Podcast Digital Accessibility Checklist
Overview
Use this checklist of Digital Accessibility plays to ensure your content is as accessible as possible. Need information on making Microsoft word accessible? See our Word checklist.
Podcast checklist
Read each section to find out more about podcast and transcript accessibility.
General podcast accessibility
- Expand abbreviations, such as: The Origin of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- Ensure logos and images are named with friendly names (like sample-slide.jpg, it improves SEO) and have alt text.
- Use headings to define page sections.
Transcripts
- Understand that podcasts do need trasncripts: Podcasts Need Transcripts: December 2021 lawsuit against SiriusXM.
- Place the transcript immediately under the podcast.
- Label the transcript with a heading.
- The transcript should match the recording (minus any ums, and ahhs unless they are pertinent).
- Indicate music or sound effects such as [Upbeat music] or [a helicopter lands in the background].
- Indicate changes in speakers.
- The transcript should he on the website and not be a modal window that covers the controls, use an expanding list, etc.
- You can also provide a downloadable Microsoft Word version.
- Some podcasts are also recorded as video, if you are gesturing or something happens visually, please describe that and indicate it in audio and the transcript.
Sample transcript
Review the transcript below for examples on how to indicate the kinds of content that could arise in a podcast.
Discovery News Transcript (format as a heading, in a Word document use Heading 1).
[Upbeat electronic music]
Dr. Smith:
Welcome to Discovery News. I'm Doctor Smith.
Dr. Jones:
[nodding] and I'm Doctor Jones.
We're here at UTMB talking about the importance of sleep as it relates to your longterm health and well-being.
Narrator:
For much more and our disclaimer go to example.com or subscribe to our podcast.
Related resources
Other helpful resources from the Digital Accessibility Hub.