This post is part of a series where we explain Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), an internationally recognized standard for measuring website accessibility. For more posts in this series, visit our Web Accessibility WCAG 2 Knowledge Base.
Continuing our WordPress accessibility series on WCAG conformance, we now focus on a critical method for ensuring video content is completely accessible: providing full media alternatives for prerecorded material. This powerful criterion guarantees that users who cannot access the audiovisual media directly still receive all the information in an equivalent format.
Captions make video content accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and audio description helps users who are blind or have low vision understand key visual details. But in some cases, especially when content is complex or highly visual, these methods alone may not be enough. That’s where WCAG Success Criterion 1.2.8: Media Alternative (Prerecorded) Level AAA comes in.
When your WordPress site includes videos such as tutorials, walkthroughs, marketing content, or interviews where both visual and auditory information are essential, a full media alternative ensures that all users, especially people who are Deafblind using a refreshable Braille display, can access and understand the content without having to watch or hear the video itself.
In this article, we’ll break down what WCAG 1.2.8 requires, why it matters, common implementation challenges, and practical ways to provide complete media alternatives using WordPress-friendly tools and workflows.
What is WCAG 1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded)?
An alternative for time-based media is provided for all prerecorded synchronized media and for all prerecorded video-only media.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.2.8
In plain terms:
You must provide a full, equivalent alternative to prerecorded video content, typically in the form of a detailed text-based transcript that includes descriptions of all visual and auditory information.
Unlike captions or standard transcripts, this media alternative must go further by including:
- Dialogue and narration.
- Sound effects and meaningful audio cues.
- Descriptions of all important visual content.
- Context needed to fully understand the experience.
This means:
- A simple transcript of spoken words is not enough.
- Audio description alone is not enough.
- The alternative must stand on its own as a complete substitute for the video.
This is a Level AAA success criterion, so it may not apply to your website. However, if you’re striving for the highest level of conformance or want to make your content as accessible as possible, read on for guidance on how to meet WCAG 1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded) in WordPress.
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Why WCAG 1.2.8 Matters
Imagine a WordPress tutorial video demonstrating how to configure settings in a WordPress plugin. The presenter speaks while navigating menus, toggling switches, and interacting with the interface.
A basic transcript might include the spoken instructions—but it would miss:
- Where elements are located
- What changes on screen
- How the interface responds
Even with captions or audio description, users may still need to process multiple streams of information.
WCAG 1.2.8 ensures that all of this is consolidated into a single, structured format that can be:
- Read at the user’s own pace
- Navigated easily
- Accessed without relying on audio or video
For users who are blind, Deafblind, or who prefer text-based content, this provides a complete and flexible way to engage with the material.
How to Meet This Success Criterion in WordPress
If you publish prerecorded video content with meaningful visuals and audio, WCAG 1.2.8 requires you to provide a full media alternative.
How to create a media alternative
A media alternative is more than a transcript: it’s a complete representation of the video in text form. Here’s how to create one:
- Review your video carefully: Identify all meaningful content, including:
- Spoken dialogue
- Visual actions and changes
- On-screen text
- Important sounds
- Write a comprehensive transcript: Combine all elements into a single written narrative. Include:
- Descriptions of what is happening visually
- Speaker identification
- Key timing or sequence details where relevant
- Structure for readability: Use headings, paragraphs, and lists as needed to ensure your written alternative is easy to read and skim. This is different from a typical transcript, which may just be a big block of text without section breaks or lists.
- Ensure completeness: Ask yourself, “Could someone fully understand this content without watching the video?” If the answer is yes, your media alternative is likely sufficient. If no, modify the text until you can confidently answer yes.
Example of a Media Alternative
Instead of a basic transcript like:
“Click Settings, then go to Accessibility.”
A compliant media alternative might read:
“The presenter opens the Settings panel located in the left sidebar under the Tools option. A menu appears with options including General, Accessibility, and Advanced. The presenter selects Accessibility, revealing three toggle switches labeled ‘Enable captions,’ ‘High contrast mode,’ and ‘Keyboard navigation.’”
This version includes both the spoken instruction and the visual context.
Plan for Media Alternatives from the Beginning
Creating a full media alternative after the fact can be time-consuming. Planning ahead can make the process much easier.
You can:
- Write scripts that include visual context.
- Avoid relying solely on visual cues.
- Read aloud important on-screen text.
- Keep content structured and clear.
While these practices improve accessibility overall, WCAG 1.2.8 still requires a complete alternative, not just improved video design.
How to Implement Media Alternatives in WordPress
There are several effective ways to provide media alternatives on your site:
Provide a full transcript below the video
This is the most common and user-friendly approach. Place the media alternative directly after the video with a clear heading, such as:
- “Full Text Alternative”
- “Accessible Media Alternative”
Use collapsible sections
Allow users to expand and view the content:
- Accordions
- “Show transcript” toggles
Link to a separate page
For longer or more complex content, you can:
- Provide a clearly labeled link (e.g., “View full media alternative”)
- Host the content on a dedicated, structured page
Use accessible video players
While the media alternative is separate from the player, using accessible tools still improves overall usability:
- Able Player plugin: Supports multiple tracks and accessible controls.
- Vimeo: Can host alternate versions of videos.
- Wistia: Supports advanced accessibility workflows, including extended description scenarios.
These platforms support captions, transcripts, and accessible controls that complement your media alternative.
WCAG 1.2.8 Exceptions
There are limited cases where this criterion does not apply:
- Purely sensory media: Content that conveys no meaningful information
- Decorative video: Videos that are not essential to understanding content or functionality
- Live media: This criterion applies only to prerecorded content
Testing WCAG 1.2.8 Compliance in WordPress
1. Identify applicable videos
Review all published content on your WordPress site to find videos. To speed up this process, use Accessibility Checker Pro to run a full-site scan and review the report for “A Video is Present.” This will help you to quickly find all videos on your site, without having to look at every post or page one by one.
After you have a list of videos to evaluate, watch the videos. Look for prerecorded videos where:
- Both audio and visual content convey meaning
- Understanding depends on more than just dialogue
2. Confirm exceptions
Exclude:
- Decorative media
- Purely sensory content
- Live streams
3. Check for a complete media alternative
Verify that:
- A full-text alternative is available.
- It includes both visual and auditory information.
- It does not rely on the video to be understood.
4. Verify accessibility in WordPress
Ensure:
- The alternative is easy to find
- It is properly labeled
- It is keyboard accessible
5. Test with assistive technology
Use screen readers such as NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver to confirm:
- The content is navigable
- The structure is logical
- All necessary context is included
Take an online course to learn screen reader testing
If you want to learn more about how to use a screen reader for accessibility testing, check out our online courses. These courses include detailed instructions on how to use a screen reader, what keyboard shortcuts to know, recommended settings for testing, and good and bad examples of multiple different components, so you know what to listen for.
Start Making Your WordPress Site More Inclusive
WCAG 1.2.8 Media Alternative (Prerecorded) represents one of the most comprehensive approaches to video accessibility. By providing a complete, text-based alternative, you ensure that no user is excluded from understanding your content.
While it is a Level AAA requirement—and not always required for legal compliance—it is especially valuable for educational, instructional, and complex media.
Start by identifying high-impact videos and creating full media alternatives that stand on their own. Design your content with accessibility in mind from the beginning, and treat text alternatives as a core part of your publishing workflow.
Accessibility tools can help you find video content, but meeting WCAG 1.2.8 requires thoughtful effort. By embracing media alternatives, you ensure your content is not just accessible but also fully usable and understandable for everyone.
