How to Achieve ADA Compliance for Videos on Your Wix Website
Ensuring that your website is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities, is not just good practice—it’s a legal requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you’re using Wix to build your website, you’ll want to make sure that your video content is ADA-compliant. This means making your videos accessible to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps you need to take to achieve ADA compliance for videos on your Wix website.
Understanding ADA Compliance for Videos
The ADA requires that digital content, including videos, be accessible to people with disabilities. For videos, this typically involves:
Adding closed captions for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Providing transcripts for users who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who use screen readers.
Offering audio descriptions for users who are blind or visually impaired.
Ensuring keyboard accessibility for users who rely on keyboard navigation.
Let’s explore how you can implement these features on your Wix website.
1. Adding Closed Captions to Your Videos
Closed captions are text that appears on screen during a video, providing a visual representation of the spoken words and important sounds, such as music or sound effects. This is essential for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
How to Add Closed Captions in Wix:
Upload Your Video: First, upload your video to Wix using the Video element.
Prepare a .VTT File: Closed captions can be added by uploading a .VTT (Web Video Text Tracks) file. This file should include accurate captions that are synchronized with the video.
Add Captions: In the video settings, navigate to the “Subtitles” tab and upload your .VTT file.
Tools to Create Captions:
2. Providing Transcripts
A transcript is a written version of all the spoken content in a video, including dialogue and important sounds. Transcripts are especially useful for users who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who use screen readers to navigate your site.
How to Add Transcripts in Wix:
Text Box: You can add the transcript directly below your video using a text box on the same page.
Collapsible Section: For a cleaner layout, consider placing the transcript in a collapsible section that users can expand if they wish to read it.
Downloadable Option: Offer the transcript as a downloadable PDF or text file for users who prefer to access it offline.
Creating a Transcript:
Write down all spoken content and important audio cues.
Format it clearly for easy reading.
3. Including Audio Descriptions
Audio descriptions provide a verbal narration of visual elements in a video. This is particularly important for users who are blind or visually impaired, as it helps them understand what is happening on screen.
How to Add Audio Descriptions in Wix:
Inline Descriptions: For simple videos, you can add brief audio descriptions directly in the video during natural pauses in the dialogue.
Separate Audio Track: For more detailed descriptions, consider creating a version of the video with an audio description track and uploading it to Wix. Offer it as an alternative viewing option.
Tools for Creating Audio Descriptions:
Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro: Both tools allow you to add audio description tracks during video editing.
Descriptive Video Exchange: A service that creates professional audio descriptions.
4. Ensuring Keyboard Accessibility
Some users may rely on keyboard navigation rather than a mouse due to physical disabilities. Your video player on Wix must be fully accessible via keyboard controls.
How to Ensure Keyboard Accessibility:
Wix Video Player: Wix’s video player is designed to be keyboard accessible. Users should be able to navigate the player using the Tab key and activate controls like play, pause, and volume with the Enter key.
Test Your Site: Regularly test your site by navigating it using only the keyboard to ensure that all interactive elements, including video controls, are accessible.
5. Using an Accessible Video Player
Wix provides a video player that supports the necessary accessibility features, such as closed captions, transcripts, and keyboard navigation. However, it’s important to ensure that you’re using these features effectively.
Steps to Optimize Your Video Player:
Customization: Customize the video player settings to ensure that all necessary accessibility features are enabled.
Testing: Use tools like screen readers (e.g., JAWS or NVDA) to test your videos and make sure they are fully accessible.
6. Regular Testing and Compliance Reviews
Achieving ADA compliance is not a one-time task. Regularly review your videos and website for accessibility to ensure ongoing compliance with ADA standards.
Tools for Testing Accessibility:
Wix Accessibility Wizard: Use this tool to scan your site for common accessibility issues.
Screen Readers: Test your videos with screen readers to ensure that transcripts and audio descriptions are accessible.
Keyboard Navigation: Manually test your site to ensure that all video controls are accessible via the keyboard.
Prioritize Accessibility on Your Wix Website
Making sure your videos are ADA-compliant on your Wix website is crucial for creating an inclusive and accessible online environment. By adding closed captions, providing transcripts, including audio descriptions, and ensuring keyboard accessibility, you can meet ADA requirements and enhance the user experience for all visitors.
Remember, accessibility is an ongoing commitment. Regularly updating your website’s accessibility features and testing them ensures that your content remains inclusive and compliant with legal standards. By prioritizing accessibility, you demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and make your website welcoming to everyone.
Note:
It is your responsibility as a website owner to ensure that your website complies with your local laws. Any information contained herein is not legal advice and you should not rely upon it as such. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) is a complex regulation and requires multiple actions from website owners. We recommend that you seek legal advice to understand and prepare for possible additional requirements stated in this regulation.
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