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WHAT ARE CAPTIONS?

Captions are textual representation of audio that have been time-synchronized with the audio track of a video and appear on screen while the video plays. They are similar to subtitles but different in that they make videos accessible to viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing by providing timed text on screen as a supplement to audio and identify speakers, music, sound effects, and other audio elements that are essential to understanding the plot of the video.

ARE CAPTIONS REQUIRED?

In accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI), all instructional media such as films, videos, recorded lectures, presentations with audio and/or any digital content posted to BeachBoard, must have captions if an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing is enrolled in the course and needs access to the content as an accommodation. Additionally, audio files such as MP3 files and podcasts need transcripts.

Making the Distinction: Captions vs. Subtitles vs. Transcripts

• Captions assume the user can't hear and display words in the same language that is spoken in the video.
• Subtitles assume the user can't understand the language and display a translation of the spoken words and exclude non-speech sounds.
• Transcripts are merely the text version of the audio and are not time-synchronized with the video but are the first step to creating captions.

Captioning Guidelines

In accordance with the and , the CSU must “make its programs, services, and activities accessible to students, faculty, staff, and the public, with disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, multimedia programs and services as well as multimedia materials.”

• Closed captioning is critical for students who are deaf or hard of hearing and need this accommodation in order to participate in the course curriculum.
• If you plan to show any multimedia in your course and have a deaf or hard of hearing student registered in your course, then these materials must be captioned to provide equal access for the student.
• Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, or video regardless of delivery system.
• Captioned media must be provided at the same time that the multimedia is provided or shown or accessed by the class
• To receive captioning for your videos, a confirmed student with a deaf or hard of hearing disability must be enrolled in your course.

Audio and Video Captioning Services

To request captioning services, please contact BMAC-ATP at bmac-atp@csulb.edu. BMAC-ATP works in collaboration with Academic Technology Services (ATS) to caption videos with 100% accuracy for instructors with students who are deaf or hard of hearing enrolled in their courses. The turnaround time for captioning videos is typically 3-5 business days. However, videos can also be expedited if needed and captioned within 1-2 business days.

Captioning Your Own Videos

If you do not have a student who is deaf or hard of hearing and would like to caption your videos, BMAC-ATP provides a Captioning Guide to assist with captioning your own videos with the following platforms: BeachBoard (Kaltura), MS Stream, and YouTube. However, these captioning tools are not 100% ADA compliant and editing will likely be needed. Though you may not be required to edit your own captions, it is good practice to do so. You may also use and to further assist your captioning needs.

University Library Captioned Videos

The University Library has readily available captioned videos in their video collection from a host of streaming services for faculty and staff to use. The University Library’s section includes captioned videos by vendors who host, stream, and caption their content that can be viewed on the web and subscribed by �°������ϲ�����. To access these collections, you will only need a �°������ϲ����� campus ID.

Frequently Asked Questions