FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Live captioning isn’t something everyone encounters every day. Our team is always happy to help explain how captioning works, why it matters, and how it can support accessibility for your organization, event, or audience. Below you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our services.

What is CART Captioning?

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is a word-for-word speech-to-text translation of all spoken words and environmental sounds facilitated through a CART Captioner trained in writing steno shorthand and conveying a speaker’s message complete with environmental cues. Unlike computerized notetaking, speed typing, abbreviation systems, voice writing or other interpretation services, CART captioning empowers consumers to decide for themselves what information is important to them.

In what setting is CART Captioning used?

Live captioning can be used in everyday settings to provide communication access. Examples of settings we caption at are conventions, church services, corporate meetings, educational classes, television broadcasts, ceremonies, sporting events, workshops/seminars, legal proceedings, webcasts, YouTube, and teleconference calls. Typically if there is someone speaking at your event, CART services can be used.

Who benefits from live captioning?

Live captioning benefits a wide range of participants. This includes people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, individuals with auditory processing differences, non-native English speakers, and participants attending events in noisy environments or where audio quality may be inconsistent. Many organizations also use captioning as part of their broader accessibility and inclusion efforts.

Besides the words spoken, what else is contained in the realtime captioned text being viewed?

Further to only the words being captioned, our live captioners write speaker identifications, environmental sounds such as fire alarms, microphone feedback, outside noises, phones ringing, public address system announcements, music playing, with lyrics when possible, laughter/cheering/applause, speaking in languages other than English.

Are your services remote or in-person?

The majority of our services are remote, although in-person captioning can be provided depending on the location. Most events can be provided remotely through platforms like Zoom and Teams. Remote captioning is also a great option for: • Conferences and large events (especially hybrid or multi-location) • Organizations with geographically dispersed participants • Cost-effective accessibility when on-site captioners aren’t practical • Quick setup needs with minimal equipment on site

Do you provide services for bilingual meetings?

We do provide English and French captioning, but captioners only write in one language. If your meeting goes back and forth between French and English, you would require an English and a French captioner to capture both languages. If language translation services are being utilized, there is the option of having one language captured by a captioner and the other language being translated through another service. Please inquire for more information.

Do you caption multi-speaker events or panel discussions?

Yes. Our captioners regularly support events with multiple speakers, including panel discussions, conferences, and workshops. Speaker identification is included in the captions whenever possible so participants can easily follow who is speaking.

How do participants view captions?

Captions can be viewed directly through a streaming URL link provided by Dash prior to your event. The streaming text can be viewed on any device with an internet connection, including a Smartphone. Viewers can change the colour, background, font, etc., to their own preferences. No apps or downloads are required. The URL provided can also be embedded into websites. Platforms such as Zoom, YouTube, and Webex allow for manual third-party captioning to be embedded into their interface. Embedded captions do have a slight delay in their delivery, but it is a great way to display captions without needing a second screen. Please note that Zoom, YouTube, Webex, etc., only allow one language to be embedded into their platform at one time. There are several workarounds to this restriction, and depending on your event, we can discuss those options if you have professional AV technicians involved in your event. Please Note: At this time we do not embed into MS Teams due to the technique the program uses to output captions and due to the delay. For events on MS Teams, we recommend using only the provided URL to provide captions to the attendees. Please inquire if you have further questions on embedding.

Can I order a copy of the transcript after the event?

Yes. Our captioners are able to provide a rough draft file after the event is complete. The rough draft files are not meant to be a verbatim record of the event and may contain missing, misspelled, or paraphrased words and may also contain environmental sounds, visual cues, and parentheticals. The quality of the rough draft may be affected by poor audio, digital technical difficulties, inaudible, indiscernible, or overlapping conversation.

How are Dash’s services booked?

Booking captioning services with Dash is easy. You can request services by completing our booking form, emailing us at captioning@dashcanada.ca, or calling our office at 780-445-4406. If you’re unsure what services you need or have questions about your event, our team is always happy to help guide you through the process.

How far in advance should captioning be booked?

Whenever possible, we recommend booking captioning services at least one to two weeks in advance. This allows time to coordinate schedules, review event details, and prepare captioners with relevant materials. For large conferences or multi-day events, earlier booking is encouraged. If you have a last-minute request, please reach out and we will do our best to accommodate.

What information do you need before the event?

To ensure the best possible captioning experience, we may ask for details such as: • Event date and time • Platform being used (Zoom, Webex, YouTube, etc.) • Estimated number of participants • Speaker names and agendas • Any presentation materials or terminology lists Providing this information ahead of time helps captioners prepare and improves overall accuracy.