For school districts and health centers
Every video you post, captioned and described.
From April 2027, public video has to meet WCAG 2.1 AA: accurate captions, and audio description when the picture says something the soundtrack doesn't. Connect your YouTube channel and every upload is handled, then published back for you.
Free, public data only, no sign-up. Or join early access
PRESIDENT: The next item is the consent agenda.
Illustration: a board meeting video with accurate captions and an audio description added, shown on an editing timeline.
ADA Title II, population 50,000+
April 26, 2027
Section 504 (HHS), 15+ employees
May 11, 2027
What we found
Video is where public organizations are furthest behind.
In October 2026 we scanned the YouTube channels of 20 randomly chosen US school districts: 4,048 videos and 2,156 hours, mostly livestream replays, board meetings and sports.
- of videos had accurate captions
- 3%
- of videos had accurate captions
- of the last year's uploads were captioned
- 7%
- of the last year's uploads were captioned
- channels had no accurate captions at all
- 11/17
- channels had no accurate captions at all
- videos mentioned audio description
- 0
- videos mentioned audio description
Thumbnails of recent uploads from the district channels we scanned, almost all without captions.
A typical district posted about 34 videos (18 hours) in the last year. After the deadline, every new upload needs accurate captions, and audio description where the picture shows something the soundtrack doesn't say. See how your channel compares
What the rules ask for video
WCAG 2.1 AA, in plain words.
ADA Title II and Section 504 require public school districts, colleges and HHS-funded health providers to make web content meet WCAG 2.1 AA. For video, these are the success criteria that matter.
Captions on recorded video
Every recorded video with sound. Accurate captions, not YouTube's automatic ones. A livestream replay counts as recorded video.
Audio description
Only when the picture carries information the soundtrack doesn't: a scoreboard, unread slides, a vote by show of hands.
Captions on live video
Livestreams while they're live. Live video itself needs no audio description; its replay does, where applicable.
Audio-only and video-only
A transcript for audio-only content such as podcasts. Silent video gets a transcript or audio description.
Sign language (1.2.6) is Level AAA, so it isn't required. Older videos may be exempt as archived content or preexisting social media posts, but YouTube isn't named in either rule, and exempt content must still be made accessible when someone asks. We label old uploads “probably exempt (unclear)”, never “exempt”.
How it works
Set it up once. Every upload after that is covered.
Built so a communications office of one can keep up, without learning caption formats or WCAG.
STEP 1
Connect your YouTube channel
Sign in with Google. We read your uploads; nothing is posted until you say so.
STEP 2
See what's in scope in a minute
Every video sorted into in scope, probably exempt (unclear) and already OK, with the ones that likely need audio description flagged.
STEP 3
Every new upload handled
Accurate captions with speaker names, published back to YouTube. Audio description written for the pauses, voiced, and linked as a described version.
STEP 4
Requests answered within 48 hours
A public “request an accessible version” page. Each request is queued, the requester is kept posted, and it's logged.
STEP 5
A report you can show
Inventory, statuses, what was fixed and when, the request log and a policy template, for your board or an OCR inquiry.
Your district channel
Scanning uploads
Illustration: a scan marks each upload as missing captions, needing audio description, or OK.
Real uploads from district channels. The free scan does this for your channel today.
Built for the video you post
Not lecture capture. Board meetings and Friday night games.
Generic caption vendors are built around lectures and marketing. Most public video is something else. Here's what Ferndean adds to real uploads like yours.
Board meeting · 1:23:00PRESIDENT: All those in favor?Audio description: Board members sit around a U-shaped table facing the audience; a slide is projected on the screen behind them.
Board meetings
Captions with speaker names, motions and votes. Slides that aren't read aloud and votes by show of hands get described.
Livestream replay · 3:25:41[crowd cheering]Audio description: Scoreboard: Hastings 35, North Star 8, fourth quarter.
Sports
Game replays and highlight reels show the score and the plays. We describe them in the gaps in commentary.
Commencement · 3:55:51♪ instrumental music ♪Audio description: On screen: Denton High School, 2026 Graduation. Friday, May 22, 2026, 7:00 p.m., UNT Coliseum, “Superpit.”
Graduations and events
Title cards, names on screen and music-only stretches: the details only the picture shows, described.
Livestream replay · 3:01:10ANNOUNCER: Serving to start the second set…Audio description: Wide view of the gym from the stands as both teams set up for the serve.
Livestream replays
Once a stream ends it's recorded video. We pick up the replay and caption it like any upload.
Real public uploads. Captions are illustrative; each description only says what the frame shows.
Why not just buy captions?
Captions are a commodity. Staying compliant isn't.
Per-minute tools fix the videos you send them. You still have to find which videos need what, upload the files, answer requests and prove it later.
| Feature | Ferndean | Per-minute audio description tools | Caption-only services | Enterprise vendors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scans your YouTube channel and sorts what's in scope | Partly | |||
| Accurate captions | ||||
| Audio description | ||||
| Publishes back to YouTube automatically | Some | Some | ||
| Public request page with 48-hour turnaround | ||||
| Report for your board or OCR | Partly | |||
| Flat yearly price under purchasing thresholds |
Pricing
One flat yearly price. No per-minute surprises.
A typical district posts about 18 hours of new video a year. The free scan tells you your number.
Starter
For most districts and health centers.
$1,200/ year
20 hours of new video a year
- Up to 20 hours of new video a year
- Accurate captions on every new upload, published to YouTube
- Audio description when the picture carries information
- Public request page with 48-hour turnaround
- Compliance report for your board or OCR
Standard
Most districtsFor districts that stream board meetings and games.
$2,400/ year
60 hours of new video a year
- Up to 60 hours of new video a year
- Everything in Starter
- Speaker names and motions on board-meeting captions
- Multiple YouTube channels
- Priority turnaround on requests
Large
For large districts, cooperatives and systems.
Let's talk
Custom volume
- More than 60 hours a year
- Everything in Standard
- Website crawl for embedded video
- Purchase order and cooperative contracts
- W-9, insurance certificate and data privacy agreement
Pay by card or purchase order. Under the $15,000 federal micro-purchase limit and local bid limits, so no RFP.
Older videos, when someone asks or you choose to fix them: $90 per hour, captions and description included.
Early access: reserving a plan costs nothing today. Now enrolling pilot districts and health centers for spring 2027.
Buying it
Small enough for a purchase order.
No RFP, no board agenda item. Your communications office can start with the free scan today and buy on a PO.
W-9 and certificate of insurance
A signable student-data privacy agreement (we only touch public video)
Card or purchase order, invoiced yearly
Accessibility conformance report (VPAT) for the app itself, before launch
Questions
What people ask first.
Something else? Send us a message
Do YouTube's automatic captions count?
Are our old videos exempt?
Which videos need audio description?
How does audio description work on YouTube?
What happens if we miss the deadline?
Is it available now?
Why is it called Ferndean?
Is this legal advice?
Free channel scan
How accessible is your channel today?
Paste your YouTube channel. In under a minute you'll see how many videos have accurate captions, how much new video you post a year and which uploads likely need audio description. Free, no sign-up.