Captioning Live Broadcasts

Cisco Jabber is more focused on one-on-one communications (see Cisco Webex options for live transcribing). Workarounds with Jabber:

1. Within the Jabber chatroom, use a screen share mode to get at least the presenter's side of the conversation captioned using an auto-captioning option. Note these are not 99% accurate and may still cause potential confusion during the conversation.
2. A live transcriber can be contracted to provide closed captioning in a separate application. The requesting department will need to assess funding for the transcriber.
3. Alternately, Jabber provides a chatroom where callers can text message each other. This is the most recommended, since communication for both sides of the conversation is displayed as more accessible text.

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.

Note that Webex Meetings allows your meeting host to assign an attendee to the role of Closed Captionist. The closed captioning window in Webex is visible to desktop or laptop devices. Yet, the closed captioning window in Webex is not available to Apple (iOS) or Android devices.

Microsoft Teams launched their CART services option at the end of 2021. The meeting organizer must adjust the settings on the Teams Meeting to turn on CART options and send that link to the transcriber.

For student use: Disability Services can provide a live transcriber with a minimum of 48 hour notice. They will use a separate browser window for closed captions. (see live caption demo) The transcriber should log in before the event begins to ensure the entire event is accommodated.

If a separate window is still difficult, a separate device can be used to view both screens synchronously.

Workarounds:

• Within the Teams chatroom, use a screen share mode to get at least the presenter's side of the conversation captioned using an auto-captioning option. Note these are not 99% accurate and may still cause potential confusion during the conversation.
• A live transcriber can be contracted to provide closed captioning in a separate application. The requesting department will need to assess funding for the transcriber.
• Alternately, Teams provides a chatroom where callers can text message each other. This is the most recommended, since communication for both sides of the conversation is displayed as more accessible text.

By accommodation request or for large and university-wide events: Division of Information Technology has contracted with captioning services providers who have live transcribers. Due to unprecedented demand during the pandemic, requests should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance of the event to ensure availability of a transcriber.

Zoom Meetings allow you to assign an attendee to the role of co-host as type "Closed Caption".

The closed captioning window in Zoom is visible to desktop or laptop devices as well as mobile devices.

For student use: Disability Services can provide a live transcriber with a minimum of 48 hour notice. They will use a separate browser window for closed captions. (see live caption demo) The transcriber should log in before the event begins to ensure the entire event is accommodated.

By accommodation request or for large and university-wide events: Division of Information Technology has contracted with captioning services providers who have live transcribers. Due to unprecedented demand during the pandemic, requests should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance of the event to ensure availability of a transcriber.

Note: Zoom does not currently provide live transcription in the breakout rooms. Meeting hosts should ensure that people needing the accommodation are in the main room with the live transcriber where they can continue to participate.