Absolutely! We understand the importance of experiencing our captioning services firsthand. Here at SEA Captioning, we'd be happy to offer you a free 15-minute live demo before you book your event. Here's how it works: We can easily set up a Zoom meeting at your convenience. During the demo, one of our experienced captioners will demonstrate the real-time captioning process. You'll be able to see how quickly and accurately captions are generated. Plus, while you witness the demo, we can discuss your specific event needs and answer any questions you may have. This way, you can feel confident that our captioning services are the perfect fit for your event. Ready to experience SEA Captioning & CART Services? Contact us today to schedule your free demo!

To book captioning services with SEA Captioning, we'll need some key details about your event: Event Date and Time: Knowing the exact date and time allows us to schedule captioners and ensure availability. Event Location (if on-site) or Platform (if virtual): This helps us determine logistical needs for on-site captioning or compatibility with virtual platforms. Language(s) Needed: Specify if you require captioning in English or Spanish. Delivery Method: Indicate if you prefer on-site captioning with a captioner present or virtual captioning delivered through your event platform. Once you provide this information, our team can review your request and offer a personalized quote outlining service options and pricing. We can then guide you through the secure booking process to confirm your captioning needs for your event. Don't know where to start? We're here to guide you. Let's discuss your event and find the ideal captioning solution!

The booking process for SEA Captioning services is generally quite swift! Here's a breakdown of the timeline: Initial Inquiry: Once you provide us with the key event details through our website form or by contacting our team, we aim to respond with a personalized quote within 24 business hours. Review and Confirmation: After reviewing the quote and service options, if you decide to proceed, the confirmation process typically takes less than a day. Final Touches: Following confirmation, we may request any additional information or speaker details to ensure seamless captioning delivery. This typically takes minimal time. Overall, you can expect the booking process to be completed within 2-3 business days, depending on your responsiveness and any specific requests. For urgent captioning needs, please feel free to contact us directly. We'll do our best to accommodate last-minute requests based on availability.

There are two convenient ways for attendees to view the captions for your event: Personal Devices: We offer a secure and user-friendly option where attendees can access captions on their own smartphones, tablets, or laptops. You'll receive a unique link or QR code that can be easily shared with attendees through your event materials, website, or displayed on-site. Once they access the link or scan the QR code, they'll see the real-time captions displayed on their chosen device. On-Screen Display: Captions can also be displayed on screens throughout your event venue. This ensures clear visibility for attendees who may not have a personal device or prefer captions on a larger screen. Integrate captions directly onto individual monitors or customize the display to show captions on the bottom third (lower third) of the screen, ensuring they remain visible without obstructing the main content.

Captioning services convert spoken audio into written text displayed on a screen, making video and audio content accessible to D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, or anyone who needs additional support understanding the audio.

Any content containing audio information that you want to make accessible to a wider audience or comply with legal requirements should be captioned. Live events and webinars: Live streamed events and webinars that feature audio content should be captioned in real time to allow simultaneous access for D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Public videos and audio: Any video or audio content played in public spaces, such as waiting rooms, lobbies, presentations, government buildings, and public transportation areas, should be captioned to ensure everyone has access to the information. Educational materials: This includes online courses, training videos, lectures, and presentations. Government communications: Including public services announcements, emergency alerts, and official website content. Online video content: Videos posted on websites, social media platforms, or internal training materials should be captioned to reach a wider audience. Podcasts and audio recordings: Captions ensure content is available to everyone.

A company might need captioning services in several situations: Compliance with the ADA: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires companies to provide equal access to services for individuals with disabilities, including access to information and communication. This includes requiring captioning for any video or audio content played in public spaces or used in training materials. Industry Regulations: Certain industries, like healthcare and education, may have specific regulations requiring captioning for specific content to ensure patient or student understanding. Reach a wider audience: Captioning opens up your content to a broader audience, including individuals who are D/deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, as well as people who speak another language and rely on captions for understanding, people who are in noisy environments and need captions to follow the audio, and people who have learning difficulties and benefit from visual reinforcement of the audio. Demonstrate commitment to inclusivity: Including captions shows that your company values accessibility and inclusivity, which can be seen positively by customers, partners, and employees. Know your audience demographics: If you know that your audience includes a significant number of individuals who are D/deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, or who may benefit from captions for other reasons, then captioning your content is crucial. Requests for Captions: If you receive requests from customers, partners, or employees for captions on your content, it indicates a need for captioning services.

