FAQs

Caption First is an industry leader in providing realtime captioning and CART services, nationally and internationally, since 1989. Our goal is to provide equal access for everyone, breaking down communication barriers that presently exist for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, as well as those whose native language is not English.

At Caption First, CART and captioning are word-for-word services. Our goal is to capture 100% of the information and translate that via stenography at 98% or better accuracy. In addition, our captioners provide clues to environmental sounds (like ringing phones and laughter) as well as speaker identification so the consumer has ambient awareness.

Yes. All of Caption First’s captioners are certified by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) with at least one of the following certifications:

• 1. Registered Professional Reporter – RPR - Written Knowledge and Skills testing, non-realtime.
• 2. Certified Realtime Reporter –CRR – Base Registered Professional Reporter certification and a realtime skills test at 200 wpm on Q & A material.
• 3. Certified Realtime Captioner - CRC – A certification requiring passage of a Captioning Written Knowledge Test and a skills test at 180 wpm on Literary material.

CART and captioning are different technologies but many people use these terms interchangeably because the process of creating the text is similar for both services. Captioning requires merging text with video and may be done in real time or later (sometimes referred to as offline or post-production captioning). Additional hardware and software are required to do captioning. CART requires no video and is always done in real time.

Yes, all of Caption First’s services are secure and confidential. Caption First’s captioners each sign confidentiality agreements and non-disclosure agreements. In all of our years of service, we have never had an external breach of security. Additional security measures are available for those clients who need the highest available level of security.  Ask for more information about our Enhanced Security program.

Individuals who are Deaf or hearing impaired compose the largest segment of the population to use CART and captioning.  The National Institute on Deafness and Communicative Disorders (NIDCD) estimates

• 36 million Americans have a hearing loss, including 17% of the adult population.
• About 1 in 6 U.S. adults ages 18 and over reports some trouble hearing, totaling 37.5 million U.S. adults.
• 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids, but only 1 in 4 U.S. adults ages 20 and over who could benefit from hearing aids has used them.
• 5% of adults ages 45-54 have disabling hearing loss, increasing to 10% for adults ages 55-64, and 55% for those who are 75 and older.

In addition, research has shown anybody who has difficulty understanding a speaker, such as individuals whose native language is not English and individuals who have auditory processing challenges, find CART and captioning very helpful in enhancing their comprehension of spoken English.

Put simply, CART and captioning are beneficial in any situation where an individual needs access to visual representation of the spoken word. A few examples include job interviews, meetings at work, teleconferences, webinars, religious events, conferences/conventions, and theatres and arenas.

Whether onsite or remote, there is practically no limit to how many people can watch the text as it is created.  However, when privacy is important, access can be limited to only authorized consumers.

Yes. Professionals certified by the National Court Reporters Association follow their organization’s Code of Professional Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Practice, which includes confidentiality and security guidelines.

Yes, we provide Live Audio Description (LAD) of conferences and live events. We can partner with audio description firms for videos, as needed.

Please contact us for details. We would appreciate an opportunity to create a specialized solution that meets your situation and budgetary limits.