Overview

Captions are text versions of speech that allow individuals who cannot hear the audio access the content of the video.

Definitions

• Closed captions – added to prerecorded multimedia and can be turned on or off, giving the user options
• Open captions – added to prerecorded multimedia and are always visible and cannot be turned off
• Real-time captions – included on live multimedia
• Transcript – a textual representation and description of audio and visual multimedia content

Minimum Compliance

Any form of multimedia including speech should have captions that are:

• Synchronized with the corresponding audio
• Equal representations of speech and other audio content
• Readily available to individuals who require them

Example

For examples of situations at Pitt, review the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’s Captioning Options page (opens in new tab) for guidance on providing captioned media.

Considerations/Notes

• Captions benefit people with and without disabilities.
• Captions improve the accessibility and the quality of multimedia in noisy, quiet, and any learning environments.
• Automated captions are often a good starting point but, typically require adjustments to assure they are up to minimum compliance.

Resources

For Pitt Instructors using Panopto:

• How to Add Captions to Your Panopto Videos

For Pitt Instructors using Zoom:

• Enabling and managing closed captioning and live transcription

General Resources:

• WebAIM’s Captions, Transcripts, and Audio Descriptions (opens in new tab)
• WAI’s Video Captions page (opens in new tab)

Call to Action – What Can I do Now

• Assess any forms of prerecorded multimedia and equip with captions
• Consider a provider for real-time captions on live presentations

Do you have a student with a disability in your class who requires captioning as an accommodation? Contact Disability Resources and Services right away to determine how to best accommodate the student in your class.