Have You Ever Watched a Video on Mute?
Ever tried watching a video in a noisy coffee shop without sound? You probably turned on captions. Now imagine if captions weren’t an option—how much would you miss? For millions of students, accessibility features like captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions aren’t just convenient; they’re essential for learning.
In today’s digital learning environments, video and multimedia content are crucial tools for engagement and instruction. But when they’re not accessible, they create unnecessary barriers that exclude students. In this post, we’ll explore why accessible videos matter, how to create them easily, and how Canvas Studio can support educators in delivering accessible content effortlessly.
Why Video Accessibility Matters
Accessibility in multimedia isn’t just about compliance with ADA, Section 508, and WCAG—it’s about creating an inclusive learning experience for all students. Research has shown that accessibility features benefit a much wider audience than just those with disabilities.
- Captions help more than just deaf and hard-of-hearing students, they improve focus and retention. A study by Oregon State University and 3Play Media found that 98.6% of students found captions helpful, while 76% used them as a learning aid, regardless of whether they had a disability.
- Transcripts support comprehension and reinforce learning by allowing students to skim, search, and review key concepts quickly. They make studying more efficient and are especially useful for ESL learners and those with learning disabilities.
- Audio descriptions aid understanding- For students who are blind, visually impaired, or learning in an audio-heavy format, descriptions turn visuals into words, ensuring no one misses important details.
If your multimedia content lacks these essential accessibility features, it could be excluding students from fully participating in their education.
How to Make Your Videos Accessible
Use Captions (And Ensure They’re Accurate!)
Captions provide text-based dialogue and other relevant audio cues (like sound effects or speaker identification) that help users fully understand the content.
How to Create Captions Easily:
Auto-generated captions are a great starting point, but they often contain errors that can confuse students. To ensure accuracy, follow these best practices:
- Manually Review and Edit Captions – Always check auto-generated captions for common mistakes, such as misinterpreted words, homophones (e.g., their vs. there), and missing punctuation.
- Use High-Quality Audio – Background noise, low microphone quality, and multiple speakers talking at once can reduce caption accuracy. Use clear audio recordings to improve automated results.
- Speak Clearly and Avoid Jargon – Automated captioning tools struggle with fast speech, heavy accents, or industry-specific terms. If jargon is necessary, add key terms to the captioning tool’s dictionary (available in some advanced platforms like Rev or 3Play Media).
- Enable Community Editing (if applicable) – Some platforms, like YouTube, allow trusted users to contribute caption edits for better accuracy.
By implementing these steps, educators can ensure captions are both accurate and effective, making videos accessible to all students.
Example of bad automatic captions
Even small captioning errors can have serious consequences. In this example, inaccurate auto-captions turn a safe cooking instruction into a potential fire hazard—highlighting why manual review is critical for accessibility and accuracy.
Spoken audio:
"Broil on high for 4 to 5 minutes. You should not preheat the oven."
Automatic caption:
"Broil on high for 45 minutes. You should know to preheat the oven."
Credit: W3C
Provide Transcripts for All Audio & Video Content
Transcripts allow students to read through content, search for keywords, and review information at their own pace.
How to Generate Transcripts:
- Many video platforms (including Canvas Studio) automatically generate transcripts when captions are created.
- If your tool doesn’t provide them, you can use services like Happy Scribe or Rev to generate accurate transcripts.
- Make sure transcripts include both spoken content and relevant sound descriptions (e.g., “[Background music playing]”).
- Use Speaker Labels to help students identify different voices in discussions or interviews.
Add Audio Descriptions for Visual Content
Audio descriptions explain the visual elements of a video for students who are blind or visually impaired. These are especially crucial for videos that rely on diagrams, on-screen text, or visual storytelling.
- If you’re creating content from scratch, verbally describe visual elements as part of the main narration.
- If you are writing or annotating on your screen (think solving a math problem) make sure to verbally explain what you are doing as you work.
Canvas Studio: Your Built-In Accessibility Tool
If you’re using Canvas Studio, accessibility is built right in!
Here’s how Canvas Studio makes video accessibility easy:
- Auto-captions: Since March 25, 2024, media uploaded to Canvas Studio includes auto-generated captions by default. Once the caption tool has finished processing, you can use the Caption Editor to edit the automatically generated captions. Then, it’s easy to review the captions file and make edits as necessary.
- Interactive transcripts: Once you have edited and published your captions, you can download a transcript to share with learners!
- Embedding captions directly into videos: No need for external tools—everything is managed within Canvas for seamless accessibility.
- User-friendly editing tools: Adjust captions, add descriptions, and ensure videos meet accessibility standards without extra software.
Tip Call Out Box:
Pro Tip: If you’re an instructor, encourage students to enable captions and transcripts while watching videos in Canvas Studio to enhance their learning experience.
Why Students Love Canvas Studio Accessibility Features:
- Searchable Transcripts: Quickly find key moments in a lecture instead of watching an entire video.
- Custom Playback Options: Captions + transcripts allow students to slow down or speed up content without losing comprehension.
- Mobile-Friendly Learning: Many students consume video content on the go—captions and transcripts make this easier and more accessible.
Final Thoughts: Accessibility Benefits Everyone
Creating accessible videos isn’t just about compliance—it’s about empowering all students to succeed. Captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions benefit learners in countless ways, from improving comprehension to making content more flexible and engaging.
By integrating accessibility features into your video content, you’re not just removing barriers—you’re enhancing learning for every student.
Take Action:
- Start reviewing your course videos—do they have captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions?
- Use Canvas Studio’s built-in tools to enhance accessibility in just minutes.
- Spread the word! Encourage faculty to make video accessibility part of their course design.
Let’s make education truly inclusive for everyone.
