Podcast Accessibility is being talked about more and more. Podcasting is a great way to share information and ideas with the world. According to recent projections, there will be over 125 million podcast listeners in the United States by 2022!
More people are listening to podcasts than ever before, which presents an incredible opportunity for businesses, organizations, and individuals to reach a wide audience.Ā
Things are changing
However, with this increased popularity comes increased responsibility. As podcasters, it is our duty to make sure that our content is accessible to as many people as possible.Ā
That includes people with disabilities who may use screen readers or other assistive technologies to consume our content.
In this article, weāll discuss the legal requirements for podcast accessibility, as well as best practices that all podcasters should follow.
The Legal Landscape
There are a few different laws that apply to podcast accessibility. The most relevant is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in places of public accommodation.
While the ADA does not specifically mention podcasts, the Department of Justice has said that businesses that provide āaudio contentā must make sure that it is accessible to people with disabilities.Ā
This means that podcasters must provide transcripts of their episodes, as well as descriptions of any visuals that are shown on screen.
In addition to the ADA, there are a few other laws that may apply to podcast accessibility, depending on the specifics of your show. These include the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA).
Best Practices for Podcast Accessibility
In addition to complying with the law, there are a few best practices that all podcasters should follow to make sure that their content is accessible to as many people as possible.
1) Build an accessible website
One of the best ways to make sure that your podcast is accessible is to build an accessible website. This means using proper markup to structure your content, using descriptive alt text for images, and providing transcripts and descriptions of all audio and video content.
Your website should also be designed to work with screen readers and other assistive technologies. This can be accomplished by using proper heading tags, avoiding Flash content, and making sure that all form elements are labeled correctly.
The W3C has a checklist that can assist you in achieving website accessibility, but here are some things to get you started:
Alt text for all your media
The first step is to make sure that all of your images have descriptive āalt text.ā This is the text that appears in place of an image if the image cannot be displayed for some reason.
It is also read aloud by screen readers, so it should be descriptive enough to give the listener a good idea of what the image depicts.Ā
These are not keywords, so donāt stuff them with keywords in an attempt to improve your SEO. Keep it natural and concise, somewhere between one and five words.
The main purpose of alt text is to provide information that is not conveyed by the image itself. So, you must be sure that the text you use is actually providing additional information.
Make effective use of the heading hierarchy
Another important aspect of accessibility is making sure that your heading tags are used effectively. Heading tags (H1-H6) are used to denote the hierarchy of your content, with H1 being the most important and H6 being the least.
Screen readers use these tags to navigate websites, so it is important to make sure that they are used correctly. Heading tags should be used in order, with H1 being used for the title of your page and H2-H6 being used for subheadings.
In addition, each heading should be followed by relevant content. Heading tags that are not followed by related content can be confusing for screen reader users and should be avoided.
Use descriptive link text
Using descriptive link text is also another important aspect of accessibility. This is the text that appears when you hover over a link. It should be descriptive enough to give the reader an idea of where the link will take them.
For example, instead of using the word āclick here,ā you should use the actual name of the page or article you are linking to. So, if you were linking to an article about accessibility best practices, your link text might be something like āaccessibility best practices for podcasters.ā
In addition to being more descriptive, using this type of link text can also help improve your SEO.
Use contrasting colors
One of the most important accessibility best practices is to use contrasting colors for your text and background. This is especially important for people with vision impairments, as it can make it easier to read your content.
You can use a tool like the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker to test the contrast of your text and background. The WCAG recommends a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large text.
You need to make sure that your text is readable against the color of your background. A good rule of thumb is to use a darker color for your text and a lighter color for your background. You can also use a pattern or image for your background, as long as the contrast is high enough.
Publish in large text
When publishing content for your website or blog, you should always publish in large text. This is especially vital for those with vision impairments, as it makes reading your content much easier.
You can use a font size of at least 16px for your body text, and make sure that your headlines are even larger. The goal is to make your content as easy to comprehend as possible so that everyone can enjoy it.
2) Include a transcript
A transcript with each podcast episode is also an important accessibility best practice. This is vital for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, as it allows them to follow along with the conversation.
In addition, transcripts can be helpful for people with vision impairments, as they can use screen readers to read the transcript along with the audio.
Transcripts can also be helpful for people who speak English as a second language, as they can follow along with the conversation and read the transcripts to help with understanding.
What if you have too many episodes and can’t do it for all?
If you are unable to provide a transcript for each podcast episode, consider providing them on a regular basis. This will allow your audience to choose which episodes they would like to listen to and read the transcript for. The more accessible your podcast is, the more people will be able to enjoy and engage with it.
In order to create a transcript, you can use a service such as searchditto.com or Otter.ai.
3) Provide an accessible media player
The most essential step in making your podcast accessible is to provide a media player that is accessible. Many popular media players are not accessible to people with disabilities, so it’s important to choose one that is.Ā
Some of the more popular accessible media players include Window-Eyes, JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver.
Your media player should be able to:
- Play audio files
- Display transcripts or captions
- Allow users to control playback speed
- Provide an accessible way to navigate through episodes
- Integrate with popular podcast directories and apps (iTunes, Stitcher, etc.)
- Be accessible on all major browsers and devices
There are a few different ways to provide an accessible media player on your website. One is to use a third-party service like AudioBoo or SoundCloud, which both offer accessible players.
