Embedded Files
Always Caption Your Videos
Always Caption Your Videos
Captioning videos is essential not only to ensure true digital inclusion for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences but also to comply with strict federal mandates such as the Department of Justice's ADA Title II rulings, which enforce WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
Why This Matters:
Why This Matters:
Captions aren’t optional—they’re a legal requirement and a basic act of inclusion.
They support users who are deaf or hard of hearing
They help students and families who prefer or rely on reading
They allow videos to be watched in quiet or loud environments
They improve clarity for ESOL families and students with processing differences
Under Section 508 and WCAG 2.2, all videos must include captions.
SMCPS: The Best Way to Caption Videos: Use YouTube
SMCPS: The Best Way to Caption Videos: Use YouTube
SMCPS staff have free, built-in captioning tools on YouTube through their Google accounts.
YouTube:
Automatically generates captions
Lets you edit for accuracy
Works with Schoology, Google Sites, and Finalsite via embed or link
Avoid Post Flashing, Blinking, or Flickering Content
Avoid Post Flashing, Blinking, or Flickering Content
Avoiding flashing or blinking content is vital in digital accessibility because it prevents life-threatening medical emergencies (like seizures) and makes digital spaces usable for people with cognitive or vestibular disorders.
Do not use content that flashes more than 3 times per second (3 Hz).
This includes:
Strobe effects in videos
Fast-blinking text or graphics
“Glitch” animations
Looping GIFs with flashing elements
Anything between 2 Hz and 55 Hz is considered risky for accessibility.
Why It Matters
Why It Matters
Certain visual effects can:
Trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy
Cause nausea or dizziness
Be visually overwhelming for users with autism or sensory processing disorders
IMPORTANT:
IMPORTANT:
You are legally and ethically accountable for the accessibility of embedded videos on your website. Under modern ADA digital compliance guidelines, if you host or embed a video on your site, it must be accessible to users with disabilities, regardless of who originally created the content. Always preview and verify your content.
Safe Practices
Safe Practices
✔️ Avoid flashing or blinking altogether
✔️ Use fade, slide, or motion easing instead
✔️ Add alt text to any animated GIFs
✔️ Include a pause or stop button for autoplay animations or sliders
If you absolutely must use flashing visuals:
⚠️ Add a clear warning at the beginning
⚠️ Provide a non-animated alternative version
Quick Reminder:
Quick Reminder:
Animations should enhance—not endanger—your message.
If it blinks, flashes, or stutters rapidly, leave it out or replace it with something smoother.
You are legally and ethically accountable for the accessibility of embedded videos on your website.
Reflection
Reflection
Why should videos posted or embedded on a website include captions?
What should you do before embedding a video created by someone else?
What should you do if an animation flashes, blinks, or flickers rapidly?
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