Accessibility Standards for Inclusive Webcasting

Accessibility as Professional Standard

Accessibility is not optional for professional webcasting—it is a fundamental requirement that ensures equal access to content for all audience members regardless of ability. IWA accessibility standards establish baseline requirements that exceed legal minimums and represent genuine inclusion in webcasting practices.

These standards align with WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines and reflect input from disability advocacy organizations, accessibility experts, and organizations with established accessibility programs. Compliance with these standards supports legal obligations while demonstrating organizational commitment to inclusive communication.

Captioning Requirements

Live Captioning

Live webcasts must provide real-time captions with accuracy of 98% or higher. Caption latency should not exceed 3 seconds from spoken word to displayed text. Captions must include speaker identification when multiple speakers participate. Caption formatting must ensure readability with appropriate font size, contrast, and positioning.

On-Demand Captioning

Recorded webcasts must include accurate, synchronized captions before publication. Caption accuracy for on-demand content should achieve 99% or higher since time constraints of live captioning do not apply. Captions must be available in standard formats (WebVTT, SRT) for maximum compatibility.

Caption Quality Standards

Captions must accurately convey spoken content including grammar, punctuation, and technical terminology. Sound effects and music relevant to content comprehension must be described. Captions must be properly synchronized with audio throughout the stream duration.

Audio Description

Content that includes significant visual information—demonstrations, slides, graphics, or on-screen actions—must include audio description for viewers with visual impairments. Extended audio description that pauses content to insert descriptions may be necessary when visual elements are dense.

Audio description should be available as a separate audio track that viewers can enable as needed. Description must convey visual information necessary for content comprehension without interpreting or editorializing.

Sign Language Interpretation

Sign language interpretation should be provided for audiences where significant deaf or hard-of-hearing population is expected. Interpreters must be visible in a picture-in-picture format with sufficient resolution for sign clarity. Multiple sign languages may be required for international webcasts.

Accessible Player Interface

Webcast players must be fully keyboard accessible with no mouse-only interactions required. Player controls must be compatible with screen readers and assistive technologies. Color contrast must meet WCAG AA requirements. Focus indicators must be clearly visible for keyboard navigation.

Players must provide controls for volume, playback, captions, and any alternative audio tracks. These controls must be accessible to users of assistive technologies and operable through keyboard alone.

Implementation Resources

IWA members access detailed implementation guides, vendor evaluations for accessibility features, and templates for accessibility planning. Our courses include accessibility training, and certification requirements include accessibility competencies.