Broadcast2Post | Podcast by Key Code Media
Accessibility requirements for government video content are evolving quickly, and many organizations are realizing that closed captioning is no longer the only focus. New WCAG 2.1 AA standards are expanding expectations to include audio descriptions, presenting some new workflow challenges for municipalities, public access channels, and state agencies producing large volumes of meeting and community media content.
In this episode of the Broadcast2Post Podcast, host Michael Kammes speaks with Nathan Bosseler and Matthew Geiger from CASTUS Corporation about how organizations are preparing for audio description compliance, how AI is changing accessibility workflows, and why production practices themselves may need to evolve alongside these new standards.
1. What Audio Description Actually Means
Audio description is different from closed captioning.
Instead of converting speech into text, audio description adds narration that explains important visual information during natural pauses in dialogue.
That can include:
- Identifying speakers
- Explaining presentation slides or charts
- Describing actions happening on screen
Providing visual context during meetings
The goal is simple – someone listening without seeing the screen should still understand what is happening.
2. Why This Creates New Workflow Challenges
Most government organizations are producing content from multi-hour council meetings to public hearings to budget presentations, which makes manual audio description workflows difficult to scale.
One major concern has been whether agencies must update years of archived content. Current guidance primarily focuses on new content moving forward rather than rebuilding entire back catalogs.
Still, creating descriptions consistently across multiple meetings every week introduces new operational, staffing and time challenges.
3. AI is Starting to Automate Accessibility
One of the most interesting parts of the discussion was how AI is now being used to analyze video itself, not just speech.
The Castus AI workflow demonstrated that analysis by:
- Speaker recognition from placards and name tags
- Scene and audience interpretation
- Identification of on-screen graphics and presentations
Automated narration generation
In one example, the software identified Cub Scouts entering a city council chamber, recognized troop numbers from uniforms, and associated speakers using visible name placards.
The Castus AI workflow allows organizations to easily upload content, generate AI-assisted descriptions, review timelines, and publish finalized narration tracks, reducing manual effort and freeing teams to stay focused on their core responsibilities.
4. Accessibility is Starting to Influence Production Design
One key takeaway is that accessibility is no longer just a post-production task.
Production decisions now directly impact how effectively AI systems can interpret content:
- Are speaker placards visible?
- Are lower thirds blocking names?
- Are presentation slides display clearly?
Are camera shots framed properly?
These details can significantly improve accessibility accuracy and overall workflow efficiency.
5. The Bigger Industry Shift
While the discussion focused on government compliance, the technology extends much further.
The same AI-driven workflows supporting audio descriptions are also connected to:
- Automated translations
- Meeting summarization
- Searchable archives
- AI-generated metadata
Future live accessibility services
As AI tools continue to evolve, so is the accessibility workflow. It is becoming more part of broader media infrastructure strategies rather than isolated tasks.
Closing Thoughts
Audio description requirements represent a major shift in how organizations approach accessibility.
For government and community media teams, the challenge is no longer simply adding captions after a meeting ends. It is building scalable workflows that make visual information accessible without dramatically increasing operational overhead.
The encouraging part is that AI is making these workflows far more practical than traditional manual approaches.
Designing Accessible Media Workflows
Key Code Media designs, integrates, and supports the AV, broadcast, and media infrastructure that organizations rely on for production, streaming, and content distribution, helping teams build scalable workflows that can adapt as accessibility requirements evolve.
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