Want to improve video accessibility for learners who are blind or have low vision? Add audio descriptions. Audio descriptions are spoken explanations of essential visual details not covered in dialogue or narration.

Storyline 360 currently doesn’t support audio descriptions as a separate track that learners can toggle on or off. Instead, you add them by syncing narration with your video or by offering an alternative video that includes descriptions. Keep reading to learn more about audio descriptions, including when to use them, how to add them, and how to write them well.

• Decide When to Use Audio Descriptions
• Choose a Type of Audio Description
• Add Audio Descriptions
• Decide How Learners Access Audio Descriptions
• Write Effective Audio Descriptions
• Review Accessibility Guidelines for Audio Descriptions 

Decide When to Use Audio Descriptions

If a video includes important visual information that learners need to understand the content and that content isn’t conveyed through the audio, you should use audio descriptions. Ask yourself, “If a learner turned off the screen and listened only to the audio, would they miss anything important?”

For example, if the video only shows a speaker and all information is conveyed through dialogue or narration, you don’t need audio descriptions. However, letting learners know that no additional description is needed can be helpful. You can do this by adding a brief accessibility note near the video or in the surrounding text.

If the video includes important visuals, such as on-screen text, demonstrations, or charts, add audio descriptions so all learners can access the information.

Captions and transcripts provide access to spoken audio but don’t replace audio descriptions when meaningful visual information isn’t spoken.

Choose a Type of Audio Description

Once you’ve determined that a video needs audio descriptions, the next step is deciding what type to use—standard or extended.

• Standard audio descriptions fit into the natural pauses of the video’s audio. They work best when the visual information that requires description is limited. This third-party video shows an example.
• Extended audio descriptions pause the video to allow more time for description. They work best when additional time is needed to describe important visuals. This third-party video shows an example.

Add Audio Descriptions

Storyline 360 offers flexible options for adding audio descriptions, whether you’re creating your own videos or working with existing content. Let’s explore some of them.

Add Standard Descriptions During Natural Pauses

If your video has natural pauses in the audio, use those moments to describe important visual details. You can import the video into Storyline 360 and add narration that describes essential visual details as they appear without interrupting playback.

Follow these steps to get started:

1. Import the video into your project.
2. Identify essential visual details that aren’t communicated through the video’s audio.
3. Add those descriptions to a narration script.
4. Record or import the narration. You can also convert text to speech.
5. Align the narration on the timeline so each description plays at the right time. 

If you display on-slide text or captions with your descriptions, you can use AI Assistant to sync those elements with the narration. Note that it syncs with audible speech, not visual moments in the video.

Use Extended Descriptions During Automatic Pauses

If important visuals can’t be described during natural pauses in the video’s existing audio, use extended audio descriptions. In this approach, you keep the original video unchanged and use cue points and triggers in Storyline 360 to control playback. When learners watch the video, it will automatically pause at specific moments, play the audio description, and then resume. Let learners beforehand that the video may pause for audio descriptions.

Follow these steps to get started:

1. Record or import audio description clips. You can also convert text to speech.
2. Add cue points to the video at the moments where descriptions are needed.
3. Create triggers that pause the video at a cue point, play the description audio, and then resume the video when the audio ends.

The video pauses and resumes during playback in Storyline 360. The original video file isn’t modified.

Provide an Audio-Described Video

You can also create two versions of the video, one with audio descriptions and one without, and let learners choose which version to watch. This works best when descriptions don’t fit into the narration or when you want to give learners a dedicated audio-described experience.

To set this up:

1. Add the video without audio descriptions to the base layer.
2. Create a new layer and add the video with descriptions.
3. Use buttons or variables to control when the layer is shown.

Using a layer keeps only one version visible and accessible at a time. It also ensures that only the selected video appears in the focus order.

Once both versions are in place, you’re ready to decide how you want learners to access them throughout the course.

Decide How Learners Access Audio Descriptions

You can set a learner preference for the entire course, let learners choose on each slide, or provide descriptions on demand.

Remember the Learner’s Preference

Use this method when you want learners to select a video version preference and have it applied across the course.

1. Ask learners at the start of the course whether they want audio descriptions, then save their choice in a variable. 
2. Use the variable to show or play only the appropriate video version on each slide.
3. Add triggers that show the appropriate layer based on the learner’s choice.

Since only one layer is visible at a time, learners only interact with the selected video version.

Let Learners Decide on Each Slide

Use this approach when you want learners to decide each time which version they want.

1. Add two videos to the slide.
   • Video 1: video with audio descriptions
   • Video 2: video without audio descriptions
2. Provide clearly labeled buttons or controls that let learners choose which video version to play.
3. Keep both videos available in the focus order so keyboard and screen reader users can access either option.

Let Learners Play Extended Descriptions On Demand

You can also add a labeled button, such as “Play extended audio description,” that pauses the video and plays the description only when selected. This approach gives learners control over whether and when they hear extended descriptions, helping reduce cognitive load caused by unexpected pauses.

Write Effective Audio Descriptions

Effective audio descriptions focus on what’s essential for understanding in that moment. That includes elements such as: 

• Who is speaking and when speakers change
• Actions, movements, or gestures
• Facial expressions
• On-screen text
• Charts, diagrams, and key images

Aim for concise, well-timed descriptions that enhance the video. Follow these best practices:

• Prioritize the most important information based on the time available.
• Use short, simple sentences.
• Describe actions in the present tense.
• Match the style, tone, and pace of the video so descriptions enhance the content without distracting from it.
• Avoid phrases like “we see.”

Be careful not to over-describe. Too much detail can make it harder for learners, especially those with cognitive disabilities, to follow the main content.

Example: Include Meaningful Nonverbal Cues

Video context: A manager responds to an employee’s concern.

Audio description: “The manager pauses for a few seconds, nods once, and maintains steady eye contact before responding.”

This description captures observable actions that could affect how the response is interpreted and avoids assumptions about intent.

Finally, test your course with screen readers and keyboard navigation. Whenever possible, also test with people who regularly rely on audio descriptions. This helps ensure descriptions are clear, complete, and effective.

Review Accessibility Guidelines for Audio Descriptions

No matter the method you choose, adding audio descriptions can help you meet common accessibility requirements. The WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards outline the following accessibility conformance requirements for prerecorded videos that include essential visual information:

• 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) (Level A) requires either audio descriptions or a descriptive text alternative.
• 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA) requires audio descriptions when visuals are needed to understand the content.
• 1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AAA) requires extended audio descriptions when natural pauses aren’t sufficient to describe essential visuals.

Note: Most organizations aim for Level A or Level AA conformance. Level AAA is the highest and most comprehensive level. Choose the option that meets your accessibility goals and supports your learners.