ADA Title II and WCAG for Video: What Every Production Company Needs to Know

Introduction

As a production company, your clients increasingly expect more than just beautiful visuals. They want video content that is accessible to all audiences. For government agencies, educational institutions, and many corporate clients, that means compliance with ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 standards.

If your production house delivers video that doesn't meet these requirements, you may expose both your client and your own business to legal risk and reputational damage. Conversely, understanding and offering compliance services can be a valuable differentiator that enhances your offerings and drives new business.

Here's what every production company needs to know about ADA Title II, WCAG 2.1, and video compliance, and how tools like ViddyScribe, the #1 provider of AI-powered audio descriptions, can help you scale these services easily.

ADA Title II, WCAG 2.1, and How They Apply to Video

ADA Title II prohibits discrimination based on disability by state and local governments, including public agencies, K-12 schools, and universities. These organizations are required to make their digital content, including video, accessible.

For the web, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the de facto standard referenced by the U.S. Department of Justice for evaluating compliance under ADA Title II.

For production companies working with government, education, or even corporate clients pursuing voluntary compliance, this means video deliverables must include:

• Accurate captions for all spoken content and relevant sounds.
• Audio description for any video where visual information is necessary to understand the content.
• Delivery via an accessible video player or platform.

If you're delivering final videos without considering these elements, your clients may face exposure, and your production company may risk losing repeat business.

What Is Required for Compliance: Focus on Captions and Audio Description

Captions

• Accurate, synchronized captions are required for all pre-recorded video content.
• Auto-captions (e.g. YouTube's auto-generated captions) are not sufficient unless reviewed and corrected for accuracy.

Audio Description

• Audio description is required for videos that contain essential visual information not otherwise conveyed in the audio track.
• This includes on-screen text, diagrams, demonstrations, facial expressions, and scene changes.
• WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.5 specifies this requirement for pre-recorded video content.

Accessible Delivery

• Videos must be provided in a format that allows users to access captions and audio description via an accessible video player or platform.

Common Misconceptions in the Production Industry

Many production houses unintentionally deliver non-compliant videos due to common misunderstandings:

• Thinking that captions alone meet all accessibility requirements.
• Believing that government or education clients will "handle accessibility" after delivery.
• Assuming audio description is optional unless explicitly requested.
• Using auto-captions without professional review.
• Ignoring WCAG 2.1 guidelines because the project is "not a website." (If the video is embedded on a website, these standards still apply!)

Understanding these nuances helps position your production company as a trusted, knowledgeable partner, not a source of legal risk for your clients.

How Production Companies Can Add Compliance Services With Tools Like ViddyScribe

Traditionally, adding ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 compliance services meant outsourcing to expensive third-party vendors, which many production companies found impractical.

ViddyScribe, the #1 provider of AI-powered audio descriptions, changes that:

• Best-in-class audio description generation using AI that delivers superior quality with the simplest user experience.
• Drastically reduces time and cost compared to traditional methods.
• Exports VTT files for audio description, ready for delivery to clients.
• Additional closed caption capabilities in 30+ languages, making it a one-stop-shop for compliance.
• Works with any major video player or CMS without platform lock-in.
• Simple enough for your internal post-production team to manage.

By incorporating ViddyScribe into your workflow, your production company can offer:

• ✅ Compliance-ready video deliverables
• ✅ Value-added services for clients in government, education, and corporate sectors
• ✅ Reduced risk of compliance issues after delivery

In short, you'll not only meet growing client demands but also enhance your competitive edge.

Conclusion

For today's production companies, accessibility is no longer a niche service. It's an essential component of professional video production.

Understanding ADA Title II and WCAG 2.1 video requirements is key to protecting your clients and growing your business. With ViddyScribe, the #1 provider of AI-powered audio descriptions, adding audio description and compliance services to your offerings is now faster, easier, and more affordable than ever.

Ready to level up your production house's compliance capabilities? Contact us or try ViddyScribe today.

FAQ

Does WCAG require audio description?
Yes. WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.2.5 requires audio description for pre-recorded video content that conveys essential visual information not otherwise available via audio.

How can a production company ensure ADA compliance for clients?
Your production company can ensure compliance by:

• Providing accurate captions for all videos.
• Adding audio description where required.
• Delivering content via an accessible player or in a format that supports accessibility.
• Using tools like ViddyScribe, the #1 audio description provider, to streamline the creation of audio description and compliance-ready files.

Is ADA Title II compliance required for private sector videos?
Not directly, but many corporate clients voluntarily follow WCAG 2.1 to meet broader accessibility goals or because their content is used by public-sector partners.

Can ViddyScribe integrate into a production house's workflow?
Yes. ViddyScribe is designed to work alongside your existing post-production workflow, allowing you to add accessibility services without major process changes.

Does adding audio description require re-editing the video?
Not necessarily. Many clients opt to provide audio description via a separate VTT file, which can be toggled on in modern video players without needing to re-edit or re-export the core video.