What Is A Transcript?
A transcript is, within the field of ADA web accessibility, defined as the following: a text version of the speech and non-speech audio information needed to understand the content.
Outside of that definition, there is one other type of transcript: a descriptive transcript. A descriptive transcript is nearly identical to a regular transcript, but it includes text descriptions of the visuals within a particular video.
Just as an example, if you have made a podcast and are sharing that podcast on your website, then you can include a transcript that clarifies what was said within that podcast.
Yet another example is that if you made a video with two people talking in different types of scenery, then you can include a transcript that clarifies what was said in the video and describes the scenery seen within the video.
Regarding the above, the “you can” part is a misnomer: you must include transcripts if you have video and/or audio content on your website if your website is to be considered ADA accessible.
Why Do You Need To Include A Transcript?
Every website must be ADA-accessible. And, in order for a website to be ADA accessible, it must satisfy these four web accessibility guidelines:
Your website must be perceivable.
Your website must be operable.
Your website must be understandable
Your website must be robust.
In order for your website to meet these guidelines, you must include transcripts, among other features, of course.
How Can You Develop A Transcript?
To develop a transcript, you must obtain the audio from the video/audio file that you wish to transcribe. And, then, you must write out – or use a tool – all of the audio within that particular file.
Right after you write out the audio, you must format it. Some of the different ways you can do this are as follows:
Clarify who is speaking at every point within the file.
Rely on headings, subheadings, and readable fonts.
Develop time stamps that you can browse through.
Every single one of the above will allow you to format proper transcripts that can be accessed and read through with ease by those who are disabled.
If you wish to develop a descriptive transcript, then the process is similar yet slightly different.
You must, first and foremost, write out the audio within the file. Right after that, you must format it correctly. But, as you are formatting this transcript, you must outline the visual scenes within the video.
