What Production Companies Need to Know About ADA Title II

Introduction

As a production company, your clients increasingly expect more than just beautiful visuals. They want video content that is accessible to all audiences. For government agencies, educational institutions, and many corporate clients, that means compliance with ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 standards.

If your production house delivers video that doesn't meet these requirements, you may expose both your client and your own business to legal risk and reputational damage. Conversely, understanding and offering compliance services can be a valuable differentiator that enhances your offerings and drives new business.

Here's what every production company needs to know about ADA Title II, WCAG 2.1, and video compliance, and how tools like ViddyScribe can help scale these services.

ADA Title II, WCAG 2.1, and How They Apply to Video

ADA Title II prohibits discrimination based on disability by state and local governments, including public agencies, K-12 schools, and universities. These organizations are required to make their digital content, including video, accessible.

For the web, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the de facto standard referenced by the U.S. Department of Justice for evaluating compliance under ADA Title II.

For production companies working with government, education, or even corporate clients pursuing voluntary compliance, this means video deliverables must include:

• Accurate captions for all spoken content and relevant sounds. 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 any video where visual information is necessary to understand the content. WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.5 states that“audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in synchronized media”so that essential visual information is available to viewers who cannot see the screen.
• Delivery via an accessible video player or platform 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.

If you're delivering final videos without considering these elements, your clients may face exposure, and your production company may risk losing repeat business.

Captions and Audio Description Requirements

Captions

• Accurate, synchronized captions are required for all pre-recorded video content.
• Auto-captions (e.g. YouTube's auto-generated captions) are not sufficient unless reviewed and corrected for accuracy.

Audio Description

• Audio description is required for videos that contain essential visual information not otherwise conveyed in the audio track.
• This includes on-screen text, diagrams, demonstrations, facial expressions, and scene changes.
• WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.5 specifies this requirement for pre-recorded video content.

Accessible Delivery

• Videos must be provided in a format that allows users to access captions and audio description via an accessible video player or platform.
• Verify that the player supports keyboard operation and assistive technologies (screen readers, etc.).
• Check that text overlays, buttons, and timeline controls meet WCAG contrast expectations and that no content in or around the video flashes more than three times per second or exceeds the general flash and red flash thresholds.

Common Misconceptions in the Production Industry

Many production houses unintentionally deliver non-compliant videos due to common misunderstandings:

• Thinking that captions alone meet all accessibility requirements.
• Believing that government or education clients will "handle accessibility" after delivery.
• Assuming audio description is optional unless explicitly requested.
• Using auto-captions without professional review.
• Ignoring WCAG 2.1 guidelines because the project is "not a website." (If the video is embedded on a website, these standards still apply!)

Understanding these nuances helps position your production company as a trusted, knowledgeable partner, not a source of legal risk for your clients.

Adding Compliance Services With ViddyScribe

Traditionally, adding ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 compliance services meant outsourcing to expensive third-party vendors, which many production companies found impractical.

ViddyScribe changes that:

• Best-in-class audio description generation using AI that delivers superior quality with the simplest user experience.
• Drastically reduces time and cost compared to traditional methods.
• Exports VTT files for audio description, ready for delivery to clients.
• Additional closed caption capabilities in 53 languages, making it a one-stop-shop for compliance.
• Works with any major video player or CMS without platform lock-in.
• Simple enough for your internal post-production team to manage.

By incorporating ViddyScribe into your workflow, your production company can offer:

• Compliance-ready video deliverables
• Value-added services for clients in government, education, and corporate sectors
• Reduced risk of compliance issues after delivery

In short, you'll not only meet growing client demands but also enhance your competitive edge.

Conclusion

For today's production companies, accessibility is no longer a niche service. It's an essential component of professional video production.

Understanding ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 video requirements is key to protecting your clients and growing your business. With ViddyScribe, adding audio description and accessibility services to your offerings is now faster and easier to scale.

Looking to brief clients in specific sectors? Share our guides on making educational videos ADA compliant and government video WCAG checklists to reinforce your expertise.

Ready to level up your production house's compliance capabilities? Request an enterprise quote or review pricing and plan options.

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