• Success Criterion 1.2.5
  • Conformance level AA

Audio-Described Video Version That’s Broken or Blocked

1.2.5 — Audio Description (Prerecorded)

Scenario

Setting

A project-management tool's task board

What’s wrong

audio description version linked but broken, region-blocked, or behind different auth than the main video.

Example 

<video src="/onboarding/board-tour.mp4" controls></video>
<!-- Legacy CDN path was decommissioned six months ago; this link
     404s for every visitor -->
<a href="https://cdn-legacy.example.com/ad/board-tour-described.mp4">
  Watch the audio-described version
</a>

Why it matters

A blind new hire trying to learn the task board follows the described-version link straight into a 404 page, right when they most need working guidance.

How to test

Click the link to the described version: if it 404s, is region-blocked, or requires different login than the main video, it fails.

How to fix

Whenever media assets move or get re-hosted, audit every linked accessible version so those links don't quietly rot.

<video src="/onboarding/board-tour.mp4" controls></video>
<a href="/onboarding/board-tour-described.mp4">
  Watch the audio-described version
</a>

Outcome

A blind new hire opens the working described version and finishes onboarding on their first day like everyone else.

Who is affected

Blind and low-vision users following the described-version link hit a dead end and are pushed back to the inaccessible original video.

Learn more

Related scenarios