Overview

This page provides information on requesting American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) / Live –Captioning Services for campus staff, events, activities, and meetings.

For students requesting academic accommodations in classrooms, please refer to the Academic Accommodations for Students section below.

Requesting ASL Interpreters or CART Services

If you are planning an event, meeting, activity and need to request ASL interpretation and/or CART (live captioning) please submit a request using the:

ASL/CART Request Microsoft Form

Who Should Request Services?

Event organizers arranging accessibility services for attendees (see below for more information on when ASL or CART services are required).
d/Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (HoH) faculty who may need ASL and/or CART services for themselves.

When Do I Request Services?

Submit your request at least two weeks in advance (three weeks recommended) to ensure interpreter availability.
Late requests (less than two weeks before an event) will be accommodated as availability allows but are not guaranteed.

If you have any questions, email the District Accessibility Office.

Academic Accommodations for Students

If you are looking for ASL or CART services for a student, contact your campus Accessibility Services office:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting?

ASL (American Sign Language) interpreting helps people who are d/Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing communicate with those who speak English and can hear. ASL interpreters are trained professionals who accurately and neutrally translate between spoken English and ASL.

Types of ASL interpreting include:

In-person interpretation
Video Relay Service (VRS) - which allows a d/Deaf person to use a video interpreter to communicate with a hearing person over the phone in real time.
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), which provides sign language interpretation via video for real-time conversations, including virtual meetings like those on Zoom, when the interpreter is not physically present with the d/Deaf participant.

What is Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART)?

CART provides real-time captions for spoken content. A CART provider (also called a captioner) listens to what is being said and types it into a computer, creating real-time captions that appear on a screen.

Captions can be:

Integrated into Zoom or other video platforms, so they appear directly on the screen.
Viewed on a separate link, which participants can open on their own devices, or displayed on a device (e.g., a TV screen) in a meeting room.

CART services can be provided in-person (with the captioner in the same room as the event) or remotely (with the captioner listening online).

For the best experience, it’s important to have clear audio, minimal background noise, and a strong internet connection when using CART services.

When should I request ASL interpretation for an event, class, or meeting?

Providing ASL interpretation is a necessary step to ensure accessibility and uphold the rights of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

ASL Interpretation must be provided when:

A d/Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing participant requests it as an accommodation.
The staff or faculty-hosted event is public, high-profile, and/or widely attended.

Examples of events that will need ASL Interpretation services:

Graduations, commencements, and awards ceremonies
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
Discover Seattle Colleges
Access Community and Opportunity (ACO) Office district-wide guest or keynote speaker events
College and District-Wide Town Halls
President and Chancellor presentations during President’s Day, Convocation, Development Day, etc.

What if I’m Unsure?

If you are unsure whether ASL interpretation is necessary for your event, ask participants in advance or contact District Accessibility (dist.accessibility@seattlecolleges.edu) for guidance.

When should I request CART for an event, class, or meeting?

To meet WCAG AA standards, live captions must be provided for many real-time videos. This ensures that people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing can access the audio content.

CART must be provided when:

A participant requests it as an accommodation.
The staff or faculty-hosted event is public, high-profile, and/or widely attended.
The event involves complex discussions, interactive elements, or specialized content, where real-time language access is essential.
The event is live-streamed or recorded, ensuring future accessibility for all viewers.

Examples of events that will need CART services:

Graduations, commencements, awards ceremonies, etc.
Live and recorded talks by university officials
MLK Celebration
Discover Seattle Colleges
ACO Trainings/Workshops
College and District-Wide Town Halls

Examples of events that may need CART services:

Keynote and Guest Speaker Events
Trainings, workshops, and conferences

What if I’m Unsure?

If you are unsure whether ASL or CART services are necessary for your event, ask participants in advance or contact District Accessibility (dist.accessibility@seattlecolleges.edu) for guidance.

How do I know if an event will have ASL or CART services?

Check the event details, contact the event organizer, or contact the District Accessibility Office (dist.accessibility@seattlecolleges.edu).

What happens if an interpreter is unavailable for my event?

We will do our best to secure services, but availability is not guaranteed for late requests. Alternative options may include captioning services or rescheduling.

How do I submit feedback on ASL Interpretation or CART Services?

You can submit anonymous feedback through this Microsoft Form. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions to help us improve ASL Interpretation and CART services.

Recommendations for Working with ASL Interpreters and CART Providers in Zoom

These instructions outline how to set up and manage ASL interpretation and CART services in Zoom, from enabling the sign language interpretation feature to assigning interpreters during a meeting and recording sessions accessibly. Keep in mind that interpreters may have their own preferred methods for working in Zoom. It’s always best practice to check in with them beforehand to confirm what setup will work best.

Before the Meeting

Enable the Sign Language Interpretation Feature

For your personal Zoom account:

Log in at zoom.us.
Go to Settings.
Scroll to In Meeting (Advanced).
Turn on Sign language interpretation view.
(Optional) Check the box to make this setting the default for future meetings.
You can also add additional sign languages by clicking the plus sign (+).

Scheduling a Meeting with ASL Interpreters (Optional)

If you already know who your interpreters are when scheduling the meeting:

Click Schedule a Meeting.
Scroll down and check Enable sign language interpretation.
Enter the interpreter’s email and choose American Sign Language.
Click + Add Interpreter if you need to add more than one (they often work in teams of 2).
Don’t worry if you don’t know your interpreter(s) yet — you can also add them once the meeting starts!

