ACCESSIBLE VIDEO: The Five Second Rule

Video Play illustration drawn with white chalk on blackboard

A video on a web page that plays longer than 5 seconds, without a way to pause it, fails as an accessible user experience.

2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide

Moving, blinking, scrolling:
For any moving, blinking or scrolling information that (1) starts automatically, (2) lasts more than five seconds, and (3) is presented in parallel with other content, there is a mechanism for the user to pause, stop, or hide it unless the movement, blinking, or scrolling is part of an activity where it is essential.

Solution

Adjust the code that embeds the video by removing the AUTOPLAY attribute or by adding a CONTROLS attribute.

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WCAG 2.1: 312 checkpoints covering A, AA and AAA W3 accessibility guidelines
Section 508: 15 US federal guidelines covered by 59 accessibility checkpoints

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