In many of the articles we write, we tend to shine a spotlight on the small, easy-to-miss details that can slip through the cracks during a website accessibility audit.
This time, we're addressing something far more visible and hard to ignore: the videos on your website.
Videos enhance user experience, and they can make all the difference between a visitor who's mildly curious about your product or service and one who decides on the spot: I want this.
They're great for SEO, and they give your brand a polished, engaging presence that genuinely connects visitors to your business.
And now that we've given videos their well-deserved praise, it's time to address the elephant in the room: videos are not accessible by default. They require dedicated effort and individual attention.
"Wait — Am I Actually Required to Make My Videos Accessible?"
Some readers will come across this guide and immediately start wondering whether they're exposed to accessibility-related legal liability.
Let's be upfront: there are specific criteria that legally obligate you to make your website videos accessible.
First, any public-sector organization — such as a municipal government, local authority, or government agency — is legally required under disability equality law to ensure their website videos are accessible.
On the private business side, any company with an average annual revenue exceeding ₪5 million (averaged over 3 years) is also subject to these requirements.
So if you fall into either of these categories, the answer is clear: yes, you are legally required to make your website videos accessible.
Does That Mean Everyone Else Should Skip Video Accessibility?
Absolutely not. Making your video content accessible is recommended and worthwhile even for businesses that aren't legally required to do so — for one simple reason: you'll dramatically improve user experience, enable customers of all kinds to consume your content, and maximize the sales potential of your product or service.
Beyond that, it's ultimately your call.
What Does an Accessible Website Video Actually Look Like?
Captions for Your Video
According to accessibility standards, an accessible video starts with captions. This ensures that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can engage with your content without relying on audio.
A Mute Button for Autoplay Videos
If a video plays automatically when a page loads, you are required to display an immediately visible mute button — giving users with disabilities (and everyone else) instant control over the audio.
Accessible Video Player Controls
Is your video player actually accessible? That's a question that needs a concrete answer.
You need to ensure that every player control communicates its purpose to screen readers, and that all controls can be navigated using a keyboard alone.
Video Title
If you're embedding a video from YouTube or Vimeo, you'll be prompted to add a title when uploading.
Don't settle for a generic placeholder. Think of a title that clearly tells visitors what the video is called and what it covers.
In other words: make the title actually relevant to the content.
Video Accessibility at USER A
At USER A, we carry out website accessibility audits in line with applicable accessibility laws, and we walk site owners through every requirement that applies to them.
Among other things, we assess whether your business is legally required to meet accessibility standards for video content.
If it turns out that you are, we'll flag it clearly.
It's important to note that video accessibility — specifically captioning — is not included in our standard website accessibility package, and is offered as an additional service.
As a team that genuinely cares about delivering real value, we have to be honest: this is a premium service with a significant price tag. That's why we're happy to refer you to the Information Accessibility Center, which provides accessibility services for a range of content types — including videos, PDFs, presentations, and more — at comparatively affordable rates.
They deliver the service, and we at USER A are glad to recommend them. For full transparency: this is not an affiliate link and we receive no compensation. It's simply an honest recommendation.
For any questions or guidance about your website's accessibility, feel free to get in touch. We're here to help.
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