- Article
- 2 minutes read
- Reviewed August 4, 2026
Audio and video can exclude users when speech, sound or visual information is available in only one form.
Accessible media planning should begin before recording so that captions, transcripts and descriptions are part of production.
Captions
Captions provide synchronized text for speech and meaningful non-speech audio.
Good captions include:
- Accurate dialogue.
- Speaker identification where needed.
- Relevant sounds.
- Timing that matches the media.
- Readable segmentation.
- Correct spelling and punctuation.
Automatically generated captions require review.
Transcripts
A transcript provides a text version of audio information.
A descriptive transcript can also include essential visual information. Transcripts support people who are deafblind, users who prefer reading and search or reference workflows.
Place the transcript close to the media or provide a clear link.
Audio Description
Audio description explains important visual information that is not communicated through the normal audio track.
Examples include actions, changes of scene, visual text and meaningful expressions.
Media Players
The player should support:
- Keyboard operation.
- Visible focus.
- Clearly labelled controls.
- Caption selection.
- Volume control.
- Pause and playback.
- Screen-reader compatibility.
- No unexpected autoplay.
Test embedded third-party players, because WordPress cannot control every part of their interface.
Live Media
Live events can require live captions and accessible alternatives.
Plan provider, latency, accuracy, moderation and recording publication in advance.
WordPress Workflow
Store caption and transcript files with clear ownership and versioning.
When replacing a video, confirm that its alternatives still match the final edit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are subtitles the same as captions?
Subtitles often represent dialogue translation, while accessibility captions also include meaningful sounds and speaker information.
Are automatic captions enough?
Not without accuracy review.
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