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From: Jackson, Christine
Date: Aug 14, 2025 1:32PM
Subject: Video Questions
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Hello,
I have two questions regarding videos that I'm hoping someone may know the answer to.
1. If a URL with important information is shown as text in a video but is not spoken by the presenter, is it acceptable to include the URL in the closed captions and/or audio description? If not, what would be an appropriate alternative?
2. In a prerecorded video, a banner displaying the event name appears at the bottom of the screen. When closed captions are enabled, it overlaps the banner. Does this situation violate any WCAG 2.2 Level AA success criteria?
Thanks,
Christine
From: Dean.Vasile---
Date: Aug 14, 2025 1:50PM
Subject: Re: Video Questions
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Hello Christine,
Here are the answers to your questions about videos, along with the relevant Success Criteria.
1. Unspoken URL in a Video
Yes, including an important URL that's shown on screen but not spoken aloud is acceptable and a good accessibility practice. You should include it in both the closed captions and the audio description. This is supported by Success Criterion 1.2.2 (Captions (Prerecorded)) and Success Criterion 1.2.3 (Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)).
* Closed Captions: Adding the URL to the captions ensures that people who are deaf or hard of hearing have access to the information.
* Audio Description: Putting the URL in the audio description makes the information available to people who are blind or have low vision.
A great alternative, if you can't add it to the captions or audio description, is to provide a text-based transcript of the video that includes the URL.
2. Caption Overlap with a Banner
When closed captions cover up other important on-screen text, like a banner, it's a problem for readability and can violate WCAG standards. This situation would likely fail Success Criterion 1.2.2 (Captions (Prerecorded)) and Success Criterion 1.4.12 (Text Spacing).
* Success Criterion 1.2.2 requires that captions be provided for all prerecorded audio. This means the captions must be presented in a way that doesn't obscure other important visual information.
* Success Criterion 1.4.12 states that text spacing should be adjustable without a loss of content or functionality. If captions are positioned in a way that permanently hides content, it fails to meet this principle.
To fix this, you should adjust the caption placement so it doesn't overlap with any on-screen text. Many video players allow for captions to be positioned at the top or bottom of the screen to avoid these conflicts.
Dean Vasile
IAAP, CPACC
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
617-799-1162
> On Aug 14, 2025, at 3:33 PM, Jackson, Christine via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I have two questions regarding videos that I'm hoping someone may know the answer to.
>
>
> 1. If a URL with important information is shown as text in a video but is not spoken by the presenter, is it acceptable to include the URL in the closed captions and/or audio description? If not, what would be an appropriate alternative?
> 2. In a prerecorded video, a banner displaying the event name appears at the bottom of the screen. When closed captions are enabled, it overlaps the banner. Does this situation violate any WCAG 2.2 Level AA success criteria?
>
>
> Thanks,
> Christine
From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Aug 14, 2025 2:56PM
Subject: Re: Video Questions
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I'd disagree on the second point, mainly because how and where the closed captions are shown depends on the video player and how it chooses to show them. I would not necessarily say it's a hard failure, but would flag it as a concern/general bug (and specifying in which specific situation - browser, OS, any particular customisation settings - the issue occurs)
P
> On 14 Aug 2025, at 21:51, Dean.Vasile--- via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>
> Hello Christine,
> Here are the answers to your questions about videos, along with the relevant Success Criteria.
> 1. Unspoken URL in a Video
> Yes, including an important URL that's shown on screen but not spoken aloud is acceptable and a good accessibility practice. You should include it in both the closed captions and the audio description. This is supported by Success Criterion 1.2.2 (Captions (Prerecorded)) and Success Criterion 1.2.3 (Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)).
> * Closed Captions: Adding the URL to the captions ensures that people who are deaf or hard of hearing have access to the information.
> * Audio Description: Putting the URL in the audio description makes the information available to people who are blind or have low vision.
> A great alternative, if you can't add it to the captions or audio description, is to provide a text-based transcript of the video that includes the URL.