Another option is to use a WordPress plugin like PowerPress, which provides an accessible media player as well as other features for podcasts. Lastly, you can code your own media player using HTML5.
Regardless of which option you choose, make sure to test your media player with a screen reader to ensure it is accessible.
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4) Make sure the audio is clear and concise
Podcasts are an audio format, so the quality of the sound is very important. Make sure your audio is clear and crisp, with no background noise or static. If you’re recording in a less than ideal environment, consider using a microphone to reduce ambient noise.
The audio level should be consistent throughout the recording, and you should avoid using “pumping” or other sound processing effects. If people are having trouble understanding what is being said, they’re likely to stop listening.
Many people’s natural speaking voice is too quiet, so it’s important to use a good high quality microphone and recording software that can boost the volume without distorting the sound.
Extra tips to help your audio quality
You should also edit out any pauses, stutters, or fillers such as “um” or “uh.” While it’s okay to leave in the occasional stumble, too many can be distracting and make your podcast sound unpolished.
It’s fun to add sound effects and background music, but it’s important to ensure that these components don’t overpower the audio.Ā
You also want to make sure the sound is at the same level throughout the episode ā having loud ads and quiet main content isn’t a good mix.
5) Don't talk too fast
Since people will likely be listening to your podcast while doing other things, it’s important to speak at a relatively slow pace. This will help them better understand and retain the information you’re sharing.
You should also enunciate your words clearly and avoid using slang or jargon. If you must use industry-specific terms, be sure to explain them in plain language. It is very important to make your content accessible to as many people as possible!
As with most forms of writing, using simpler language will help more people understand and engage with your podcast. This doesn’t mean dumbing down your content, but rather avoiding unnecessarily complex words and sentence structures.
If you’re not sure whether your language is too complex, try reading your script aloud. If you find yourself stumbling over words or losing your place, it’s a good indication that you need to simplify things.
6) Caption your audios
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all videos and audiosĀ be captioned. If you are using a videos or audios on your website, make sure it is captioned so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can understand the content.
It’s critical to have a transcript for your podcast, but adding adding caption will drastically increase accessibility and make your podcast accessible to a whole new audience.
Do you need audio caption?
Audience members who are unable to hear (whether permanently or in real-time) can read your material using the caption or reading the transcript. It’s also useful if your episode has accents or is particularly popular in a country other than your own.
In the end, captions assist everyone. There are plenty of people who are in public places and can’t use headphones, or whose first language isn’t English. Closed captioning makes your audio content accessible to them, as well.
If you’re looking for a tool that can automatically add caption to your audio content check outĀ searchditto for podcasters.
7) Use accessible marketing tactics
When you’re promoting your podcast, be sure to use accessible marketing tactics. For example, if you’re using social media to share episodes, provide a text description of the audio or video content.
When creating blog posts or articles about your podcast, include transcripts or summaries so that people who can’t listen to the audio can still understand what it’s about.
You should also avoid using images of text when possible. While this may be aesthetically pleasing, it’s not accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.
If you’re using email to promote your podcast, be sure to use alt text for images and include a plain text version of your message. This will help ensure that everyone can see and understand your content.
Podcast Lawsuit
The Podcast Accessibility Requirements and best practices is a document created by the International Association of Broadcasters (IAB) to increase awareness of the need for accessible podcasts and to provide guidance on how to make them more accessible.
The requirements are based on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and they reflect best practices from around the world.
The document contains four main sections:
- An introduction to podcasting and accessibility, including why accessible podcasts are important and who they benefit;
- A description of the technical requirements for making a podcast accessible;
- Guidelines on how to make your podcast more accessible, including tips on content, delivery, and design; and
- Resources for further information on accessibility and podcasting.
The IAB released the Podcast Accessibility Requirements and best practices in September of 2016, and they are available for download on the IAB website.
Recent Podcast Accessibility Lawsuits
The National Association of the Deaf and Disability Rights Advocates have filed a lawsuit against several of the top podcast platforms, claiming that they failed to meet accessibility requirements.Ā
According to the lawsuit, the audio transcription for Pandora, SiriusXM, and Stitcher’s podcasts was not adequate enough for individuals who are deafŪ
The plaintiffs’ lawyers maintain that not providing transcripts violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which forbids discrimination on the basis of disability. In public places of business, the ADA requires accessibility for persons with disabilities.Ā
This definition has been extended to cover virtual spaces, including websites, in a growing number of lawsuits.
Important Considerations for Effective Podcasts
When creating a podcast, keep the following in mind to make it as accessible and effective as possible:
- Use an accessible delivery format
- Plan your content carefully and consider your audience.
- Design your podcast with accessibility in mind.
- Ensure that your technical specifications meet international accessibility standards.
- Test your podcast with people who have different disabilities to ensure that it is accessible to everyone.
While there are many considerations to keep in mind when creating an accessible podcast, following these guidelines will help you produce a high-quality and inclusive show that everyone can enjoy.
Bottom Line
Making your podcast accessible is not only the morally right thing to do, but it will also help you reach a larger audience. By following the requirements and best practices laid out in the IAB document, you can be sure that your podcast is accessible to everyone.
We hope this article has been helpful in showing you how to make your podcast more accessible. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to help.
