Accessible video is about more than simple compliance; it’s about engagement for viewers, inclusion of everyone, and learners’ success in absorbing the information. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination, which becomes a legal requirement when creating digital content like instructional videos, web accessibility, and other visual elements.
Accessibility standards can be hard to tackle at first. Many L&D teams want to create inclusive training, but don’t know where to start. That’s okay!
Building an accessible video training creation process isn’t as hard as it seems. It’s a manageable and meaningful step that will make a difference to your learners right out of the gate.
What does video accessibility really mean?
So, what does accessibility in video learning mean? At its core, it’s about creating video content that everyone, regardless of ability, learning style, or environment, can access, understand, and benefit from. That includes your colleagues whose first language isn’t English, learners with formal impairments, and the new hire who learns best by pausing and replaying key steps.
Digital accessibility training design means:
- Including on-screen closed captions (subtitles) and transcripts
- Offering audio descriptions when conveying critical visual information
- Designing with readable, low-clutter visuals
- Ensuring compatibility with keyboard navigation and screen readers
- Including alternative text (alt text) for on-screen visuals
TechSmith’s Value of Visuals report found that two out of three employees carry out tasks better when communicated visually vs. non-visually. By including visuals in learning content, trainers have the chance to help out over half of their viewers, even if they do not have a formal disability.
As one subject matter expert (SME) puts it, “Captions (standard or dynamic) are important for clarity, accessibility, browseability, and allow viewers to follow along if they are in an environment where they can’t, or choose not to, turn on their audio.”
Beyond video, website accessibility is dictated by Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and is meant to ensure equal access to multimedia components on your website. Since online videos are often hosted on a website, trainers need to round out the learning experience through legal compliance.
Common accessibility mistakes in video training to recognize
Even some of the most well-meaning training teams can fall into common traps when creating accessible content. Often, accessibility is seen as an “add-on” instead of a foundational part of design. That mindset can lead to issues that actually create extra work down the line.
Let’s dive into common missteps and what you can learn from them.
No captions or transcripts leave deaf and hard-of-hearing people, ESL learners, mobile viewers, and anyone in a noisy environment without the means to get all the information. Without supplementing audio content, you’re unintentionally locking out a huge portion of your audience who may have an auditory impairment.
Cluttered and low-contrast visuals are hard to focus on, especially for people with visual or cognitive differences. If your video is packed with text, flashing elements, or a low color contrast design, it will be tough for your audience to process valuable information. Simplify and clarify any busy visuals before sending out your video.
Fast-paced, unstructured content doesn’t allow learners to follow along with the material at their own pace. If the content lacks a clear flow, they’re also more likely to disengage. Structure your video, add in meaningful pauses, and ensure relay options are available for everyone to stay on track.
Forgetting about accessibility until the video is finished makes it much harder to implement. Trying to “retrofit” accessibility is harder, slower, and can be more expensive. Instead, start your video with accessibility measures at the forefront of your process, and you can easily implement them.
These mistakes are common, but think of them as opportunities to build better training that is smarter, more inclusive, and more engaging from the start.
How accessible training improves learner outcomes
When you design video training content that truly considers everyone’s needs, you can unlock better learning outcomes for everyone. How? Well, let’s see
It empowers learners to engage on their own terms
Captions, transcripts, and playback controls give learners the freedom to pause, rewind, and absorb learning material at their own pace. This is crucial for reducing cognitive overload. People who may feel overwhelmed in fast-paced live sessions, like introverted learners and those with anxiety, may especially benefit from these accessibility measures.
It supports global and multilingual teams
Clear visuals and translated captions help teams who work across borders to stay aligned. TechSmith’s Camtasia, for instance, offers AI-generated voice translation and script translation, making it easy to produce inclusive content without needing native speakers for every version.
It improves job satisfaction and reduces rework
Clear, easy-to-follow training leaves employees feeling more confident and supported. On the other hand, you will spend less time answering the same questions or repeating live demos.
Our SME weighs in: “Efficiency comes from not having to answer the same questions over and over; instead, teams can refer people to the training video.”
It creates a more inclusive and equitable learning environment
Accessible design sends a powerful message: everyone belongs here. It supports learners with disabilities, neurodivergent teammates, and anyone who simply learns differently. Inclusivity builds trust, improves retention, and boosts performance across the board.
How to make your video training more accessible (starting now) with TechSmith
Making your training more accessible doesn’t require a total overhaul. In fact, with the right tools, you can start improving today. TechSmith’s Camtasia and Snagit offer user-friendly features that make accessibility simple, scalable, and sustainable.
Record your screen with Snagit
Snagit makes it easy to share quick updates and how-to’s by capturing exactly what’s happening on your screen.
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Add captions and transcripts to every video
Captions are a win for everyone. With Camtasia, you can auto-generate, import, and manually edit captions to any video. You can export full video transcripts for reference, documentation, or searchable help.
Camtasia is a must-have when making training content.
Use cursor effects and animations to guide focus
When walking through software or multi-step processes, Camtasia’s cursor effects, like spotlighting and click animations, keep learners focused on what matters. By making the cursor obvious, learners with attention or processing challenges will still be able to follow along and not lose the thread of the content.
Design with visual clarity and contrast in mind
Use a clear, readable font, high-contrast color schemes, minimal clutter, and large, clickable buttons in your video to improve the clarity of the design. By making important information noticeable, learners are less likely to get lost along the way.
Add text to specific parts of your video to point out important information as well.
Additionally, Camtasia offers brand-friendly templates that balance style with accessibility features. Consistent design practices are also helpful with learning content.
Support your videos with visual reference materials
Not everything needs to be a video, In fact, reference materials can be visual information like annotated screenshots, step-by-step guides, and quick-reference SOPs. These helpful visuals support best learning practices and engage learners in multiple ways, increasing their knowledge retention.
Snagit’s step capture feature makes it easy to create step-by-step guides in minutes. With the feature enabled, simply click through your process as you normally would. Snagit takes a screenshot each time you click and compiles it into an editable template for you, so you don’t have to spend any time putting together a complicated document.
Build your next training video with Camtasia
Record your screen or camera. Then, use the video editor to add polish and clarity.
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Make your training inclusive, clear, and accessible for all
The bottom line is this: accessible video training isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s essential for any training content creation process. From onboarding new hires to supporting global rollouts and scaling knowledge across departments, accessibility helps you reach a broader audience.
Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. TechSmith’s tools make it easy to create training that’s inclusive by design. Each tool has a wealth of tutorials, help articles, and exclusive, free webinars to help you get started.
Explore the full suite of tools and start making video training that everyone can access, enjoy, and learn from.
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