Distance Education – Online Classes

·    Most Internet resources are accessible to people with hearing impairments because these resources do not require the ability to hear.

·    However, when websites include audio output without providing text captioning or transcription, a student who is deaf is denied access to that information.

·    Course videotapes that are not captioned are also inaccessible to the student.

A student may also be unable to participate in a telephone conference or video conference unless accommodations (e.g. sign language interpreters) are provided for that part of an online class.

If you have movies or videos that are not captioned, you will need to provide a transcription.  Transcriptions must include ALL sounds and perspectives, not just dialogue.

Example:  Cat walks by German Shepherds.

People watching (off screen):  “Ooh, look at that! The cat doesn’t seem worried”.

(Airplane heard overhead)

Dog Trainer (off camera):  “now stay, stay!”

Dogs:  Growl sounds. “Grrrr, grrrr”.

Cat:  “sssst”.

Dog Trainer (off camera):  “stay, stay!”

(Whistle is blown - off camera)

Dogs:  whimper sounds.

Cat: “meow, meow”.

(Dinner bell sounds – off camera)

Cat makes slapping sounds as it runs quickly through water puddle.

People watching (off screen):  “That cat really was hungry”.

Cat: purring noises.