> 2. Caption Overlap with a Banner
> When closed captions cover up other important on-screen text, like a banner, it's a problem for readability and can violate WCAG standards. This situation would likely fail Success Criterion 1.2.2 (Captions (Prerecorded)) and Success Criterion 1.4.12 (Text Spacing).
> * Success Criterion 1.2.2 requires that captions be provided for all prerecorded audio. This means the captions must be presented in a way that doesn't obscure other important visual information.
> * Success Criterion 1.4.12 states that text spacing should be adjustable without a loss of content or functionality. If captions are positioned in a way that permanently hides content, it fails to meet this principle.
> To fix this, you should adjust the caption placement so it doesn't overlap with any on-screen text. Many video players allow for captions to be positioned at the top or bottom of the screen to avoid these conflicts.
>
> Dean Vasile
> IAAP, CPACC
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> 617-799-1162
>
>> On Aug 14, 2025, at 3:33 PM, Jackson, Christine via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have two questions regarding videos that I'm hoping someone may know the answer to.
>>
>>
>> 1. If a URL with important information is shown as text in a video but is not spoken by the presenter, is it acceptable to include the URL in the closed captions and/or audio description? If not, what would be an appropriate alternative?
>> 2. In a prerecorded video, a banner displaying the event name appears at the bottom of the screen. When closed captions are enabled, it overlaps the banner. Does this situation violate any WCAG 2.2 Level AA success criteria?
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Christine
>
From: Mark Magennis
Date: Aug 18, 2025 1:04AM
Subject: Re: Video Questions
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Your first question about the URL is interesting. Captions are intended to display a text alternative to sounds. The URL isn't a sound, it is already text, so why would you put it in the captions? However, within the video the URL is an image of text and WCAG 1.4.5 Images of Text requires that "if the technologies being used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey information rather than images of text". So I think you should include it in the captions, even though it will then be presented twice.
Mark
From: WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > on behalf of Jackson, Christine via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2025 20:32
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Cc: Jackson, Christine < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [WebAIM] Video Questions
Hello,
I have two questions regarding videos that I'm hoping someone may know the answer to.
1. If a URL with important information is shown as text in a video but is not spoken by the presenter, is it acceptable to include the URL in the closed captions and/or audio description? If not, what would be an appropriate alternative?
2. In a prerecorded video, a banner displaying the event name appears at the bottom of the screen. When closed captions are enabled, it overlaps the banner. Does this situation violate any WCAG 2.2 Level AA success criteria?
Thanks,
Christine
From: Jackson, Christine
Date: Aug 19, 2025 8:01AM
Subject: Re: [**External**] -Video Questions
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Thank you all for your responses!
Thanks,
Christine
From: Mark Magennis < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2025 12:05 AM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Cc: Jackson, Christine < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Subject: [**External**] - Re: [EXTERNAL] [WebAIM] Video Questions
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the CalPERS organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Your first question about the URL is interesting. Captions are intended to display a text alternative to sounds. The URL isn't a sound, it is already text, so why would you put it in the captions? However, within the video the URL is an image of text and WCAG 1.4.5 Images of Text requires that "if the technologies being used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey information rather than images of text". So I think you should include it in the captions, even though it will then be presented twice.
Mark
From: WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >> on behalf of Jackson, Christine via WebAIM-Forum < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2025 20:32
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Cc: Jackson, Christine < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [WebAIM] Video Questions
Hello,
I have two questions regarding videos that I'm hoping someone may know the answer to.
1. If a URL with important information is shown as text in a video but is not spoken by the presenter, is it acceptable to include the URL in the closed captions and/or audio description? If not, what would be an appropriate alternative?
2. In a prerecorded video, a banner displaying the event name appears at the bottom of the screen. When closed captions are enabled, it overlaps the banner. Does this situation violate any WCAG 2.2 Level AA success criteria?
Thanks,
Christine