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The internet has become a crucial part of our daily lives, and websites need to provide accessible content to everyone, including those with disabilities. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on creating accessible multimedia content for websites to ensure that everyone can access information, regardless of their abilities.

We aim to provide a comprehensive guide that will enable website owners and content creators to create accessible multimedia content that meets the needs of all users, including those with disabilities.

Understanding Accessibility Standards

To create accessible multimedia content, it is important to understand the accessibility standards that govern multimedia content accessibility. The two most used accessibility standards for multimedia content are WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1.

WCAG 2.0

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 is a set of guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to ensure that web content is accessible to people with disabilities. The guidelines are organised into three levels of conformance, from A (minimum) to AAA (maximum). WCAG 2.0 outlines the following key requirements for multimedia content accessibility:
  • Providing alternatives to time-based media: This means providing alternative text or captions for images, videos, and audio content.
  • Captions and audio descriptions: Providing captions and audio descriptions for pre-recorded multimedia content.
  • User control: Providing user control over time-based media, including the ability to pause, stop, and adjust volume.
  • Accessibility for keyboard users: Providing keyboard access to multimedia content controls.
  • Compatible with assistive technology: Ensuring that multimedia content is compatible with assistive technology, such as screen readers and Braille displays.

WCAG 2.1

WCAG 2.1 is an updated version of the WCAG 2.0 guidelines, which includes additional requirements for accessibility. The key changes in WCAG 2.1 include:
  • Improved support for mobile devices and touchscreens
  • Enhanced support for users with low vision or cognitive disabilities
  • Additional requirements for people with disabilities that affect learning and language comprehension.

The key requirements for multimedia content accessibility in WCAG 2.1 are like those in WCAG 2.0 but with additional guidelines for creating accessible content for mobile devices.

Designing Accessible Multimedia Content

Designing accessible multimedia content is essential for ensuring that all users can access and understand the content on your website. Here are some best practices for designing accessible multimedia content:

Use clear and simple language

When creating multimedia content, use clear and simple language that is easy to understand. Avoid using technical jargon, abbreviations, and acronyms that may not be familiar to all users. Use plain language and short sentences to make the content easy to read and comprehend.

Choose accessible colours and fonts

Ensure that the colours and fonts you use in your multimedia content are accessible to everyone, including those with visual impairments. Choose high-contrast colour combinations that make the text easy to read, and use sans-serif fonts that are easy to read at small sizes.

Provide alternative text (alt text) for images

Alt text is a brief description of an image that is read aloud by screen readers and other assistive technologies. Alt text should be descriptive and concise and should convey the essential information or function of the image. Alt text should be included for all images, including charts, graphs, and other visual elements.

Ensure video and audio content is accessible

Video and audio content should be captioned and transcribed to ensure that users who are deaf or hard of hearing can understand the content. Captions should be synchronised with the video and should include descriptions of non-speech sounds such as music or sound effects. Audio descriptions should be provided for video content to ensure that users with visual impairments can understand the content.

Provide accessible controls

Controls for multimedia content should be accessible to all users, including those who use assistive technologies. Ensure that controls are labelled clearly and that they are easy to locate and use. Provide keyboard shortcuts for controls to ensure that they are accessible to keyboard users.

Test for accessibility

Before publishing multimedia content on your website, test it for accessibility using a variety of tools and methods. This will help you identify and fix any accessibility issues before they are encountered by users.

By following these best practices, website owners can create multimedia content that is accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. This will improve the user experience for all users, increase engagement, and help to create a more inclusive online community.

Making Images Accessible

Images are an essential component of multimedia content, but they can also present barriers for users with visual impairments. To make images accessible, it is important to provide alternative text (alt text) that describes the content and function of the image. Here are some best practices for making images accessible:

Describe the content and function of the image

Alt text should describe the content and function of the image and should be brief and concise. The alt text should provide a clear and accurate description of the image, including any important details or context. For example, an image of a person playing a guitar could have an alt text that says “a person playing a guitar on a stage”.

Keep it concise

Alt text should be kept concise, generally no longer than 125 characters. This ensures that the alt text can be read quickly by screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Avoid using non-descriptive text

Avoid using non-descriptive text such as “image”, “picture”, or “photo” as alt text. Instead, use descriptive text that accurately describes the image.

Use keywords

Include keywords in the alt text that describe the main topic or subject matter of the image. This can help search engines to better understand and index the image content.

Use empty alt text for decorative images

If an image is purely decorative and does not provide any useful information or context, use empty alt text (alt=””) to indicate that the image does not require a description.

Test the alt text

Before publishing images on your website, test the alt text to ensure that it is accurate and appropriate. This will help to ensure that all users can understand and interact with the images on your website.


