Live Interpreting

No, and it is important to address the needs of the person needing interpretation services to determine which works well for them:

• Sign interpreters have varying levels of sign language skills. This may include American Sign Language (ASL), the most commonly known sign language in the United States. However, there are other sign languages, including outside the United States.
• Sign interpreters may have tactile language skills to address people with additional visual or cognitive disabilities.
• Some interpreters may also provide text interpretation (i.e. like text messaging back and forth) for people with hearing disabilities not as familiar with sign language.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is committed to complying with accessibility guidelines as addressed in Texas Administrative Code Chapter 206 and Chapter 213. Both reference the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), where captioning services are defined and prioritized by level of accessibility and undue burden. We are required to address guidelines in Level A and AA conformance levels at minimum.

The WCAG guidelines for sign language interpretation are at a Level AAA conformance level. Level AAA conformance guidelines benefit a specific group of disabilities instead of being beneficial to everyone from a universal design standpoint. For example, English captions and interpretation are typically useful for everyone who can read English, especially at a university-level. However, students using English as a Second Language (ESL) and students with developmental or learning disabilities may need more visual or tactile forms of language to understand words and concepts.

Therefore, unless there is a specific accommodation request or an event addresses a broad enough audience that an interpreter will be needed anyway (e.g. commencement ceremonies), we typically do not provide interpreters. Please make sure that your events and other activities allow your audience to request accommodations with appropriate lead time for us to hire an interpreter. We recommend 10 business days during busy seasons or circumstances (e.g. commencement, natural disaster, pandemic).

Yes and no. That depends on the needs of the speaker, the audience, or members of the audience.

Text messaging is typically built into online meeting and web conferencing tools as part of chat rooms or question-and-answer modules, so not all of these events need an actual text interpreter. However, if the speaker and audience is using this method for engagement, someone should be monitoring the chat rooms and other modules for questions and comments to keep both sides engaged.

Both address the need to translate information between hearing and non-hearing people. Live interpreters are available in-person at the event. Remote interpreters and the people they are assisting may be in a remote location.

Blackboard Collaborate is no longer licensed at TAMU-CC. However, you can attend meetings from external organizations using Collaborate. If you need accommodations, contact them for assistance.

Blackboard Collaborate has limited functionality for displaying a sign language interpreter within the session. This will depend on:

• who can participate in the session that has interpreter experience and
• the moderator's control over which attendees can display video "on-air"

Cisco Jabber is more focused on one-on-one communications (see Webex options for sign language interpreters).

1. If both members of the call know the same language (e.g. American Sign Language), then the callers can use the video chat option in the application instead of contracting a sign language interpreter.
2. If a live interpreter is required, the requesting department will need to assess funding for the live interpreter.
3. Alternately, Jabber provides a chat room where callers can text message each other.

A caller can view the interpreter window during the call. If a separate window is still difficult, a separate device can be used to view both screens synchronously.

Cisco Webex is no longer licensed at TAMU-CC. However, you can use the guest option to attend meetings from external organizations. If you need accommodations, contact them for assistance.

Webex Meetings allow you to invite a sign language interpreter to be a participant in your event and pin their window to your presentation.

Microsoft Teams allows you to invite a sign language interpreter into your meeting/event and then pin their video and reframe it for proper visibility. At this time, only university employees or students can be invited in to provide the interpretation between presenters and audience members who need to interact with the presenters. Outside interpreters will need to use a separate application.

Attendees can view the interpreter window during the event. If a separate window is still difficult, a separate device can be used to view both screens synchronously.

Zoom Meetings allow you to invite a sign language interpreter to be a participant in your event and pin their window to your presentation.

Attendees can view the interpreter window during the event. If a separate window is still difficult, a separate device can be used to view both screens synchronously. Zoom support resources:

• Side-by-Side Mode for Screen Sharing
• How Do I Change the Video Layout
• Pin Video