In 2024, the DOJ affirmed that the ADA applies to web content and requires state and local governments (Title II entities) to ensure their websites and digital content are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Closed captioning is a core requirement for accessibility in multimedia, specifically for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. WCAG 2.1 AA provides internationally recognized guidelines, with Success Criterion 1.2.2 and 1.2.4 explicitly requiring captions for prerecorded and live video content, respectively. The State of Tennessee seeks to discover the foremost WCAG2.1 AA mitigation solution for its prerecorded video inventory as well as closed captioning tools to aid in ADA compliant video creation going forward. This research will produce a number of prominent products within the marketplace that exhibit the necessary capabilities to effectively satisfy the State’s WCAG 2.1 AA 1.2.2 and 1.2.4 Success Criterion requirements.
