While Section 508 is a legal requirement for federal agencies and contractors, subtitles are widely used to improve the viewing experience for all:
Under Section 508, captions must provide equivalent access to spoken dialogue, including when multiple languages are used.
: If a foreign language is not translated for the general audience:
Include the exact wording in the original language if possible (e.g., “ Hola, ¿cómo está? ”).
In the context of the Rehabilitation Act, provides specific requirements for captions and transcripts to ensure digital content is accessible to everyone. Core Captioning Guidelines
: They help viewers understand scenes in noisy environments or when actors have thick accents.
If a transcription isn't available, describe the tone or nature of the speech (e.g., [arguing in Korean] ). Key Benefits of Subtitles
: If spoken dialogue is translated for hearing viewers (via dubbing or subtitles), the captions must use that same translation exactly.