Captioning and CART services go beyond just accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing. They offer a range of benefits for a diverse audience, ensuring clear communication and participation for everyone at your event. Here's a breakdown of the key groups who benefit: 1. People with Hearing Impairments: This is the most well-known benefit. Captioning provides real-time text of the spoken word, allowing individuals with hearing loss to follow the conversation, engage with the content, and participate fully in the event. 2. Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities: For people with dyslexia, ADHD, or other cognitive processing differences, having a visual representation of the spoken word can significantly improve comprehension and retention of information. Captions can help them stay focused, follow complex ideas, and participate in discussions. 3. Non-Native Speakers and People with Language Barriers: Captioning provides valuable support for those who are still learning a language or struggle with accents or unfamiliar terminology. Seeing the spoken words on screen allows them to follow along, improve understanding, and feel more included. 4. Everyone in Noisy Environments: Background noise can be a challenge for everyone. Captions ensure clear communication regardless of the surrounding noise level. This is particularly helpful in large venues, conference halls, or crowded events. 5. People with Attention Difficulties: Following a long presentation or complex conversation can be tiring. Captions provide a valuable reference point for everyone, allowing them to review specific details or catch anything they might have missed while listening. Overall, captioning creates a more inclusive and accessible environment for all attendees, fostering better engagement, learning, and participation in your events.

CART stands for Communication Access Realtime Translation. It refers to a specific type of captioning service that provides real-time conversion of spoken word into text captions. This allows individuals who are D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing to follow along with the content simultaneously in settings like live events, court and legal hearings, educational settings, meetings and conferences.

Remote CART is a method of support services that provide real-time captioning for spoken language, but unlike traditional CART the captioner is not physically present at the event. The audio is heard by the CART captioner via phone or internet connection, they use a stenography machine or specialized software to convert the speech into text, and then the text is streamed in real-time to a server and devices like computers, tablets, smartphones, or screens at the event. Some of the advantages of using remote CART services include convenience, affordability, and it can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.

Live captioning and CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) are both methods for providing real-time text transcription of spoken language. However, there are some key differences between them: Delivery: Live Captioning: Live captions are typically displayed on a monitor, screen, or integrated into a presentation or video stream. This allows everyone in the audience to follow along with the conversation. CART: CART captions are usually delivered to a single individual or a small group of people who need them. This might be done through a dedicated captioning display unit or even a laptop screen positioned for the user(s) to see. Purpose: Live Captioning: Live captions are often used in situations where accessibility is a primary concern, such as conferences, meetings, lectures, or media broadcasts. They ensure everyone, including those with hearing impairments, can fully participate and understand the content. CART: CART is typically used in educational settings or situations where one-on-one communication is crucial. This could include classrooms, workshops, legal proceedings, or doctor's appointments. Technical Considerations: Live Captioning: Live captioning can be delivered through various technologies. Sometimes, a software program analyzes the audio and generates captions automatically. In other instances, a trained captioner uses stenography equipment to create a more accurate and detailed transcript in real-time. CART: CART typically relies on a trained captioner using stenography equipment to generate the transcript. This ensures a high level of accuracy, especially for complex or technical language. In essence, live captioning is broader and can encompass CART, but CART has a more specific focus on individual communication needs.

Deaf culture refers to the shared beliefs, behaviors, values, traditions, and experiences of individuals who are Deaf and use sign language as their primary mode of communication. Deaf culture prioritizes visual communication and information transmission. There is significant diversity within the community with variations in sign language, cultural norms, and individual viewpoints. Understanding and respecting Deaf culture is crucial for fostering inclusive and accessible environments for Deaf individuals.

Some etiquette guidelines for interacting with the D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community that can create a more inclusive and respectful environment for everyone include: Before you begin communication: Get their attention by making eye contact and waiting for them to acknowledge you before speaking. Introduce yourself: State your name and communicate clearly, maintaining eye contact and using facial expressions and body language to aid understanding when you speak. Respect individual preferences: Ask each individual how they prefer to communicate, through sign language, spoken language with lip reading, or both. Speak clearly and naturally: Avoid shouting or exaggerating your speech and allow the person time to process information and respond. Use simple and direct language: Avoid complex speech that can be challenging to understand and be willing to repeat or rephrase. Use assistive technology: If available, use assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, or real-time captioning to facilitate communication.

To ensure your event is accessible to the D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment you can take the following steps: Pre-Event Communication: When planning communicate accessibility clearly by stating on your promotional materials that your event is accessible to D/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Provide contact information for a coordinator for individuals with questions or requests for specific needs. Selecting an Accessible Venue: Choose a venue that is accessible with good acoustics, clear sightlines, sound systems, as well as accessible restrooms, ramps, and elevators. Accessible Communication Services: Offer ASL Interpretation, real-time captioning through screens or accessible through mobile devices, and distribute event materials in advance so individuals can familiarize themselves with the content at their own pace. Optimizing the Event Experience: Designate seating areas with clear sightlines of the stage, minimize background noise, and utilize clear visual aids.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. By incorporating captioning into your business and content, you can ensure equal access to information and communication for all individuals. Meeting these requirements can be achieved by: Using professional captioning services: These services offer accurate, synchronized, and accessible captions created by trained professionals. Utilizing captioning software: While some platforms offer automatic caption generation, their accuracy and quality might not meet compliance standards. Providing alternative formats: In some situations, offering transcripts or other accessible formats along with the audio may be appropriate. For more information visit https://www.ada.gov/resources/effective-communication/