AVC Closed Captioning Standard

In order to meet the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and California State Law SB 105 (2002), and because all of our students and colleagues deserve the opportunity to participate fully in life at Antelope Valley College, we are committed as an institution to provide closed captioning for all multi-media shown in the classroom, posted online, or used for any presentation to students or employees. This page serves as a starting point for information and resources to support the college in its mission.

These standards were produced by the AVC Closed Captioning Work Team, over the Summer of 2017 - team membership: Les Uhazy, Rick Shaw, Gary Roggenstein, Duane Rumsey, Louis Lucero, Van Rider, Irit Gat, Scott Lee, Cole McCandless, Daniel Humphrey, Michael White, & Cliff Leighton. 

Please note, this page and these services are a work in progress. If you have a suggestion, or new resource to share, please forward to IMC or HelpDesk.

Services

Self-Service Solutions

• YuJa - is our primary user facing automated captioning solution providing workflow and editing tools. YuJa can be used to store, caption, and share videos via direct links or embeds.
• Microsoft Stream - is accessible to faculty and staff as a self-service option for captioning and is included as part of the Office365 suite (office.com). Microsoft Stream is an Enterprise Video service where people in your organization can upload, view, and share videos securely. You can share recordings of classes, meetings, presentations, training sessions, or other videos that aid your team's collaboration. Microsoft Stream also makes it easy to share comments on a video, tag time codes in comments and descriptions to refer to specific points in a video and discuss with colleagues.
• Zoom - is accessible to faculty and staff as a self-service option for captioning and is included as part of the California Community Colleges’ CVC-OEI outreach. This cloud solution automatically transcribes the audio of a meeting or class when you record to the Cloud.  After the recording is processed and the transcript file is created, you have several options. Easily edit the text to change words, or add capitalization and punctuation not captured in the transcript.

Training, Support, & Resources

• California Community Colleges - Accessibility This is the front page for the Accessibility Offices for the CCCCO. Compliance with accessibility laws is more than just captioning, this is a good resource for content delivery through a web browser.
• Captioning Videos on Youtube. You can access this video through Lynda.com by signing up for an account with the Professional Learning Network (from the CCCCO).
• MERLOT II is a curated, peer reviewed repository for Creative Commons licensed learning materials for higher education. If you're looking for a captioned video on a specific topic, you're likely to find something here

Do you have questions? Please start with the FAQ below.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

• Under what circumstances can I show uncaptioned multimedia resources to my class which includes a student who is Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing?

  None. Don’t even think about it.

• Does all the multimedia I show in the classroom and/or post online for my students have to be captioned?
  • If you have a Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) student in your class, absolutely yes.
  • If you do not have a D/HH student in your class and you use the multimedia resources more than one semester, absolutely yes.

  • Some Subtleties
    If you do not have a D/HH student in your class, and the multimedia material is only used once (e.g., YouTube current event), the multimedia does not have to be captioned. HOWEVER, it is very possible to download YouTube videos that are already closed captioned, and it is always preferable to choose those.  IMC can help you determine which YouTube videos are already closed captioned.

    Subsequent showings of any media must be closed captioned.
     

  • Captioning is required unless it is a foreign video that is fully subtitled in English.
     
•  What happens if we do not provide Deaf/ Hard-of Hearing students and employees timely access to captioned multimedia?
  • Students with disabilities who believe they have not been provided the appropriate accommodations to which they are legally entitled may sue AVC and/or the faculty/staff members involved.
    ​Students can also file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights 
     
• What do I do if I want to show something for a presentation in the Performing Arts Theater?
  • All multi-media presented for any reason in the Performing Arts Theater must be closed captioned, and shown with the captioning on and visible to the audience.
  • If you plan to show something in the PAT, send it to the PAT Manager and/or Technical Director no less than 48 hours (2 working days) in advance of the showing to allow them to verify closed captioning.
  • If the media is received less than 48 hours in advance, it will not be exhibited.  
    If multimedia is shown in the PAT without closed captioning, the showing will be halted.
     
• What if I have no students who will view the video—only employees?
  • ​It must be closed captioned with the captions shown.  Our colleagues have just as much right to be fully included as our student do.
     
• Do I always have to have the captions on if I have no Deaf/ Hard-of Hearing students in my classroom or employees who are Deaf/ Hard-of Hearing?
  • It is the expectation at AVC that captions be shown at all times.  This will be more inclusive for those who have not identified as Deaf/ Hard-of Hearing but still appreciate additional resources to understand a multimedia presentation.
  • The law does not require that the captions be on at all times, especially if you have no D/HH students but do have students who complain that they are unable to follow the information with the captions on.  Contact Louis Lucero in OSD (x6161) if you have students requiring different accommodations.
     
• Does all multimedia online need to be closed captioned?
  • YES.  All multimedia shown in a distance modality will need to be closed captioned by the same deadline.  
    Any media not closed captioned by the end of the spring semester, 2018 will be taken down.
    ​
• If I am buying something new, does it need to be closed captioned?  Same with Publisher’s instructional materials?
  • Yes.  All new purchases need to be closed captioned.  If you need help determining if a new purchase is closed captioned, contact IMC at x6541 or in BE 113.
    ​
• Do I need copyright approval to close caption something I already own?
  • Yes.  You must ask for permission to caption from the owner of the copyright.  If the owner is non-responsive for 10 days, we are then legally able to caption, pursuant to Ed Code 67302.5.   
  • Ask IMC if you need assistance in asking for copyright permission.
    ​
• If I do not have closed captioning on a video and need to get it done, what do I do?
  • Antelope Valley College will provide workshops and services through fall and spring of 2017/18 to provide you with the options for getting your videos closed captioned.  
  • If you have copyright permission, you have the option to get it done through the college or to do it yourself.  IMC will explain these options to you in these workshops and online at the Accessible Technology website: www.avc.edu/administration/its/accessibletech. 
  • Please anticipate a minimum of 5 working days for local turn around.
  • There are several options for getting work closed captioned.
    • Talk to IMC or attend a workshop to learn your options and ask any additional questions.
  • Check out the self-service option, above.
  • Time is your best ally for closed captioning.  Do not wait until the last minute to ask for closed captioning to be complete