Captions

Captions are an important component of any video that you post online. Many video platforms provide automatic captioning, but that technology is still limited. 

KU requires that captions meet all applicable accessibility requirements, which means that captions should:

• Be edited by a person (not automatically captioned) for accuracy, including correct spelling, punctuation, and timing.
• Provide textual cues for other audio when no one is talking.
  
  For example:
  
  (♪ upbeat music playing ♪)
  
  (crowd cheering)
  
  (no audio)
• Identify the speaker when possible.
  
  For example:
  
  Male voiceover: “Spoken captions go here”
  
  Jane Smith: “Spoken captions go here”
  
  Voiceover: “Spoken captions go here”

Numerous software packages, including many video editors, allow you to create and edit captions. External vendors may also assist with this process. A list of approved vendors can be found here. 

Many video platforms provide the ability to upload and edit captions. For more information on captioning for the various platforms, use these links:

• Captioning on KU’s video service “Kaltura”
• Captioning on YouTube
• Captioning on Facebook
• Captioning on Twitter

Please note that as of the date of this posting, 2/17/2021, Instagram does not support closed captioning, which can be turned off and on by the user. KU’s accessibility standards require open captioning, captions that are embedded within the video. You can do this using video editing software or an online captioning vendor.

If you have questions about captioning or require additional assistance, contact Media Production Services at 785-864-6452 or itmps@ku.edu.

For additional notes on accessible video use at KU, visit the content accessibility page.