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ACCESSING INFORMATION FROM VIDEOTAPE, TELEVISION BROADCASTS, OR WEBCASTS

If training videos are used for employment purposed, it may be necessary to make the video accessible. Options include captioning, an interpreter, and scripting.

Captioning

Employers often use videotapes as training tools for employees. When tapes are used that have not been captioned, the tapes are inaccessible to employees who are deaf or hard of hearing. Employers should make an effort to ensure that all employees can benefit from training tools. When purchasing training tapes, consider purchasing tapes that have either open or closed captions or contact captioning service providers that can add captions to training videos.

Employers sometimes use television broadcasts or webcasts as a way of informing employees about important information in the workplace. Such communication methods may also be used for meetings and training situations. Live realtime captioning might be provided to enable communciation access to television broadcasts and webcasts. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services may also be used in these situations.

Provide an Interpreter

If videotapes, television braodcasts or webcasts cannot be captioned, a qualified sign language or oral interpreter might be provided when the individual who has the hearing impairment knows a form of sign language or reads lips through an oral interpreter.

Provide a Script

As a last resort for accessing videotaped information, a script of the video might be provided. This method may be minimally effective for immediate viewing purposes as the individual may not be able to concentrate on the visual content of the video but could serve the purpose if the visual content is not of great significance to the information provided through the video.

Other accommodations may exist. If you have questions, please contact the Job Accommodation Network at 1-800-526-7234 (V/TTY).

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JAN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.

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