CART Captioning Guidelines for Students, Faculty, Staff

CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) captioners are entrusted with sensitive and private information through their work. These guidelines outline the expectations and responsibilities regarding the privacy of information related to students and professors.

• All information viewed, transcribed, or overheard during CART services must be treated as private. This includes but is not limited to verbal communications, written content, and any other personal or academic information.
• CART captioners shall not disclose any information about students or professors to unauthorized individuals or entities. This includes details about academic performance, personal discussions, or any private matters.
• Any records or transcripts created during the CART service shall be securely stored in Box where CART user will have review access. Transcripts will be routinely deleted at the end of the semester in which services are provided.
• In case of questions regarding privacy, captioners should seek guidance from their supervisor.
• Any concerns about student and transcript privacy shall be reported immediately to DRC Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialist and/or DRC Director.

Maintaining professionalism in the classroom is crucial for the effective delivery of CART services. These guidelines ensure that CART captioners act professionally and refrain from inserting personal beliefs or opinions into their work.

• CART captioners should maintain a neutral and unbiased stance during the transcription of classroom content. They should avoid any behavior that could be perceived as disruptive or unprofessional.
• Interaction with students and professors should be limited to the professional scope of the CART service. Captioners should not engage in personal conversations or influence the classroom environment.
• Captioners must dress appropriately and adhere to the institution’s dress code, ensuring their appearance is professional and non-distracting.
• All interactions with students and professors should be respectful and courteous, upholding the reputation of UIC DRC.
• CART captioners should not interject personal beliefs, opinions, or commentary into the transcription. The focus should remain on providing accurate and impartial translations of the spoken content.
• If a captioner has personal or philosophical differences with the content being transcribed, they must set aside these differences to ensure an unbiased presentation of the information.
• Captioners should not attempt to influence or persuade students or professors through their transcription work or any related communications.
• Any concerns regarding breaches of professionalism or impartiality should be reported to a supervisor or designated authority of the Disability Resource Center.
• Any concerns regarding breaches of professionalism or impartiality should be reported to a supervisor or designated authority of the Disability Resource Center.

• Students are expected to arrive on time for their scheduled CART services. Punctuality is crucial to ensure that captioning services are provided without interruption.
• If a student anticipates being late to a class or appointment where CART services are provided, they must notify both the DRC Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist and the CART captioner as soon as possible, ideally at least 15 minutes prior to the start time.
• Notification of changes in attendance or schedule should be made through the designated communication channels, which may include email, phone, box, or messaging platforms as directed by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist.

• Students who are provided with microphones or other equipment as part of the CART service are responsible for their proper use and care.
• Students should ensure that microphones are kept in good condition, used appropriately, and returned or renewed at the end of every semester to the DRC office or the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist.

• Students are expected to treat CART captioners with respect and professionalism. This includes refraining from disruptive behavior, inappropriate language, or any actions that could undermine the captioning process.
• Small issues or concerns regarding the CART services may be addressed to the CART captioner directly or to the DRC Deaf and Harding Hearing Specialist for immediately resolution.
•  Students should communicate with CART captioners in a clear, respectful, and professional manner. This includes being considerate of the captioner’s role as a non-participant in classes and avoiding unnecessary interruptions during the captioning process.
• Any problems or malfunctions with the equipment or services should be reported immediately to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist ensure timely resolution.

• Adding to Blackboard: Faculty members are required to add ASL interpreters and CART captioners as students in their Blackboard course sites. This facilitates effective communication and ensures that interpreters and captioners have access to course materials, announcements, and any updates relevant to the students they are supporting.
• If a faculty member does not add interpreters and captioners to Blackboard, the Disability Resource Center (DRC) will need to manually add them through IT services. This process may lead to delays and is therefore discouraged.

• Microphone Use: Faculty must wear any microphones provided by the university during lectures and discussions. This is essential for ensuring that CART captioners and ASL interpreters can hear and accurately translate or transcribe spoken content. Failure to use the microphone may result in incomplete or inaccurate services for students.
• Faculty should maintain professional boundaries between class and CART Captioner, remembering that the Captioner is a staff member, not a member of class, and should not be called upon to respond, provide opinions, or contribute in any way to class discussion.
• Faculty should report any issues with CART to the DRC Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialist for immediate resolution

• Captioning Requirement: If a student requires CART services, all videos used in coursework must be captioned to ensure accessibility. This includes pre-recorded lectures, instructional videos, and any supplementary material.
• Assistance with Captioning: If faculty members encounter difficulties with captioning their videos, they should contact the DRC or the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist for immediate assistance. These resources are available to help faculty meet accessibility requirements.