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Audio description is a narration track that verbally describes key visual content that audio alone does not convey. You may also hear it called “video description,” “visual description,” “descriptive video,” or simply “description.”
Audio description is an art form. Creators must understand how much information to communicate, which words to choose, and when to speak. People who are blind can follow much of a video by listening to its audio. However, when a video presents content only visually (such as on-screen text or key actions the audio does not explain), creators must describe that content. This helps people who are blind or have low vision, as well as users who are visually distracted or watching a video in the background while multitasking.
When a video leaves no natural gaps in the audio to insert description, creators use extended audio description, which pauses the video to allow the narrator to speak. Alternatively, creators can use integrated description by building visual descriptions directly into the script during production, which eliminates the need for a separate description track altogether.
Avoiding the need for audio description
You can avoid the need for audio description by ensuring your video communicates all important visual information verbally. Here are some examples:
- Teamwork: Making IT Accessible – Videos featuring multiple speakers whose names and affiliations are displayed visually can avoid audio description by having each speaker introduce themselves the first time they speak, with a narrator reading any closing credits.
- Integrated Described Video (IDV) – This website from Accessible Media, Inc. (AMI) includes a series of high-quality videos produced to educate on the benefits of integrated description.
Prioritizing your videos for audio description
You can prioritize videos for audio description using the same variables used for prioritizing videos for captioning:
- Audience demographics – If the target audience for a video is likely to include individuals who are blind or have low vision, the video should be a top priority.
- Traffic – Your most popular videos should probably be a high priority.
- Publication date – Newer videos should probably be a high priority.
In general, it is best to focus initial efforts on high-impact videos, for example:
- Videos available to the public on a high-use website
- Videos that will be used multiple times in a course
- Videos developed by several faculty members to be used in several different classes
Does the video need description?
Beyond the considerations above, you can also prioritize videos based on how much they need audio description. To determine need, listen to the audio for portions of your video (if you have eyesight, close your eyes). Ask yourself: am I missing any important details? Rate the video using the following scale:
- High need – Nothing makes sense with audio alone.
- Medium need – The video is generally understandable, but critical details are lost.
- Low need – Some information is lost, but it isn’t critical.
Audio description in Kaltura
UGA uses Kaltura as its primary video hosting platform. Kaltura supports timed text for audio description. Video owners can add audio description by entering a brief description of visual content for the media player to read aloud at a designated time in the video. However, the player only reads the description aloud when the user enables this feature.
For additional information, consult Kaltura’s documentation on eLC Support.
Audio description in YouTube
YouTube does not support a secondary audio description track within a single video. However, you have several options for meeting the audio description requirement when publishing to YouTube.
Option 1: Integrated description (recommended)
The most sustainable approach is to script your video so that all important visual content is described verbally during recording. Rather than pointing to a slide and saying “as you can see here,” describe what is shown aloud. Integrated description eliminates the need for a separate audio description track and works on any platform without additional steps after upload. See the Avoiding the need for audio description section above for examples and guidance.
Option 2: Upload a separate described version
If you recorded your video without integrated description, the standard YouTube workaround is to produce a second version with audio description mixed into the audio track, then upload it as a separate video and link the two versions clearly.
- Produce a described version of your video by re-recording narration with description built in, or by adding a description narration layer in a video editor such as Camtasia or Adobe Premiere.
- Upload the described version to YouTube as a separate video.
- In both videos’ descriptions, add clearly labeled links: “Audio described version: [URL]” and “Standard version: [URL].”
- In your eLC course, link to the described version as the primary resource, or provide both links with clear labels.
Option 3: Text-based media alternative (interim only)
For short or low-complexity videos, you can provide a text-based media alternative describing visual content, placed in the video’s YouTube description using timestamps. This approach satisfies WCAG 1.2.3 (Level A) but does not satisfy WCAG 1.2.5 (Level AA), which requires a true audio description track. Treat it as a temporary measure while you produce a fully described version.
Audio description in Vimeo
Vimeo offers more native support for audio description than YouTube, depending on your account plan.
Option 1: Integrated description (recommended)
As with Kaltura and YouTube, building description into your video script and recording is the preferred approach. It requires no additional steps after upload and works across all platforms and plan levels.
Option 2: Multiple audio tracks (Vimeo Pro and above)
Vimeo Pro, Business, and Premium plans support uploading multiple audio tracks for a single video. This is the closest equivalent to a dedicated secondary audio description track available on a mainstream video platform.
- Produce a separate audio file containing your description narration, timed to match the video.
- In Vimeo’s video settings, navigate to the Audio tab and upload the additional track.
- Label the track clearly as “Audio Description.”
- Tell viewers that an audio description track is available and that they can select it from the player’s settings menu. Note that this feature is viewer-initiated and the player does not enable it by default.
For additional information, consult Vimeo’s documentation on managing video settings.
Option 3: Upload a separate described version (Vimeo Basic and Standard)
On Vimeo Basic or Standard plans, follow the same approach as YouTube: upload a second video with audio description mixed into the audio, and link both versions clearly in the video description and in your course materials.
Further reading
- Audio Description of Visual Information – A comprehensive guide from the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative.
- Managing video settings in Vimeo – Vimeo Help Center documentation on audio tracks.
WCAG 2.1 success criteria
The following WCAG 2.1 success criteria apply to the topics on this page:
- 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) (Level A)
- 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) (Level A)
- 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA)
Getting help
If you have questions or need assistance, the Digital Accessibility Services Hub (DASH) is available to support colleges, schools, and administrative units as they build sustainable accessibility practices.
- Contact DASH at [email protected] for consultations, training, or technical assistance.
Accessibility is a shared responsibility, and every step you take makes UGA’s digital environment more inclusive.