The header image is the default header image for the site.

Embed Videos Using Simple YouTube Responsive Plugin

This is NOT a fully ADA compliant solution because the viewer has to click play with a mouse so the controls are not usable with keyboard navigation only. But it does remove YouTube branding from the video for a cleaner look.

Step 1: Install Simple YouTube Responsive Plugin

The Simple YouTube Responsive plugin will ensure your YouTube videos are easy to embed, adjust sizes on different screens and show closed captions by default.

  1. Click on Plugins > Add Plugin on the left nav bar in your admin section
  2. Type Simple YouTube Responsive in the search bar
  3. Click the Install button
  4. Click the Activate button
  5. On your left nav bar scroll down and click on the new YT Responsive link
  6. Click on Configure to adjust any default settings.
    Width must be a % or the video will not adjust sizes on different screens.
    Autoplay should be left as NO for compliance.
Screen grab of Simple YouTube Responsive search result.

Step 2: Verify and Edit Accurate Captions

Before embedding, ensure the YouTube video has accurate, synchronized, and complete closed captions, since auto-generated captions often fail ADA accuracy standards.

  1. Go to YouTube Studio → Subtitles for your video.
  2. Edit the automatically generated captions for timing, spelling, and completeness.
  3. Include sound effects and non-verbal audio cues when important.
  4. Publish the corrected caption track and delete the auto-generated one.

Step 3: Add the Video to Your Site

Videos will display at full width unless contained by another block.

To control the width of your video and ensure it’s responsive to meet ADA standards use a row layout block to adjust the width of your video. Learn about formatting videos using row layouts.

Shortcode ↴

[youtube v="VIDEOID" param="cc_load_policy=1&cc_lang_pref=en&rel=0&controls=1"]

Note: Short code modification instructions are available under YT Responsive > Short Code linked from the left nav in the admin seciton

Embedded videos look like this ↴

YouTube Video
  1. Insert a short code block in the location you want to place your image
  2. Copy and paste the the short code into the block.
  3. In YouTube, open the video you want to embed
  4. Copy the string of numbers and letters after the “=” in the URL. For example:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwJ4yLPSLjM
  5. Replace VIDEOID in your short code with the string of numbers and letters from your video
  6. Save your page and test your video, make sure it’s the size you want and closed captions are on by default.
  7. Don’t forget add or link to your transcription!
  • cc_load_policy=1 → forces captions on by default.
  • cc_lang_pref=en → sets caption language to English (adjust as needed).
  • autoplay=0 → prevents autoplay per WCAG’s audio control rule.
  • controls=1 → provides play/pause and volume control accessibility.
  • rel=0 → shows suggested videos ONLY from the same channel.
  • title → adds a descriptive name for screen readers.
  • allowfullscreen → allows full-screen for easier viewing.

Secret Link