Users Requiring Visual Alternatives to Audio

Provide captions and visual alerts. Always.

Who needs this:

People who cannot hear
People with partial hearing
People who use sign language
People in loud places
People with broken audio devices
People using muted devices

Access Needs

People Who Cannot Hear

Use sign language or read lips
Need captions on all videos
Cannot hear audio-only alerts

People With Partial Hearing

May use hearing aids or implants
Need clear audio and captions
Struggle with background noise

People Using Sign Language

ASL or LSQ is their first language
Need sign language interpreters
Written text may be harder to read
Interpreters provide clearest communication

ASL (what it means): American Sign Language. A visual language using hand signs.

LSQ (what it means): Quebec Sign Language. Used in French Canada.

Situational Barriers

Noisy disaster site (sirens, crowds)
Damaged hearing aid (broken, no power)
Video call without captions
Audio-only radio broadcast

Crisis Impacts

Audio-Only Alerts Fail

Action needed: Add visual alerts to all audio warnings.

Why it fails: Sirens make sound only.

Loudspeakers broadcast voice only.

Radio uses audio only.

Real crisis: A tornado siren sounds across the city.

Someone who cannot hear misses the warning.

They do not go to shelter.

They are caught in the storm.

Videos Without Captions Kill

Action needed: Add captions to all emergency videos.

Why it fails: TV news has no captions.

Mayor speaks with no text shown.

Online videos auto-play without captions.

Real crisis: A mayor announces evacuation routes on TV.

The video has no captions.

Someone who cannot hear sees people talking.

They do not know where to go.

They are stranded.

Phone-Only Hotlines Fail

Action needed: Offer text options for all emergency lines.

Why it fails: 911 requires voice calls.

Emergency hotlines have no text option.

Help lines use voice only.

TTY/TDD (what it means): Text telephones. Devices that let you type messages instead of talking.

Real crisis: Someone needs to call for help.

They cannot hear or speak on phones.

They try to text 911.

The system does not accept texts.

Help arrives too late.

Fire Alarms With No Visual Alert

Action needed: Install strobe lights with all audio alarms.

Why it fails: Fire bells ring but show no light.

Smoke alarms beep with no flash.

Building alerts use sound only.

Real crisis: A fire alarm sounds in a building.

Someone who cannot hear is alone.

No strobe light flashes.

They do not know to evacuate.

They are trapped inside.

What You Must Do

Rule 1: Caption All Videos

For recorded videos:

Add accurate captions (99% correct minimum)
Use closed captions (user can turn on)
Or use open captions (always visible)

Captions (what it means): Text shown on screen that matches spoken words and sounds.

For live events:

Use real-time captioning
Display captions within 2 seconds of speech
Include speaker names

CART (what it means): Communication Access Realtime Translation. A person types what is said live.

Do not use auto-captions alone.

They make too many errors.

They miss critical words.

Add this to your video player:

<video controls>
  <source src="alert.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  <track kind="captions" 
         src="captions-en.vtt" 
         srclang="en" 
         label="English">
</video>

What the code means:

video controls = video player with buttons
track kind="captions" = caption file
src="captions-en.vtt" = file with caption text
srclang="en" = language is English

Rule 2: Provide Full Transcripts

You must write out all spoken words.

For audio files: Post full text on the same page.

For videos: Post full text with timestamps.

Include speaker names.

Note important sounds.

Example format:

[0:00] Narrator: A wildfire is approaching the city.
[0:05] [Siren sound]
[0:08] Narrator: Leave zone A now.

Transcript (what it means): Written text of everything said and heard in audio.

Rule 3: Add Visual Alerts Everywhere

You must pair audio with visual signals.

For outdoor sirens: Add flashing lights.

Add LED message boards.

Send phone alerts with text.

For buildings: Install strobe lights with fire alarms.

Add vibration alerts to watches.

Use flashing lights on doorbells.

Strobe lights (what it means): Very bright flashing lights that warn of danger.

For vehicles: Flash lights when sirens sound.

Display text on LED boards.

Use visible light bars.

Rule 4: Offer Text Communication

You must let people reach you with text.

Provide these options:

SMS text alerts
Text-to-911 service
Email updates
Website updates
Social media posts
Mobile app alerts

Do not use these alone:

Voice calls only
Audio announcements only
Radio broadcasts only

SMS (what it means): Short Message Service. Text messages on phones.

Rule 5: Use Sign Language Interpreters

You must provide interpreters for major announcements.

For critical alerts: Show sign language interpreter on screen.

Use split screen: speaker and interpreter together.

Interpreter (what it means): A person who translates spoken words into sign language.

