Description (Prerecorded) - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 1.2.5 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
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