During the Meeting

Assigning ASL Interpreters

If you didn’t add an interpreter before the meeting, you can still assign one once the meeting begins:

Start the meeting as the host using the Zoom desktop app.
In the toolbar at the bottom, click the Interpretation icon (a globe or similar icon).
In the pop-up window, click + Add Interpreter.
Enter the interpreter’s name or select them from the participant list.
Choose American Sign Language from the dropdown menu.
Click Start to begin the interpretation session.
Participants will now see an option to open a separate video window with the interpreter, which they can move and resize as needed.

Allow Interpreters to Speak

Click Participants.
Hover over the interpreter’s name and click Allow to Talk.
The interpreter can now unmute their microphone, if they need to translate from ASL to spoken English, or communicate with the meeting hosts.

Recording the Meeting with the Interpreter’s Video

To record a Zoom Sign Language interpretation view, ensure you enable the "Record sign language interpreter" option in your Zoom recording settings (found by logging into Zoom on the web), which will capture the dedicated video channel of the sign language interpreter alongside the other participants
- You can also achieve this by spotlighting the interpreter during the live meeting to ensure their view is prominently featured in the recording
Local recordings (on your computer) will include the interpreter’s video if they are visible and speaking.
Cloud recordings (on Zoom’s servers) do not include the interpreter's video in the special interpretation window, making this a less accessible option.

Tip: Always let people know if the meeting is being recorded!

General Best Practices

Encourage participants to pin the interpreter’s video if they want it always visible.
Test your setup before the meeting, especially for large events.
For webinars, assign interpreters as panelists so their video stays visible.

Guidance for Working with ASL Interpreters In-Person

Where Should the ASL Interpreter Be Located?

For in-person events and meetings, interpreters should position themselves where both the speaker and interpreter remain in the d/Deaf individual’s line of sight. Whenever possible:

Work with interpreters to ensure they are standing in front of a neutral background rather than a window or bright lighting.
Arrange seating so that d/Deaf participants can easily view both the interpreter and the speaker. If possible, collaborate with the d/Deaf or HoH participant(s) to arrange seating based on their unique needs.

Best Practices for Working with ASL Interpreters

Speak naturally and clearly: Use your normal tone and pace. If needed, the interpreter will ask you to slow down or clarify.
Keep good eye contact when and if you are able: Eye contact is important within d/Deaf communities, and it helps provide context for your speech. When making eye contact, you are not turning your head or body away from the d/Deaf or HoH participant. Therefore, your body language, facial expressions, and mouth movements are all clearly visible.
Speak one at a time: Please avoid talking over each other. Interpreters can only interpret one voice at a time, and overlapping speech makes it hard to hear and understand what’s being said. If possible, having a moderator can help keep the conversation organized.
Be mindful of interpreter placement: The interpreter should be near the speaker so that both remain in the d/Deaf participant’s line of sight. Avoid making the d/Deaf individual shift back and forth between the speaker and interpreter excessively, and do not block or step in front of the interpreter while they’re working.
Understand team interpreting: For longer events, interpreters may work in teams, switching at regular intervals (often every 15 minutes) to maintain accuracy and reduce fatigue.
Share prep materials ahead of time: Whenever possible, please provide materials as soon as possible, before the event. The more context interpreters have, the better they can support clear and accurate access. Helpful materials might include speaker info, slides, talking points, speeches or song lyrics, background on the topic, possible questions, and any unusual terms or jargon. Please email event materials to the Accessibility Services Coordinator (jessica.slivinski@seattlecolleges.edu).
Speak directly to d/Deaf participants: Avoid saying “Tell him that…”, “Can you let her know…” or “What do they want to do about…” or directing comments to the interpreter. Engage directly with the d/Deaf participant as you would any other attendee.
Recognize the interpreter’s role: When the interpreter voices, they are conveying what the d/Deaf participant is saying, not speaking for themselves.
Respect communication preferences: Some d/Deaf individuals may or may not choose to speak or read lips. Do not ask them to speak or read lips if they prefer not to.

Working with CART (Live-Captioning) Providers in Zoom

Assigning a Live Captioner

To ensure accurate captions, you can designate a live captioner before the meeting begins. Zoom allows hosts to assign a captioner or integrate third-party captioning services.

How to Assign a Captioner:

As the host, click on ‘More’ in the meeting controls.
Select ‘Assign a participant to type’ or enable ‘Third-party captioning service.’
Inform the captioner ahead of time to ensure a smooth setup and have them send a caption ‘test’ prior to the meeting start.

Ensure Caption Readability

To ensure captions are easy to read, consider the following:

Speak at a moderate pace to allow captions to appear accurately.
Avoid overlapping conversations; captions cannot transcribe multiple voices at once.
Minimize background noise to improve captioning accuracy.
Use clear, direct language and avoid excessive jargon or acronyms.

Tip: Encourage speakers to pause occasionally (in-between slides, for example) so that captions can keep up with the conversation.

Adjusting Caption Settings

Participants can customize how captions appear on their screen for better readability.

Steps to Adjust Captions:

Sign in to the Zoom desktop client.
Click your profile picture, then click Settings.
Click Accessibility tab.
Under the Closed Captioning section, click and drag the slider bar to adjust the size of captions displayed in a meeting or webinar.
The preview below the slider will show the approximate size of what the captions will appear as in a meeting or webinar.

Tip: Encourage participants to explore these settings for better accessibility.

Recording Meetings with Captions

If a meeting is being recorded, captions may not always be included in the playback.

Recording Options:

Zoom’s Cloud Recording can save captions if enabled (you can do this after logging into your Zoom account in a web browser).
Local recordings do not save captions automatically.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have questions about requesting or working with ASL Interpreters or CART providers, or if you need guidance about what services may be appropriate for your event/meeting, please contact the District Accessibility Office at dist.accessibility@seattlecolleges.edu.