• Success Criterion 1.2.1
  • Conformance level A

Transcript Link That’s Broken or Locked Behind a Login

1.2.1 — Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)

Scenario

Setting

A grocery delivery app's shopping cart

What’s wrong

Transcript hosted behind login/paywall while media is public, or link to transcript broken/404.

Example 

<video src="/videos/substitution-policy.mp4" controls></video>
<!-- Link requires account login; guest checkout users hit a login wall -->
<a href="/account/transcripts/substitution-policy">Read transcript</a>

Why it matters

A guest checking out without an account clicks "Read transcript" and lands on a login page, losing their place in the cart just to learn the substitution policy.

How to test

Click the transcript link: if it 404s, requires a login the main content doesn't, or otherwise can't be reached, it fails.

How to fix

A transcript link must be publicly reachable to anyone who can reach the media itself, with no login or paywall in between.

<video src="/videos/substitution-policy.mp4" controls></video>
<a href="/transcripts/substitution-policy.html">Read transcript</a>

Outcome

A deaf shopper checking out as a guest opens the transcript in a new tab and finishes the order without creating an account.

Who is affected

Deaf shoppers checking out as guests hit a login wall exactly when they need the substitution policy explained in text.

Learn more

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