This document provides information about the related Acquia Web Governance accessibility check:
Does audio element have text alternative?
What
Audio elements must have a text alternative available.
Why
Audio-only content is inaccessible to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have difficulty understanding audio for any reason. Provide a text version to ensure that they can still access the information.
Who
This check affects individuals with
Hearing difficulties: Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing benefit from websites that provide them with a text version of the audio content.
User story
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.
"I came across this podcast that was all about traditional Chinese ceramics. Right up my alley, right? I was excited to learn more about techniques and stories behind the art, but it was only in audio. No transcript, no captions, just sound. It's so frustrating because I know there’s valuable knowledge in there that I just cannot access. As a deaf artist, I am constantly reminded of how much of the world is designed for hearing people, and it is not just about missing out on music or conversation—it is about missing professional opportunities, creative inspiration, and growth. I wish more content creators understood how much difference a transcript could make."
Examples
Example audio without a text alternative
On a podcast site focused on traditional Chinese ceramics, there is a podcast player where users can listen to the audio content. Unfortunately, there is no text alternative to the audio podcast, which makes it inaccessible for deaf individuals who are unable to benefit from the information shared.
Example audio with a text alternative
On a podcast site focused on traditional Chinese ceramics, there is a podcast player where users can listen to the audio content. The player includes a button which allows users to download a transcript of the podcast. This ensures that the content is also accessible to deaf individuals.
How
This section provides instructions on how to identify and review the issue.
How to identify it
The Acquia Web Governance platform highlights non-streaming audio elements in the code.
How to review it
Review the audio clip to ensure that there is a text alternative to the audio. Ask yourself the following two questions:
Is there an option to download a transcript of the audio?
Is the audio simply an alternative to text that already exists on the site?
If you can answer yes to either of the two questions above, you can mark this check as reviewed. For further instructions, visit How to review an accessibility issue.
If you could not answer yes to the above, you must add a text transcript to your audio content before you can mark this issue as reviewed.
This document provides information about the related Acquia Web Governance accessibility check:
Does audio element have text alternative?
What
Audio elements must have a text alternative available.
Why
Audio-only content is inaccessible to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have difficulty understanding audio for any reason. Provide a text version to ensure that they can still access the information.
Who
This check affects individuals with
Hearing difficulties: Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing benefit from websites that provide them with a text version of the audio content.
User story
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.
"I came across this podcast that was all about traditional Chinese ceramics. Right up my alley, right? I was excited to learn more about techniques and stories behind the art, but it was only in audio. No transcript, no captions, just sound. It's so frustrating because I know there’s valuable knowledge in there that I just cannot access. As a deaf artist, I am constantly reminded of how much of the world is designed for hearing people, and it is not just about missing out on music or conversation—it is about missing professional opportunities, creative inspiration, and growth. I wish more content creators understood how much difference a transcript could make."
Examples
Example audio without a text alternative
On a podcast site focused on traditional Chinese ceramics, there is a podcast player where users can listen to the audio content. Unfortunately, there is no text alternative to the audio podcast, which makes it inaccessible for deaf individuals who are unable to benefit from the information shared.
Example audio with a text alternative
On a podcast site focused on traditional Chinese ceramics, there is a podcast player where users can listen to the audio content. The player includes a button which allows users to download a transcript of the podcast. This ensures that the content is also accessible to deaf individuals.
How
This section provides instructions on how to identify and review the issue.
How to identify it
The Acquia Web Governance platform highlights non-streaming audio elements in the code.
How to review it
Review the audio clip to ensure that there is a text alternative to the audio. Ask yourself the following two questions:
Is there an option to download a transcript of the audio?
Is the audio simply an alternative to text that already exists on the site?
If you can answer yes to either of the two questions above, you can mark this check as reviewed. For further instructions, visit How to review an accessibility issue.
If you could not answer yes to the above, you must add a text transcript to your audio content before you can mark this issue as reviewed.
Web Governance