Placement rules:

Show interpreter the whole time
Use good lighting
Use plain background
Show full body (hands and face)

Rule 6: Send Alerts Multiple Ways

You must never use just one alert method.

Send every alert via:

Text message to phones
Email
Mobile app push alert
Website update
Social media post
TV with captions
Flashing LED signs
Door-to-door visits if critical

Redundant (what it means): Using many ways to send the same message so people get it.

Standards You Must Meet

WCAG (what it means): Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Rules for making websites work for everyone.

Standard 1.2.1: Give Text for Audio

User impact: People who cannot hear access audio content.

You must provide text alternatives.

Post transcripts of all audio files.

Include all spoken words.

Describe important sounds.

Standard 1.2.2: Caption Pre-Recorded Videos

User impact: People who cannot hear watch videos.

You must caption all videos with sound.

Use 99% accurate captions.

Show captions in sync with speech.

Include speaker names and sound effects.

Without captions, users miss critical information.

Standard 1.2.4: Caption Live Videos

User impact: People who cannot hear watch live events.

You must caption all live broadcasts.

Use real-time captioning service.

Display captions within 2 seconds.

Live events include press conferences and emergency briefings.

Standard 1.2.6: Provide Sign Language (Best Practice)

User impact: Sign language users understand complex info.

You should provide sign language for major alerts.

Show certified interpreter on screen.

This is best practice level.

Many people use sign language as first language.

Standard 1.4.2: Let Users Control Audio

User impact: Users control auto-playing sounds.

You must not auto-play audio over 3 seconds.

Provide pause and volume controls.

Auto-play startles users and drains batteries.

Your Checklist

Test your emergency site with these:

Tools You Can Use

Test Captions

Note: Tool availability changes. Verify these work before recommending.

Captioning tools to try:

YouTube auto-sync
Amara Editor
Subtitle Edit

Create Captions

File format for web captions:

WEBVTT

00:00.000 --> 00:05.000
A wildfire is approaching zone A.

00:05.000 --> 00:10.000
Evacuate immediately to shelter B.

WEBVTT (what it means): Web Video Text Tracks. A file format for captions.

Test Visual Alerts

Check these work:

Mute all audio on your device
Navigate your site with no sound
Verify you receive all alerts
Check videos show captions

Test Text Communication

Verify these exist:

Text-to-911 in your area
SMS alert signup
Email alert signup
Social media emergency accounts

Real Success Story

Alberta Emergency Alert System

What they did right:

Sent alerts via 8 channels at once
Captioned all TV broadcasts instantly
Provided text and email options
Posted updates on social media with text
Used sign language interpreters for major events

What happened: 98 out of 100 people with hearing needs got alerts.

Everyone received information in time.

Real Failure Story

2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

What went wrong:

Warning sirens used audio only
TV captions appeared slowly
No text-based phone alerts existed
Public spaces lacked visual alerts

What happened: People who could not hear had higher death rates.

Many did not receive warnings in time.

Alert Protocol

Critical Alerts (Life Danger)

You must:

Send via all 8 channels now
Show captions on all video
Use short clear sentences
Repeat every 30 minutes
Update when new info arrives

Important Alerts (Safety Issues)

You must:

Send via at least 5 channels
Add captions to video
Post full transcript
Update every 2 hours

General Alerts (Awareness)

You must:

Post on website
Post on social media
Caption any video
Update daily

Technology Options

Text-to-911

What it is: Texting 911 instead of calling.

You must verify:

Service exists in your area
People know it exists
Dispatchers are trained
System works 24/7

Emergency Apps

What they are: Phone apps that send alerts.

You must ensure:

Alerts show as text
Phones vibrate
Alerts show visual icons
Apps work offline

VRS (what it means): Video Relay Service. A video call service with sign language interpreters.

Smart Home Alerts

What they are: Devices that flash or vibrate during alerts.

Examples you can use:

Smart lights flash when sirens sound
Smart watches vibrate with alerts
Video doorbells show visitors
Bed shakers wake users during alarms

Testing Schedule

Before Emergency Season

You must test:

Text-to-911 service works
Caption services are ready
Visual alert systems function
Staff know how to add captions
All alert channels work
Sign language contacts are current

During an Emergency

You must verify:

Key Points

Hearing access is survival access.

People who cannot hear your alert cannot act.

You must:

Caption all videos (99% accurate)
Post transcripts for all audio
Add visual alerts to audio warnings
Offer text-to-911 service
Send alerts via 8 channels minimum
Use sign language for major events
Never rely on audio alone

Clear hearing access saves lives.