Captioning in the Midst of COVID

by | Jan 19, 2021

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” – Sun Tzu

“Sheltering in place,” “Social distancing,” “You’re on mute,” and “Can you see my screen?” are phrases that have become an integral part of our newly expanded vocabulary in 2020. Communication has vastly changed since the beginning of the year, when our universe was turned upside down by Coronavirus, and nearly everything transitioned to the screen. 

Almost overnight, the world Zoomed in. On a personal level, I never imagined attending the funeral of a loved one and comforting the bereaved virtually, nor could I have pictured an entire weekend retreat in cyberspace. But all of this and more, including voice lessons, a virtual journey to another continent,  and a gourmet cooking class, became part of my own experiences. I’m sure you have had plenty of unexpected happenings in 2-D as well! 

Every day, more and more individuals are taking to their personal computers, tablets, and smartphones for the majority of their opportunities in cyberspace in every imaginable sector, including education, medicine, business, and familial functions as well as connecting with performing arts, joining informative webinars, or simply meeting up with friends. In all of these areas, captioning plays a larger and more important role than ever. The more effectively people can consume media, the more informed and educated they will be, thereby increasing their overall satisfaction and exceeding their viewing expectations. 

At Empire Caption Solutions, we have captioned large, corporate all-hands meetings, hundreds of webinars and seminars, support groups for youth at risk, museum tours, poetry readings, graduations, religious ceremonies, and more. We have never been both busier and more fulfilled at the same time than we currently are, but we understand the importance and value of having accurate captions in a timely manner and are committed to making that happen for you.

Providing captions in real-time or after the event (post-production) increases accessibility for all viewers, not only individuals who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. While laws under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act,  (ADA) required that captions are provided by certain organizations, institutions, and entities, arguably, when captions are offered that are not necessarily mandated, the viewer experiences are greatly enhanced; people are more connected and engaged to the program or event; and the overall satisfaction level increases, such that individuals are much more likely to return for follow-up and future programs. 

A potential donor may be inspired to give a larger contribution after being able to comprehend the content through captions. A team member in an office project will be able to fully contribute after “seeing” what is needed to ensure a project’s success. And Grandma will have unending joy from being able to read what her precious grandchildren are saying to her. 

Take the opportunity to build your connections through captions. Check out our service offerings on our website. You can also contact us at info@empirecaptions.com to learn more about how we can help ensure accessibility for your upcoming classes, programs, and events. 

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