Eligibility for Services
Confidentiality and Release of Information
Campus Accessibility
Academic Accommodations
Interpreter Services
Captioning Services
Other Services
Technological Resources
Attendance and Disability
Service Animals
Grievance Procedure

Captioning Services

Captioning is an accommodation that provides equal access to classroom information for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, especially those who do not use sign language as their primary mode of communication. The captionist uses a laptop computer to type the words of the instructor and other students as they are being spoken, and the student reads the text on the computer screen. The captioned text represents very closely what was said in class and includes all important content.

The captionist will copy the text of the class onto a USB drive provided by the student. The student can print a copy of the notes in any of UTSA’s student computer labs.

Eligibility for Captioning Services

New students must schedule an appointment with the Disability Services (DS) director and interpreter coordinator to discuss needs, register for services, and provide documentation of a hearing loss and resultant need for captioning services. Accommodation decisions are determined on a case-by-case basis by the director and interpreter coordinator in consultation with a certified audiologist, when appropriate. The following are considered in determining if captioning is a reasonable accommodation:

• Results of an audiological evaluation documenting the nature and severity of the hearing loss.
• The student’s ability to benefit from accommodations such as preferential seating and amplification with an FM system.
• The student’s previous experience using sign or oral interpreters. Captioning is generally not considered appropriate for students whose primary mode of communication is American Sign Language (ASL).
• The student’s English literacy skills must be sufficient to allow for reading and comprehension of the text of the lecture.
• The nature of the class – captioning is primarily used for lecture classes, especially those with technical or specialized vocabulary.

All students are urged to utilize priority registration and register at least three weeks before the beginning of a new semester to better ensure that a captionist is available. Switching sections or making last-minute schedule changes may result in a delay of services due to scheduling conflicts and captionist availability.

Student Responsibilities

• Participate actively in class by voicing for yourself or typing your comments/questions on the laptop. The captionist will read aloud what has been typed.
• You are responsible for taking notes from the chalkboard or overhead.
• Captioned notes are not guaranteed to have 100% correct grammar or spelling. If there are vocabulary words you are responsible for, it is strongly suggested that you double-check the spelling in a dictionary.
• Notes from captioning are for your personal use ONLY and may not be copied or shared with other students without permission from the instructor.
• Inform the captionist if you are having difficulty with the text display or notes. Feel free to suggest ways to adjust the use of captioning to better meet your needs.
• Captioning is not a substitute for class attendance or paying attention in class. The captionist will begin typing when you arrive in class. If you do not show up at the beginning of class, the captionist will wait fifteen minutes before leaving.

Cancellations

If you know you will not be attending a class, contact the interpreter coordinator (458-7757) or DS office (458-4157) immediately. You can use Relay Texas to leave a message for DS 24 hours a day. We ask that you provide notice of cancellation at least 24 hours in advance so that we can cancel the captionist and ensure that captioning services are not wasted when students do not attend class.

No-Show Policy

The No-Show policy provides for three absences per class, per semester. This gives you a chance to miss class due to emergency or illness. A No-Show is any cancellation given with less than 24-hours notice. If a student does not show up at the beginning of class, the captionist will wait for 15 minutes before leaving. This will be counted as a No-Show even if the student shows up for the class after the captionist leaves.

1st no-Show: FREE. We understand that conflicts can arise at the last minute.

2nd No-Show: REMINDER. We will send a reminder that you have two No-Shows for that class.

3rd No-Show: HOLD. Captioning services for that class will be suspended until you meet with the the DS director and interpreter coordinator to reinstate services.

You will be notified in writing when you have a HOLD for captioning services. Contact the DS office immediately to schedule a meeting. At this meeting we will discuss the policy and allow you an opportunity to explain your situation. Special circumstances, such as serious illness or family emergency, will be taken into consideration. After the meeting services may be reinstated for that class. If you have questions about the No-Show policy, please contact the interpreter coordinator.

Monitoring of Services

The interpreter coordinator is responsible for assigning captionists and may monitor the classroom situation occasionally throughout the semester to ensure that the assignment continues to be appropriate for you and the captionist. Your feedback is important to us, so be sure to let the interpreter coordinator know if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions for improving captioning services.