Captioning Services include but are not limited to 1) captioning for video recordings and 2) transcription for audio files. Captions provide Deaf and Hard of Hearing students access to spoken language/ambient sounds (e.g. laughter, music, applause) and allow learners to view content in multiple different ways. This serves as an effective Universal Design tool. For example, ESL (English as a Second Language), ELL (English Language Learners), and visual learners may benefit when captions are available.

Auto-generated and AI captions are not considered accessible as they often lack punctuation and ambient sounds. ASL interpreters, Note Takers, and/or TypeWell Transcribers are not an acceptable substitute for the captioning accommodation as these force students to choose between viewing a film and watching an interpreter/reading a transcript.

General Information

Turnaround

Our standard turnaround is 2-3 business days, although additional processing time may be required for media with poor audio or that is longer than an hour. Accompanying scripts are welcome, but not required, as they improve accuracy and turnaround. Let us know if you have a tight deadline and we will put a rush on your order.

Cost

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) will cover the captioning cost for eligible students, staff, and faculty as well as for UVM affiliates hosting a public event, or an event where an outside attendee has specifically requested captioning, or any content that is posting publicly online. For all other requests, SAS may require that the requesting office/department/agency reimburse for services.

How to Submit a Request

Below are few options for how to submit a captioning request. Alternative methods for sharing files are acceptable as long as media is accessible. If applicable, passwords should be provided/removed prior to submitting a request.

Submission Option 1: fill out the Captioning Request Form
Submission Option 2: share local files with captioning@uvm.edu via UVM’s File Transfer Service
Submission Option 3: email online links directly to captioning@uvm.edu

Separate Services

Below are a few similar but separate services. If you are unsure if your content requires captioning, please contact our office and we will be happy to assist you!

1) Live captioning, or CART, is managed separately and can be requested using the CART Services Scheduling Request Form. For more information, please refer to the ASL/CART Services Webpage.

2) Subtitling and translation services are not generally provided but may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Captioning File Types

Closed Captioning (CC)

Closed Captions (CC) can be added to media that is posted online. For this option, we provide a timestamped text file which can be layered over most online platforms. Once added, the viewer can turn the captions on/off at their discretion. Below are a few frequently used online platforms.

UVM Streams: UVM Streaming is a video and audio sharing tool similar to YouTube and is commonly used in conjunction with Blackboard. For this platform, our office provides SRT files (captioned text) for the requestor to upload to their video. Once added, CC automatically appears wherever the video is linked.

Resources: UVM Streaming Guide (ETS)

Vimeo: for a Vimeo video, send the link to the captioning account and we will provide a VTT file, which can be layered over the requestors own video. Or, if the Vimeo video is posted on another user's account, we will provide the open captioned version and/or closed captioning files so that requestor can post the accessible version on a different platform, per request.

Resources: Adding Captions and Subtitles (Vimeo)

VoiceThread: VoiceThread videos can be processed two ways. 1) If the requestor would like to keep their presentation on VoiceThread, then they should download and send the individual audio files to our captioning account. Once available, we will return individual SRT files which can be matched with the corresponding slides. 2) If the requestor would like to use a different platform, then send the VoiceThread link to the captioning account and we will export the presentation as a single MP4. Once processed, we will provide the open captioned version and/or closed captioning files, per request.

Resources: Using Closed Captioning (VoiceThread)

YouTube: for a YouTube video, send links to the captioning account and we will either provide an SRT file, which can be layered over the requestors own video, or if it is a video posted under another user's account, we will provide the open captioned version and/or closed captioning files so that requestor can post the accessible version on a different platform, per request.

Resources: Adding CC to YouTube (3PlayMedia, begin on step 4)

Open Captioning

Open Captions are designed for in-person viewing as the captioned text is embedded and will play automatically. For this option we will deliver a local MP4 via UVM's File Transfer Service. 

VLC Media Player

While there are many different multimedia options, we recommend VLC Media Player as it is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.

YellowDig

Currently, YellowDig does not allow for effective oversight on video uploads, making it difficult to ensure accessibility for the entire course. Faculty using Yellowdig who have a student eligible for captioning services are asked to require text-based rather than video-based posts.

Contact Information

captioning@uvm.edu