When building your library of streaming titles, closed captioning is an often overlooked but important element to consider. After paying for a distribution license, it may be frustrating to discover that the film is not accessible for everyone. There are captioning sites available, but this process is costly and imperfect. In this article we will examine the best course of action for captioning services at your library or institution.
What is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act?
Captions are not just a luxury, they are a requirement put in place by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 states that federal agencies’ electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities, including both employees and members of the public. To see if your library is in compliance, check out this ADA compliance checklist.
How Do I Get Funding?
The first step to getting funding for caption services it to reach out to distance services or disability resources at your institution. There may be funds already set aside by the district or grants that can be accessed. Even if your district does not already have a funding plan in place, disability services can help you set one up. Once you have established a plan to get funding, there are options for seeking out caption services.
Online Caption Services
Rev
Rev is an online service that provides captions, charging $1.50 per minute. They also offer human and automated transcription services, compiling audio files into a text document. Many users have reported that captions are not always perfect, so they may require “clean up” to make the title fully accessible. Programs like Jubler Subtitle Editor can help make these changes.
3PlayMedia
3PlayMedia is another online service like Rev. Other services besides captioning include audio description, Spanish captioning, and transcription. They have different pricing based on individuals, teams, and businesses, starting at $2.95 per minute.
Conclusions
When creating a caption services plan, it is important to consider the additional cost and time of checking and editing outsourced caption services. Although it may seem intimidating to caption your streaming titles, it is a worthwhile venture that will benefit your institution.