Disability Resource Center

Real-Time Captioning (CART)

FACULTY

CART,  otherwise known as “Real Time Captioning”, allows students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing to read what is being said in class and in live-streamed media. We understand that this may be your first time with a student who uses CART services in your classroom. For that reason, we would like you to review the information below.

In-Person Courses

For in-person courses, the captioners will introduce themselves in-person on the first day of class and confirm they have all the information they need. In the first few days of your course:

  • Share your class schedule/ syllabus with the DRC at drcterp@pdx.edu. If there are days that class is canceled or additional meeting times are added, communicate these in advance to your students so there is time to also notify service providers.
  • The student will be responsible for arranging service providers for small group work outside of class or any needed office hours.
  • The captioner may be added as a guest to the Canvas course shell, so they can receive any class updates or announcements and so they have access to course materials. 

If you have any questions or concerns at any time, please contact the DRC Access Services Coordinator at drcterp@pdx.edu.

Working with Captioners about this content

Online/Remote Courses

CART is only required if you plan to use synchronous course content, meaning all students will be participating in live streamed course content. Students who use CART will have Real-Time Captioners who remotely join the live classroom conversations. The captions are streamed directly to the student’s personal computer. Thus, the captions will not be visible to you or the other students over the shared video. To prepare for your course:

  • Share your meeting schedule and links with the DRC at drcterp@pdx.edu. If you know your meeting times are different than what is listed in the course description, please let us know.
  • Check your settings in Zoom. There are settings within Zoom that can allow only users with PSU emails into your meeting. While this can be useful, please do not use this setting for this course. The service providers often do not have their own PSU emails to use, and may be locked out of your meeting. Instead, feel free to use a password that can also be shared to service providers. 
  • The captioner will be in contact via email to introduce themselves and reach out if questions arise during the term, as they will be largely silent service providers in your class.  The captioner may be added as a guest to the Canvas course shell, so they can receive any class updates or announcements and so they have access to course materials. 
  • Please keep in mind that the live machine-captioning available in sites such as Zoom or Google Hangouts do NOT meet the same accuracy standard as an Interpreter or Real Time Captioner, and will not meet accommodation needs.

If you have any questions or concerns at any time, please contact the DRC Access Services Coordinator at drcterp@pdx.edu.

CART and Accessible Media

Students who use CART in their course will also need all audio material to have captions and/or transcripts attached. Navigate to our Accessible Media page for more information!

Accesible Media Information about this content

Requesting CART for PSU Meeting or Event

If you need to request Real-Time Captioning services for a PSU-related meeting or event, please fill out the Request ASL Interpreter or Captioner for Event or Meeting form.

Request CART for PSU Event about this content