{"id":178,"date":"2022-06-21T13:02:04","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T18:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/arc\/?page_id=178"},"modified":"2026-04-16T10:49:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:49:37","slug":"media-accessibility","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/arc\/faculty-staff\/media-accessibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Media Accessibility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Media Accessibility<\/strong> may include captions, audio descriptions, or sign language interpretation for videos, pre-recorded lectures, webinars, or transcripts for podcasts and other audio files. With the increased use of media in course curriculum, instructors are strongly encouraged to review their media for accessibility prior to incorporating it into a course curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also of importance for instructors,<\/strong> the recent implementation of UW System Administrative Policy 655 (SYS 655) has ushered in a different approach to ensuring media is accessible. Messaging from 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Associate Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief Information Officer,\u202falong with SYS 655 and related guidance,\u202fstates that each individual person is responsible for ensuring their course\u202fmaterials are digitally accessible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside Media: Best Practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While most, if not all, media in YouTube<\/strong> will have automated captions, Vimeo <\/strong>and other platforms may have captions embedded into the video, and many professional podcasts and webinars<\/strong> may provide transcripts for the audio, these options still inhibit accessibility for a student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

51ÁÔÆæ’s knowledge-based article, FAQs about Media Accessibility<\/a>, provides information on how human-generated captions excel over automated captions, the difference between captions and a transcript, and when to reach out to classroom support. Below are additional best practices, as well as tips and resources for instructors when checking and making media accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Media for Captions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Automated captions, even with quickly-advancing technology, often fail to provide adequate access to content, especially when the content is complex in information or in language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to incorporating media into course material, check the media for professional captions by looking for the caption icon, the acronyms CC (closed captions), SDH (subtitled for Deaf and Hard of Hearing). Some media with speakers of foreign languages may already be subtitled in English, which is acceptable for accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Transcripts for Accessibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some transcripts are embedded in a sidebar next to a video or only appear as part of a specific streaming app. If a transcript is downloadable, it still may not be accessible for screen readers or text-to-speech apps. Instructors are strongly encouraged to check for full accessibility with transcripts as they consider the media for a course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore University Resources & Streaming Sites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Library Resources <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If initial searches into captions in media prove unsuccessful, the 51ÁÔÆæ Library Website hosts several streaming collections<\/a>, where captioned versions may be available, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n