The first review of the AODA’s Information and communications Standards became public in 2020. In this review, the AODA Information and Communications Standards Development Committee outlines improvements to make information and communications accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. The Committee recommends changes to the Information and Communications Standards, to identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers in information. In addition, the Committee recommends an alternative system for developing, updating, and enforcing AODA standards. This new system would affect the Information and Communications Standards, as well as other existing and future standards. This article will discuss the Committee’s recommendations for accessible online audio and videos.
Accessible Online Audio and Videos
Under the Information and Communications Standards, organizations must make their websites, including web-based apps, accessible. Organizations must do so by ensuring that their websites comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, level AA. This requirement applies to large private sector organizations, as well as public sector organizations with:
However, there are two (2) guidelines in WCAG version 2.0 that the Standards do not require organizations to follow. These two exceptions are:
- Live captions
- Pre-recorded audio descriptions
The Committee recommends revoking these exemptions, in addition to revoking other exemptions to web accessibility. As a result, organizations should begin preparing to provide live captions for any live online audio they post. Likewise, organizations should be prepared to provide audio description for online videos. This preparation should include training, so that staff will have the knowledge to produce high-quality live captions and audio description. The Committee suggests that organizations meet or exceed the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) standards for live captioning.
Furthermore, any organization required to write a multi-year accessibility plan should describe in the plan its progress toward compliance with these guidelines for accessible online audio and videos.