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12. Transcripts

Requirement

Audio files have accurate transcripts (no auto-generated transcripts).

Evaluation Process

All spoken-word audio content, such as podcasts or recordings, requires a complete and accurate transcript. This requirement does not apply to purely musical or other non-speech audio. Transcripts must be accurate, with correct punctuation and capitalization. An unedited, automatically generated transcript is insufficient to meet this standard and requires human review before publishing.

Transcripts do not need to be synchronized with audio playback. They must, however, be easy for the user to locate and access, whether on the same page, in a modal dialog, or via a clearly marked link.

Podcast with transcript
A podcast embedded on a page. While there are many ways to provide a transcript, in this case, the transcript is simply added to the bottom of the page.

Scoring Guide

  • Pass: All spoken-word audio files or podcasts have accurate transcripts.
  • Partial Fail: Almost all spoken-word audio files or podcasts have transcripts, or there are only minor errors with the accuracy.
  • Fail: There are no transcripts for spoken-word audio files or podcasts, or the transcripts are inaccurate.
  • Not Applicable: There are no audio-only files on the site.
  • Unknown: No audio files were found during testing, but it is possible there might be some outside the scope of the testing. 

More Information

Relevant WCAG Information

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