1.2.4 Captions (Live)
This document provides information about the related Acquia Optimize checks:
Live video elements containing audio must provide captions that convey the audio information in text format.
Captions are crucial for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as they provide access to information presented through audio in videos. Without captions, these individuals may miss important content. Captions also benefit many others. For example, someone in a noisy café might not be able to hear the video and can rely on captions to follow along. In a quiet library, a person may choose to mute the audio and read the captions instead. Additionally, captions can assist language learners or those who process information better when they read and listen simultaneously.
Mei-Ling is a 41-year-old woman originally from Chengdu, China, now living in Brighton, England. She works as a ceramic artist and runs her own studio. Mei-Ling became deaf as a teenager due to an illness and uses both British Sign Language (BSL) and written communication to interact with her clients and manage her business.
"It is so frustrating when live-streamed events—especially important news broadcasts—do not have captions. I can see when something big is happening, like protests or people in the streets reacting to some national event, but I have no idea what is going on. That makes me really anxious, especially with everything happening in the world lately. If I cannot follow the live news because there are no captions, I am left in the dark. I can see people getting worked up on the screen, but I do not know why. It is scary, and I end up waiting hours, sometimes days, until I can read about it, but by then, the moment is over. It makes me feel disconnected, like I am missing out on understanding the world in real-time, when it matters most."
Example: Live video without captions
A news website covers a breaking story about large-scale protests in central London, where citizens are demonstrating in response to new government policies. The video captures live footage from the scene, with a reporter discussing the reasons for the protests and government responses.
The live-streamed video has no captions, which creates a serious accessibility barrier for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.
Example: Live video with captions
A news website covers a breaking story about large-scale protests in central London, where citizens are demonstrating in response to new government policies. The video captures live footage from the scene, with a reporter discussing the reasons for the protests and government responses.
The live video stream includes captions, which makes the report accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.
Since this check involves live streaming video, it should ideally be performed when a live stream is actually taking place. However, in practice, a more efficient approach is often to verify whether your organization has the necessary procedures and technology in place to manage live captioning during video streams.
The Acquia Optimize platform highlights potentially live-streaming video elements in the code.
Check if the video conveys important information through audio.
Do an assessment on whether the audio track communicates crucial information or not.
Watch the video with the sound muted.
If no important information is missed when the audio is off, captions are not needed.
If you determine that no essential details are lost without the sound, mark the video as reviewed.
Verify if the captions accurately reflect the audio track. If captions are required, review the video to asses if the video provides captions and ensure that they accurately describe the audio in the video. Ensure that the captions:
Appear in sync with the spoken dialogue or sound effects.
If the captions meet these criteria, you can mark the video as reviewed.
If not, resolve the issue. Add or correct the captions before you mark the video as reviewed.
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Tue Jul 29 2025 22:05:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)