Making Government Video WCAG and ADA Compliant

Introduction

Government websites serve the entire public, including individuals with disabilities. Under ADA Title II, state and local government entities are legally required to ensure their online content is accessible to all users. The U.S. Department of Justice has made it clear that Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 are the key standard for compliance.

When it comes to video content, this means more than just adding captions. Audio description is a required component of accessibility and remains a common compliance gap on many government sites.

ViddyScribe helps government agencies address this challenge quickly, affordably, and at scale, making it much easier to meet both ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 video requirements.

What Does ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 Require for Video?

ADA Title II prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by state and local governments. This requirement extends to digital content, including government websites.

The Department of Justice references WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for accessible web content under Title II enforcement.

For video content, WCAG 2.1 requires:

• Accurate captions for all spoken content and relevant sound cues. For prerecorded content, WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.2 requires that“captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such.”
• Audio description for videos that convey essential visual information not available through audio alone. (See WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.5.)
• Delivery of video via an accessible video player that supports keyboard operation, works with assistive technologies, and allows users to control captions and audio description.
• Sufficient color contrast for text and user interface components associated with the player and video. WCAG 2.1 builds onSuccess Criterion 1.4.3 (contrast of at least 4.5:1 for most text) andSuccess Criterion 1.4.11 (contrast of at least 3:1 for user interface components and meaningful graphics).
• Control of flashing and visual effects in and around video content. Under WCAG 2.1Success Criterion 2.3.1, pages must not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period, or flashes must remain below the general flash and red flash thresholds.

Many government agencies already caption their videos, but audio description is frequently overlooked or deprioritized, putting them at risk of non-compliance.

Common Challenges in Meeting These Standards

Government agencies face unique hurdles when trying to meet ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 video requirements:

• Limited budgets make it difficult to afford traditional manual audio description services.
• High volumes of video content (public meetings, informational videos, training materials) make compliance seem daunting.
• Lack of in-house expertise delays implementation.
• Existing CMS and video platforms vary widely, so solutions must integrate flexibly.
• Manual processes are too slow to keep pace with the constant publication of new video content.

That's where ViddyScribe comes in.

How ViddyScribe Solves These Problems

Fast, Scalable Audio Description

• ViddyScribe uses AI to generate best-in-class audio description for video content, reducing time from weeks to minutes.
• Supports rapid processing of large video libraries, helping agencies close accessibility gaps at scale.
• Superior quality outputs meet functional requirements of ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1.

VTT Export for Compliance

• Outputs VTT files containing audio description text and timing data.
• VTT format is supported by many modern accessible video players and government CMS platforms.
• Helps agencies provide a compliant, flexible way for users to access audio description.

Works With Existing CMS / Video Players

• Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing workflows.
• Agencies can upload VTT files to most major CMS platforms (WordPress, Drupal, etc.) and video players (YouTube, Vimeo, Kaltura, etc.).
• No need to rebuild video delivery systems or adopt proprietary players.

Designed to Meet WCAG 2.1 and ADA Title II

• ViddyScribe was built specifically to help organizations, including government agencies, meet the ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 standards for video.
• Our team monitors evolving legal and technical guidance to ensure outputs remain compliant.
• Simple UI empowers internal staff to take ownership of compliance without needing extensive training or third-party services.

Conclusion

Government agencies have both a responsibility and a legal obligation to make their digital content accessible. Video content is one of the most common points of non-compliance under ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1. For a broader overview of the requirements, see our ADA Title II requirements guide for video content. If you work with production vendors, share our compliance guide for production companies to align on deliverables.

ViddyScribe provides a scalable, affordable solution to help agencies close this gap quickly:

• Generate best-in-class audio description at scale
• Export VTT files ready for your existing platforms
• Comply with ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 video standards
• Save time and budget compared to manual processes
• Plus, get closed captions in 53 languages for a complete accessibility solution

Ready to improve the accessibility of your government video library? Talk to our enterprise team or try ViddyScribe today.

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