Web Accessibility Training: Deafness and Hard of Hearing

Deafness and Hard of Hearing
Designing Accessible Audio & Communication Experiences

Slide 2 – Understanding Deafness & Hearing Loss

• Deafness exists on a spectrum
• Includes:
  • Profound deafness
  • Partial hearing loss
  • Hard of hearing users
• Barriers are often invisible but significant
• Audio-first design excludes users

Key Idea:
If information is audio-only, it is inaccessible.

Slide 3 – Audio as a Barrier

Common inaccessible patterns:

• Videos without captions
• Audio instructions without text
• Auto-playing sound
• Phone-only customer support

Accessibility means:

• Providing equivalent alternatives

Slide 4 – Subtitles vs Closed Captions

Subtitles

• Translate spoken dialogue

Closed Captions

• Include:
  • Dialogue
  • Sound effects
  • Speaker identification
  • Tone or emotion

For accessibility → Closed captions are required

Slide 5 – Why Captions Matter

Captions benefit:

• Deaf users
• Hard of hearing users
• Non-native speakers
• Users in noisy environments
• Users in silent spaces

Accessible design improves experience for everyone.

Slide 6 – WebVTT & the <track> Element

WebVTT:

• Standard caption file format
• Used in HTML5 video

<track> element:

• Adds caption files to video
• Enables browser-based caption controls

Key takeaway:
Captions must be properly structured, not burned into video.

Slide 7 – Caption Quality Matters

Good captions include:

• Accurate timing
• Speaker labels
• Sound descriptions
• Clear formatting

Poor captions:

• Auto-generated with no review
• Missing non-verbal sounds
• Incorrect timing

Accessibility requires accuracy, not just presence.

Slide 8 – Transcripts

Provide:

• Full transcript of audio/video content
• Especially useful for:
  • Podcasts
  • Interviews
  • Educational content

Benefits:

• Searchable content
• Improved SEO
• Flexible consumption

Slide 9 – Unexpected or Automatic Audio

Avoid:

• Auto-playing audio
• Sounds triggered without warning

Why?

• Disorienting
• Impossible to interpret without captions
• Disruptive for assistive technology users

Slide 10 – Customer Service & Communication

Barrier example:

• Phone-only support

Accessible alternatives:

• Email
• Live chat
• Text relay services
• Video relay services

Accessibility extends beyond the webpage.

Slide 11 – Caption Controls

Ensure:

• Captions can be turned on/off
• Buttons are clearly labelled
• Controls are keyboard accessible

Accessibility must apply to:

• Media player interface
• Not just content

Slide 12 – Accessible Subtitle Content

Captions should:

• Identify speakers
• Indicate background sounds
• Reflect tone where relevant
• Avoid oversimplification

Example:
❌ “Music playing”
✔ “Upbeat jazz music playing softly”

Slide 13 – Sign Language-Friendly Content

Consider:

• Some Deaf users use sign language as primary language
• Written language may not be first language

Solutions:

• Clear writing
• Simple sentence structure
• Visual explanations where possible

Slide 14 – Key Takeaways

• Audio must always have a text alternative
• Closed captions > subtitles for accessibility
• Transcripts increase usability
• Avoid auto-play audio
• Provide non-phone support channels

Accessibility means equal access to information — not similar access.

Deafness and Hard of Hearing: Quick Quiz

Instructions:
Answer all questions. Choose the best answer unless stated otherwise.

1. If a website provides important information only through audio, it is:

A. Modern
B. Search engine friendly
C. Accessible
D. Inaccessible

2. What is the key difference between subtitles and closed captions?

A. Subtitles are larger
B. Closed captions include sound effects and speaker information
C. Subtitles are mandatory
D. Closed captions translate languages

3. True or False:

Auto-generated captions are always sufficient for accessibility.

4. Which of the following should good captions include?

A. Only dialogue
B. Background colour
C. Speaker identification and sound descriptions
D. Music only

5. Why are transcripts important?

(Choose TWO)

A. They improve SEO
B. They replace video entirely
C. They make content searchable
D. They remove the need for captions

6. Which practice creates a barrier for deaf users?

A. Providing captions
B. Providing email support
C. Auto-playing audio without alternatives
D. Using structured text

7. True or False:

Accessibility for deaf users ends once captions are added to videos.

8. Name one accessible alternative to phone-only customer support.

Expected answers (any one):

• Email

• Live chat

• Text relay service

• Video relay service