Communication Access Services and Vendors

SBCTC Accessibility Center

Live Transcription (e.g. CART, Typewell, and Meaning-For-Meaning)

Live captioning conveys the spoken word through on-screen text using speech-to-text software used by a trained stenographer in real-time. This service can be provided in-person or virtually during meetings, events, and classes. Live captioning is an accommodation that provides communication access for people with disabilities.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) provides precise word-for-word translation on screen of what is spoken in real-time, including speaker pauses, and is delivered by a trained stenographer. This service can be provided in-person or virtually during meetings, events, and classes. CART is a type of live-captioning, and is an accommodation that provides communication access for people with disabilities.

Meaning-for Meaningtranscription (such as Typewell) conveys the speaker's overall intended meaning in real-time and is not precise word-for-word, and is provided by a trained stenographer. This service can be provided in-person or virtually for meetings, events, and classes. Meaning-for-Meaning is a type of live-captioning, and is an accommodation that provides communication access for people with disabilities.

Closed Captioning

Closed Captioning refers to on-screen captions that are added to recorded video content such as video tutorials, movies, recorded meetings or lectures, etc.

3Play Media is the primary vendor used by SBCTC and the colleges for video captioning and audio description services. Some colleges also use Verbit.

ASL (American Sign Language)

ASL refers to American Sign Language services delivered by trained interpreters to provide communication access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Some of the vendors in contract with SBCTC provide ASL. Many colleges also use Purple Communications.

Language Interpreter and Translation Services

Some people require language interpreters and language translation services for communication, such as English Language Learners. Though this is not considered a disability-related need under the Americans with Disabilities Act, SBCTC and Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion of all people attending and working at our colleges. Below are two resources for language translation services.

The Vendors

The contracts with these vendors include Washington Institution of Public Higher Education (WIPHE) contract language. This means that colleges can purchase their own services from the suppliers listed below and take advantage of prices negotiated by the agency. You can view each contract and its on the WIPHE website. If you have questions about the company or the contract, please contact Monica Olsson at: molsson@sbctc.edu

Visit the Azur website for comprehensive information. Specific rates include the following:

Live CART/Captioning Remote $99/hour
CART/Captioning On-site $149/hour
Meaning for meaning $70/hour
Post Production .SRT/.SCC verbatim request $109/hour
Live Spanish CART/Captioning $119/hour
Spanish Post Production $139/hour
Transcription Only $89/hour
ASL Remote $109/hour
ASL On-site $139/hour
Transcripts free of charge available after live events

Contact: Jodie Casal
Phone: 813-802-0773
Email: info@azurcaptions.com

Visit the ACS website for comprehensive information. Specific rates include the following:

Remote CART (verbatim) $79/hour
Remote Typewell (Meaning for Meaning) $55/hour
Onsite CART (verbatim) $150/hour
Unedited text transcripts provided within 24 business hours
Video Captioning $2-3/minute depending on turnaround time

Contact: temders@ai-media.tv

Verbit provides captioning and transcription services using both in-house AI technology and professional human captioners/transcribers to 3,000+ colleges and universities. Verbit integrations with Canvas, YouTube, Blackboard, Panopto, and Kaltura, among others.

Remote CART (Humans Only): $135 per Hour
Remote CART (AI & Human): $88.20 per Hour
*CART also available in Spanish and French
Extended Audio Description (Human Only): $7.00
Standard Audio Description (Human Only): $12.00
Post-Production Captioning Range (Human Only): 8 hours - $3.95 to 5 days - $2.25
Post-Production Captioning Range (AI & Human): 4 hours- $3.00 to 5 days - $1.20

Contact: Spencer Kirschner, Senior Customer Success Manager

Phone: 412-569-8944

Email: spencer.kirschner@verbit.ai

3Play Media provides post-production Closed and Open video captioning services, text alignment, Audio Description, among other services. Prices vary depending on the file’s audio quality and desired turnaround time.

Please work directory with your college’s identified 3Play Account Administrator to learn how to submit and pay for captioning requests. View 3Play Media’s Pricing Schedule.

If your college has set up the Caption Hub feature inside Canvas, this may be a quicker way to submit requests.

Contact: Frazer Kesselring

Email: frazer@3playmedia.com