Captions and transcripts in WCAG 2.0 and the W3C Multimedia Accessibility FAQ

Hello,

 

I am looking for an explanation as to how these statements in the W3C
Multimedia Accessibility FAQ <http://www.w3.org/2008/06/video-notes> :

 

*         "For most W3C media, you just need to provide a simple text
transcript."

*         "Note that for audio-only recordings, providing a transcript
is sufficient to meet all of the relevant WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA
Success Criteria under Guideline 1.2 Time-based Media
<http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref/#media-equiv> ."

 

... are reconciled with WCAG 2.0 SC 1.2.2
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#media-equiv-captions> :

 

1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded): Captions
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#captionsdef>  are
provided for all prerecorded
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#prerecordeddef>  audio
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#audiodef>  content in
synchronized media
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#synchronizedmediadef> ,
except when the media is a media alternative for text
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#multimedia-alt-textdef>
and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)

 

... and SC 1.2.4
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#media-equiv-real-time-ca
ptions> :

 

1.2.4 Captions (Live): Captions
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#captionsdef>  are
provided for all live
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#livedef>  audio
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#audiodef>  content in
synchronized media
<http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/#synchronizedmediadef> .
(Level AA)

 

 

... as the success criteria seem to state flatly that captions, not
merely transcripts, are required.

 

The interpretation of these success criteria is tremendously important
in my state <http://www.kansas.gov/index.php> , which has adopted Level
AA conformance with WCAG 2.0 as policy
<http://www.da.ks.gov/itec/documents/itecitpolicy1210.htm> , and is
facing extreme challenges figuring out how to caption audio-video
content, challenges that in many cases would be greatly mitigated if a
transcript would suffice.

 

Thank you,

 

Cole Robison

Director of Statewide Web/IT Accessibility

Division of Information Systems and Communications

State of Kansas

cole.robison@da.ks.gov

(785) 291-3016