Video Accessibility: Why Subtitles and WCAG Standards Matter

Video accessibility might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you commission a video but the last thing you want is for part of your audience to be excluded from it. Accessibility is one of those things that can get overlooked in the excitement of making a film, but it’s absolutely necessary if you want your content to be effective, inclusive and compliant.

In this blog, we’ll break down why accessibility matters in video, what the WCAG standards mean, how subtitles fit in, and the practical steps you can take to make your films more inclusive. We’ll also explain how Turps Film build accessibility into our edits as standard so it’s never an afterthought.

Why accessibility matters in video

Accessibility in video isn’t just about compliance with regulations, It’s about respecting your audience:

1 in 6 adults in the UK have some form of hearing loss. For many of them, subtitles aren’t just a ‘nice to have,’ they’re the only way to follow along.

Many people watch videos in sound-off environments (scrolling LinkedIn at work, watching Instagram on the bus, or browsing your website quietly). Subtitles mean they can engage with your film without missing content.

Public sector organisations, charities, and businesses delivering services often have legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure communications are accessible. Video is no exception.

Simply put, making your videos accessible makes them more useful. It also shows your audience you’ve thought about them, which builds trust.

WCAG: the framework for accessibility

If you’ve worked on websites, you’ll have heard of WCAG: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. They’re internationally recognised standards that set out how digital content can be made accessible to people with disabilities.

The latest version, WCAG 2.1, has three levels of compliance: A, AA, and AAA. Most organisations aim for AA, which balances practicality and inclusivity.

When it comes to video, WCAG sets expectations around things like:

• Captions and subtitles for people with hearing loss
• Audio descriptions for people who are blind or have low vision
• Transcripts for people who prefer or need to read the content
• Colour contrast and legibility for on-screen graphics and text

For example, a video with small, pale text on a white background might look stylish, but it’s not accessible. WCAG requires a minimum contrast ratio to make sure everyone can read what’s on screen.

Subtitles are more than just words on the screen

Subtitles are the most common accessibility feature, and for good reason. They help:

• People who are deaf or hard of hearing follow your message
• Viewers in noisy or quiet settings engage with your video
• Non-native speakers understand content more clearly
• SEO and discoverability – captions can be indexed, making your video easier to find online

There are two main types of subtitles:

• Open captions (burned into the video, always visible)
• Closed captions (switchable on and off, often provided as a separate file such as .srt)

At Turps Film, we can provide both. For social media content, open captions are often best, as platforms autoplay videos muted. For websites or internal platforms, closed captions are usually the way to go.

Beyond subtitles: transcripts and audio description

Accessibility isn’t just about adding subtitles. For some audiences, you may also want:

• Full transcripts of your video. These are text versions of the spoken content and descriptions of key visuals. They’re useful for accessibility, but also for repurposing content into blogs, reports, or social posts
• Audio description, which provides spoken narration of visual elements for people who are blind or partially sighted. This is particularly important in videos where visuals carry meaning beyond the dialogue

Not every video needs all of these elements, but understanding the options helps you make informed choices.

Practical tips for accessible video production

Accessibility should start at the planning stage, not in the edit suite. Here are some of the things we keep in mind:

• Think about contrast early – making sure colour palettes, backgrounds and on-screen text will be legible for all viewers
• Avoid overly busy visuals – clutter makes it harder to follow
• Leave room for captions – if you know subtitles are needed, avoid placing key visuals at the bottom of the frame
• Speak clearly and naturally – good audio is the foundation of good captions
• Use plain English – avoid overly complicated jargon when possible to keep content clear

By considering these factors during pre-production, you avoid the cost and headache of retrofitting accessibility features later.

How Turps Film builds accessibility into edits

We know that many of our clients operate in sectors where accessibility is not optional such as healthcare, public sector, education, charities. That’s why we make it part of our process.

• Subtitles as standard: If you need them, we provide professional subtitles with every video we edit and can be styled to match your brand.
• Transcripts available: On request, we can deliver a full transcript alongside the video.
• WCAG compliance: We colour-correct and design graphics with accessibility in mind, so text meets WCAG contrast requirements.
• Flexible formats: Whether you need open captions for Instagram Reels or closed captions for YouTube, we deliver the right format.
• Consultation upfront: If you’re not sure what level of accessibility you need, we’ll talk it through with you.

This means you don’t have to worry about missing something, it’s covered as part of our service.

Accessibility is good business

Even if you’re not legally obliged to meet accessibility standards, it makes sense to do so:

• It broadens your audience.
• It strengthens your brand reputation.
• It protects you from complaints or compliance issues.
• It boosts engagement (subtitled videos have been shown to increase viewing times).

In short, it makes your investment in video go further.

Video accessibility is about more than ticking boxes, it’s about ensuring your message is clear, inclusive and effective for everyone who encounters it.

At Turps Film, we believe accessibility should be built in. Subtitles, transcripts and accessible design are part of our editing process if you require them.

If you’re planning a new video project and want to make sure it reaches the widest possible audience, we’d be happy to chat about the best accessibility options for your needs.

See examples of our work here.