USING REALTIME CAPTIONING

Real time captioning (RTC) is an accommodation that provides a visual display of spoken language (voice-to-text) for someone who is deaf or hard of hearing. The captioner transcribes the speaker's words onto either a monitor (TV) or a computer screen for the deaf person to read.

The voice-to-text program DSS uses is C-Print. C-Print is an abbreviation software program that reduces keystrokes and allows the captioner to keep up with spoken language. It delivers a meaning-for-meaning visual representation of the conversation on the monitor - not a verbatim transcript.

EQUIPMENT AND ROOM ARRANGEMENT

The captioner will bring a laptop computer and stand, a monitor and in some situations, an extra laptop for the deaf person.

The captioner does not have to be introduced as a part of the group. She/He is there to provide an accommodation and will not participate in the meeting in any way. You can help the captioner do their job by not engaging them during the meeting.

The deaf person will need to be seated so he/she can view the monitor comfortably. The monitor should not be placed in front of a bright window. Glare can be visually fatiguing.

Arrange the group in a circle/semi-circle or around a large table to assure that everyone can see the person talking.

Instructor/Group Leader'S RESPONSIBILITIES

It is the Instructor/Group Leader's responsibility to manage the meeting in such a way that the accommodation of realtime captioning can be used effectively. Managing group communication in the following way increases the captioner's accuracy and insures better access for the deaf person:

1. Require participants to be recognized by the leader before they begin to speak (e.g. raise their hands).


2. After being recognized, the person will say their name and then make their comments.


3. Only one person should be speaking at a time.


4. After about an hour, the captioner will require a 10 minute break. The meeting should be suspended during this time.

CAPTIONER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

The captioner will type everything s/he hears. The captioner will not edit or omit anything heard. This includes environmental sounds that other participants can hear, i.e. sounds outside the room or a cell phone ringing and any comments between group members that the captioner can hear.

If the deaf person has requested a voice interpreter, the captioner will voice whatever the person types on his/her laptop computer exactly as it has been typed. It is socially appropriate to wait quietly and attentively while the deaf person is typing their response, as one does when another is talking.