Question 1

Are captions required by law for online videos?

Accepted Answer

In the United States, ADA Section 508 requires federal agencies to caption all videos. WCAG 2.1 Level AA (the standard referenced by most accessibility legislation) requires captions for all pre-recorded video with audio. The EU Web Accessibility Directive has similar requirements. Private companies serving the public are increasingly required to comply under ADA Title III.

Question 2

What is WCAG 2.1 Level AA for video?

Accepted Answer

WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.2 (Captions, Prerecorded) requires synchronized captions for all pre-recorded video content. Success Criterion 1.2.3 (Audio Description or Media Alternative) requires either audio description or a full text transcript. VideoText produces both — a synchronized SRT/VTT caption file and a full text transcript.

Question 3

How accurate do captions need to be for ADA compliance?

Accepted Answer

The FCC requires 99% accuracy for broadcast TV. WCAG does not specify a numeric accuracy threshold but requires captions to be "accurate" and "synchronized." AI-generated captions at 98%+ word accuracy generally meet this standard for most content. Technical and proper-noun-heavy content may need human review.

Question 4

What caption format does YouTube require for accessibility?

Accepted Answer

YouTube accepts SRT, VTT, SCC, TTML, and SBV formats for caption uploads. SRT is the simplest and most widely compatible. Upload via YouTube Studio → Subtitles → Add Language → Upload file.

Question 5

Is VideoText free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Free tier includes 3 imports per month. No credit card required. Paid plans start at $10/month.

Video Accessibility — Captions and Subtitles for ADA & WCAG Compliance

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