Overview
To facilitate accommodations for students requiring Media Captioning, instructors are advised to assess all media intended for use in the classroom or on Canvas for the duration of the quarter. Any media lacking appropriate and accessible captions or transcriptions will need to be captioned professionally by the Student Disability Center.
Auto-generated captions are not considered compliant, as they do not meet the required standards for accuracy, completeness, and equal access. Therefore, auto captions are not acceptable for students who are approved for media captioning accommodations. All video content must include professionally produced captions to ensure effective communication and full accessibility, as mandated by federal law (ADA Title II & III, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act).
Processing Requirements
All media submitted for professional captioning must be processed through AggieVideo or Canvas by uploading the media to My Media or Media Gallery.
The SDC has limited ability to process media hosted on other platforms and will work with instructors on a case-by-case basis. Please allow at least two weeks’ advanced notice for captioning requests that cannot be made through AggieVideo or Canvas and make the request via email to [email protected].
Captioning Turnaround Time
When requesting professional captions through Canvas or AggieVideo, the captions will be updated within four days. For special requests that cannot be submitted through Canvas or AggieVideo, please allow a minimum of two weeks’ advanced notice.
In accordance with ADA compliance standards, refrain from showing uncaptioned or auto-captioned materials, as these do not meet the DOJ or University approved criteria for accessibility.
We truly appreciate your understanding and partnership as we work together to ensure accessible course content for all students.
Lecture Capture
Lecture Capture captioning will automatically be processed through AggieVideo. Instructors do not need to submit an additional captioning request for their Lecture Capture media. If a student with media captioning accommodations reports concerns about the accuracy of Lecture Capture captions, please notify the SDC at [email protected].
Instructor-Owned Media
Any pre-recorded, instructor-owned videos will need to be accurately captioned to be ADA compliant. If videos are not captioned, they may not be shown in class or be required to view outside of class time.
For information on how to submit a Media Captioning request, please view the instructions for Media Captioning through the SDC or contact [email protected] for assistance.
Embedded Videos
If you plan to use videos in your Canvas assignments or presentations, please upload them to your My Media or Media Gallery and request media captioning before embedding them in any course website pages.
Audio-Only Transcription
In instances where the instructor intends to utilize audio-only files, such as podcasts, transcription is suitable. Numerous podcast platforms offer downloadable transcripts, or instructors may request transcription services from the SDC.
Media Captioning When ASL Interpreters and/or Realtime Captioners are Present
In some cases, a student may use ASL Interpreters and/or Realtime Captioners during in-person lectures or online synchronous classes. Media material should still be captioned even when an ASL Interpreter or Realtime Captioner is present.
It can be challenging for interpreters or captioners to fully and accurately convey all dialogue and audio cues in media without extensive preparation. Additionally, students find it difficult to simultaneously watch videos and watch the interpreter or read captions on their laptops.