Audio-Only and Video-Only Accessibility

Creating accessible content ensures that all audiences can understand and engage with your media, even when audio or visuals stand alone.

This guide explains how to handle audio-only and video-only content, along with the tools available to help you meet accessibility standards.

What Is Audio-Only Content?

Audio-only content includes sound without any accompanying dialogue or spoken words.

Example:

  • A band playing music with no lyrics or narration

To make this accessible, include descriptive captions that convey the meaning of the audio.

Example caption:

{band playing music}

This helps users understand what’s happening, even if they can’t hear the audio.

What is Video-Only Content?

Video-only content includes visuals without any audio or spoken words.

Example:

  • A slideshow of students smiling

To make this accessible, include captions that describe the visual content.

Example caption:

{students smiling}

This ensures users who cannot see the video still receive the intended message.

How to Add Accessibility Support

You have several options to ensure your content is accessible:

1. Edit Closed Captions Directly

Use the Edit Closed Captions feature to:

  • Add descriptions for audio-only content

  • Add descriptions for video-only content

  • Modify existing captions for clarity and accuracy

2. Use Human-Created Captions

Use human-created captions in ThankView to:

  • Capture audio accurately

  • Generate high-quality captions for your content

3. Upload Your Own Captions

If you prefer another service, you can:

  • Create captions using a third-party provider

  • Upload your own caption files into the platform

Visit our closed captions help article for more information.

Accessibility Coverage and Limitations

Supported in Most Cases

  • ThankView typically provides an alternative format that presents equivalent information for:

    • Prerecorded audio-only media

    • Video-only media

  • Captions are generally available for:

    • Prerecorded synchronized media (videos with audio)

Known Exceptions

There are some cases where accessibility support may not be present:

  • Video-only content may not include:

    • A transcript

    • An audio description

    • A non-animated text alternative

  • Videos with audio may not always include captions

Best Practices

  • Always add descriptive captions for non-verbal content

  • Use clear, concise language inside brackets {}

  • Review captions for accuracy before publishing

  • Provide alternative formats whenever possible

By following these guidelines, you can ensure your content is inclusive and accessible to a wider audience.

If you have additional questions, please reach out to your Customer Success Representative or support@thankview.com.

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