Thursday, December 29, 2011

got video?

If the answer is YES, then you need closed-captioning (CC). 
This blog post is continuing the topic of 'accessibility'.

First let's start with a definition. Closed captioning is the text that appears synchronously along with a video that captures spoken words and sounds that occur in the video. Closed captioning typically will appear below the video on a black background and the user has the ability to toggle the captioning on and off.

 It is important to note that subtitles are different from closed captioning. Subtitles are for foreign languages and intended for HEARING people. Closed captioning is designed specifically for NON-hearing people and those who are hard of hearing.

There are a variety of methods and services for obtaining closed captioning for your videos. You can consult with this wiki I created for details. http://adacompliance.wikispaces.com/

If you are using videos that are publicly posted on the internet and if it does not provide closed captioning it is important that you do not require a student to view the video as it is not accessible and does not meet ADA compliance. Try to find video resources that include captions. Sometimes you can contact the publisher/author and make arrangements to obtain a version of the video that includes captions.

Benefits to ALL when captioning is provided
  • Legal compliance (Americans with Disabilities Act-ADA)
  • Universal access (learning styles)
  • Improved comprehension of content*
  • Aids in ESL students
  • Very handy when viewing in noisy environments (or quiet places like the library)
  • Captions can be searchable
(*research shows it doubles retention and comprehension)