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| Captions, Communications Technology and Booking an Interpreter | ||
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Captions
Captions can play an important role for anyone watching television who is Hearing Impaired, has English as a second language, or for budding film makers and script developers keen to see how captions work in real-time when screened together with tv programs, advertisements and films.
The purpose of captions is to enable a Hearing Impaired person to match what they ‘think’ was said by actors or people on the news, with written words appearing on the lower section of the television screen in real-time.
How do Captions Assist individuals who have different levels of hearing loss?
Regardless of hearing loss or status, and your language background, captions are designed to enable any viewer to more easily follow the storyline or dialogue of a program being screened.
Captions have the effect of promoting independence for the individual reliant upon them. They do this by reducing the need for the individual to continually ask those around them for help in knowing what has just happened on the television program being broadcast.
Historically though, the primary purpose of captions was to address the fact that a profoundly deaf person who does not use any form of hearing technology, by nature of the degree of deafness, will not physically be able to hear dialogue being spoken, or sound effects from a television.
The purpose of captioning in this case is to provide a written translation of what has been said at the time (or close to the time, if it is live captioning) so that person can participate as a viewer in an accessible format.
Can I use Captioning, Hearing Loops and Telecoil together?
Absolutely. Depending on the level of hearing loss, captions can also be useful when worked in conjunction with the Telecoil switch on a hearing device.
Captions can also be utilised with a home loop amplifier which is connected to the tv. This enables the user to receive speech directly into their ears by using the loop amplifier, whilst simultaneously brushing up on their grammar with the captions!
Are Captions Live or Pre-Recorded?
Captions can be provided live, as well as pre-recorded. If it is the nightly news, there is a high chance it will be live captioning, for instance if you are watching ABC 24, which is a live program. This will be the same for game shows or talk-back shows, such as Good News Week, which are televised live.
Pre-recorded captions are more closely associated with movies screened on free-to-air channels. For example, the repeated screening of Shrek or the Die Hard series. The reason these captions are pre-recorded is because either the studio or the Australian Captioning Service has been able to access the script and transcribe into captions, the dialogue and this is attached to the recording of the film which will then be broadcast. Once captions have been attached to a film for broadcast, they do not have to be re-transcribed for each new viewing. To understand this principle, consider Australian Story (ABC), which is repeated and the live captions provided on the first screening then become pre-recorded captions for the repeat screening.
Captioning of films in cinemas is also available to avid film-goers and anyone wanting to catch the latest blockbuster. To find out if a film you wish to see is captioned, contact the relevant cinema chain or simply visit their website - they will most likely have a schedule of films being captioned with session times indicated.
Foreign Film Festivals
For foreign film festivals, regardless of your hearing health, the majority of films screened in a foreign language will be captioned.
The captions appear in (usually) yellow text at the bottom of the screen and are pre-recorded.
Beware that there is a chance that any English-spoken dialogue featuring in the film will not in fact, be captioned. For the most part, this will not affect large parts of spoken dialogue, so you may not miss much. However, if you are reliant on captions, or are absolutely dedicated to your film-watching experience, find out from the box office or visit the film's own website, to see how much English-spoken dialogue will be screened. Alternately, find out when the DVD will be released for hire at your local video shop or DVD retailer.
DVD Captioning
DVD captioning is by and large made available if a film is a blockbuster, mainstream release, or foreign film. If you are stuck and experience large parts of the film being English-spoken or uncaptioned, don't forget there are DVD options where you can choose to caption the film under the "English for the Hearing Impaired" selection button in the DVD main menu.
Whilst most DVDs now opt for caption options by default, you can get caught out and find you have hired a DVD with no caption options. Check the back of the DVD under "Subtitled" or CC for the Hearing Impaired. If in doubt, ask the DVD cashier in the hire shop if they can screen the main menu of the DVD you have chosen to double-check. They are usually more than happy to assist.
When selecting the type of English captions you require, you may have two choices: "English" and "English Captions for the Hearing Impaired". Both options are very accessible, but with "English Captions for the Hearing Impaired", additional information on what is happening will be captioned. For example [DOOR SLAMS] or [HEAVY RAIN] will be captioned as audio-cues. They will appear even when no dialogue is spoken, so as to enable the Deaf viewer to access environmental sounds which contribute to the storyline, build tension, or are otherwise necessary for the film to be enjoyed.
For up-to-date information on these regulations, please visit www.mediaaccess.org.au. If you wish to understand the legislation behind the provision of captioning services, quota laws, and access to pay-per-view services (such as Foxtel and Austar), select that option on the Media Access website.
To make a complaint about the captioning service provided for a particular broadcast (or lack, thereof), use the same web address. You are able to complain directly to the television station on which the program was broadcast, or to the relevant cinema chain. You can also complain about poorly captioned items, in addition to items which have no captioning at all, or which experience loss of transmission while on air.
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Communications Technology The Australian Communication Exchange (ACE) is a not-for-profit Australian business offering Deaf, communication impaired, hearing impaired and hearing people communication services and products to make connecting with others much easier. The telephone calls made through programs offered by ACE are conducted by the National Relay Service. The two organisations together service the Australian community as "ACE-NRS". Two examples of the type of communications technology services offered by ACE-NRS are: ACE Video Relay Service: Where you can make phone calls using Auslan (sign language) on your home computer with Skype / MSN. This is an online video teleconferencing program. For more information on how these programs and other services offered by ACE-NRS, please click on the link: http://www.aceinfo.net.au/ then click on Our Services, then select from: Video Relay Service, Captioned Telephone or other options.
Book an Auslan Interpreter In the past, the Deafness Resource Centre provided Interpreting Services to the Canberra and regions community. Currently, the DRC no longer provides these services, but we have reproduced information from the Australian Sign Language Interpreters Association (www.aslia.org.au) which provides the contact details (email addresses, website address and phone numbers) for you to locate the particular interpreting service you require. With thanks to the Australian Sign Language Interpeter's Association factsheet: "How Do I Book a Sign Language Interpreter?" please see below how you can organise and book a sign language interpreter depending on the type of service you require:
"HOW DO I BOOK A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER?" NSW Deaf Society
To book an Auslan Interpreter in the ACT, you can visit the Deaf Society of NSW by clicking on the link: http://www.deafsocietynsw.org.au/interpreting/index.html Please just follow their booking instructions. Sign Language Communications NSW (SLC NSW) SLC NSW provides interpreters for a range of contexts including: • Workplace meetings / training For further information about their service you can contact SLC NSW. The Community Relations Commission (CRC) The Community Relations Commission provides interpreters for appointments in the following contexts: • Police and Court matters (including emergencies) For further information about their service you can contact the CRC. Health Care Interpreter Service (HCIS) The Health Care Interpreter Service in each area health service provides interpreters for health or medical appointments in the public health care system. For example: • Public hospital (including emergencies) For further details about booking interpreters and recruitment of interpreters, contact the Interpreter Coordinator at the Health Care Interpreter Service (HCIS) within your area health service. N.B: Each Health Care Interpreter Service has its own list of interpreters. National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS) NABS is funded by the Department of Family and Community Services and is an Australia-wide service that is free of charge to medical practitioners and their patients. The service commenced on 31st January 2005 and provides interpreters for private medical appointments. For example: • Local Doctor (GP) and Specialists For further information about their service you can contact NABS.
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