Audio-only content has transcript; videos have audio descriptions for important visual information

Audio-only content—podcasts, voice announcements, audio guides—is entirely inaccessible to deaf users without a transcript. Video content that conveys information through visual actions (screen recordings, code walkthroughs, data visualizations) is inaccessible to blind users without audio descriptions narrating what is shown. WCAG 2.2 SC 1.2.1 (Level A) requires transcripts for audio-only content; SC 1.2.3 (Level A) requires audio descriptions or transcripts for prerecorded video. Section 508 2018 Refresh 503.4.1 incorporates these. A podcast series or tutorial library with no transcripts excludes an entire class of users from the site's core value proposition.

Provide a transcript link adjacent to every audio player. For inline transcripts, render them in a collapsible section directly below the player:

<audio controls src="/audio/episode-12.mp3" />
<details>
  <summary>Read transcript</summary>
  <div className="transcript">
    <p><strong>Host:</strong> Welcome to episode 12...</p>
    <p><strong>Guest:</strong> Thanks for having me...</p>
  </div>
</details>

For screen-recorded tutorials with no narration of visual actions, either: (a) re-record with audio descriptions narrating every on-screen action, or (b) provide a step-by-step written alternative linked next to the video. Store transcript files in public/transcripts/ and link them with descriptive anchor text: <a href="/transcripts/episode-12.txt">Download Episode 12 transcript (TXT)</a>.

• ID: gov-section-508.multimedia-documents.audio-transcripts
• Severity: low
• What to look for: Count all relevant instances and enumerate each. Search for audio-only content (<audio> tags, podcasts, audio files). Check whether a transcript is provided. For videos with primarily visual information (e.g., tutorials, screen recordings), check whether an audio description track exists or a detailed transcript describing visual actions is provided.
• Pass criteria: Audio-only content has a transcript available (linked near the player or in the page text). At least 1 implementation must be verified. Videos with important visual information have either audio descriptions or detailed transcripts.
• Fail criteria: Audio or video content has no transcript or audio description.
• Skip (N/A) when: No audio-only or video content requiring descriptions exists.
• Detail on fail: Example: "Podcast episodes on /blog lack transcripts. Tutorial video on /docs has no audio description track — the visual code changes and UI interactions are not described verbally."
• Remediation: Provide transcripts for audio content:

  <audio controls src="episode.mp3" />
  <p><a href="/transcripts/episode-1.txt">Read the transcript</a></p>
  
  // Or inline:
  <h3>Transcript</h3>
  <p>Host: "Today we'll discuss..."</p>
  

  For videos, add an audio description track using WebVTT format or provide a detailed written description.