By making images accessible through the use of descriptive and concise alt text, website owners can ensure that all users can understand and engage with the multimedia content on their website. This will improve the user experience for all users, increase engagement, and help to create a more inclusive online community.

Making Audio and Video Accessible

Audio and video content can be valuable addition to multimedia content, but they can present challenges for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. To make audio and video content accessible, it is important to provide captions and transcripts that accurately describe the content. Here are some best practices for making audio and video content accessible:

Provide captions

Captions are a text version of the audio content that is synchronised with the video. Captions should include all dialogue, as well as any important non-speech sounds such as music or sound effects. Captions should also indicate who is speaking and should be properly timed to ensure that they are synchronised with the audio.

Provide transcripts

Transcripts are written versions of the audio content that can be read independently of the video. Transcripts should include all dialogue, as well as any important non-speech sounds such as music or sound effects. Transcripts should also indicate who is speaking and should be formatted in a way that makes them easy to read and understand.

Use accurate and descriptive language

Captions and transcripts should use accurate and descriptive language that conveys the essential information and meaning of the audio content. This includes describing the tone, emotion, and context of the audio content, as well as any important details or information.

Use accessible media players

Ensure that the media player used to play audio and video content is accessible to all users, including those who use assistive technologies. The media player should provide clear and accessible controls for volume, playback, and other features.

Test for accessibility

Before publishing audio and video content on your website, test it for accessibility using a variety of tools and methods. This will help you identify and fix any accessibility issues before they are encountered by users.

Creating Accessible PDFs

PDFs are a popular format for distributing documents and other content online. However, they can present accessibility barriers for users who rely on assistive technologies. To ensure that PDFs are accessible to all users, it is important to follow best practices for creating accessible PDFs. Here are some tips for creating accessible PDFs:

Use accessible document structure

PDFs should be structured in a way that makes them easy to navigate and read by assistive technologies. This includes using headings, subheadings, and other elements to create a logical and hierarchical structure for the document.

Use descriptive file names

PDFs should have descriptive file names that accurately reflect the content of the document. This makes it easier for users to find and understand the content of the document.

Use descriptive text for links

Links in PDFs should use descriptive text that accurately describes the destination of the link. Avoid using non-descriptive text such as “click here” or “read more”.

Use alt text for images

As with other types of multimedia content, images in PDFs should have alt text that describes the content and function of the image. This helps users with visual impairments to understand the content of the document.

Use accessible fonts and colours

PDFs should use fonts and colours that are accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments. Avoid using small fonts, low-contrast colours, or decorative fonts that can be difficult to read.

Use accessible tables and forms

Tables and forms in PDFs should be designed in a way that makes them easy to navigate and use by assistive technologies. This includes using table headers and properly labelling form fields.

Test for accessibility

Before publishing a PDF, test it for accessibility using a variety of tools and methods. This will help you identify and fix any accessibility issues before they are encountered by users.

By following these best practices for creating accessible PDFs, website owners can ensure that all users can access and understand the content of the document. This will improve the user experience for all users, increase engagement, and help to create a more inclusive online community.

Testing for Accessibility

Testing for accessibility is an essential step in ensuring that your website’s multimedia content is accessible to all users. Testing helps you identify any accessibility barriers that may be present and provides an opportunity to fix them before they are encountered by users. Here are some tips for testing your website’s accessibility:

Use automated testing tools

Automated testing tools can help you quickly identify accessibility issues on your website. There are many free and paid tools available that can scan your website for accessibility issues and provide detailed reports.

Use manual testing methods

Manual testing methods can help you identify accessibility issues that automated tools may miss. This includes testing your website with assistive technologies such as screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.

Conduct user testing

User testing involves recruiting users with disabilities to test your website’s accessibility. This can provide valuable feedback on the user experience for users with different disabilities and help you identify any accessibility barriers that may be present.

Follow accessibility guidelines

Ensure that your website’s multimedia content meets accessibility guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG provides detailed guidelines for creating accessible multimedia content, including images, audio, video, and PDFs.

Use accessibility checklists

Accessibility checklists can help ensure that your website’s multimedia content meets accessibility guidelines and best practices. There are many free and paid checklists available online that can be used to guide your testing process.

Make Your Website Accessible Today

At JezNorthWeb, we believe that accessibility is a fundamental aspect of web design. Every website should be accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. We are committed to helping our clients create accessible multimedia content for their websites. If you’re looking to make your website more accessible, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our web design services and how we can help you make your website more inclusive and accessible for all users. Let’s work together to create a more accessible and inclusive web for everyone.

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