Captioning for Live Events and Video

Captioning your live events or prerecorded media means that content is accessible for a wide range of viewers and audience members. Providing captions is also a required practice under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines at the AA level, which Western aims to meet in its accessibility statement.

If you're not sure whether your media or event needs captions, the following decision tree form can tell you your next steps, based on your content or event.

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

Captioning Decision Tree

Is your video live or pre-recorded?
Who is the audience for your live video?
Has someone requested closed captioning as an accommodation for this event?
Who is the audience for your prerecorded video?

Live captions are required. Fill out the Captioning Request Form.

Please note that live captioning costs approximately $200 per event. Currently, the DAC is covering this cost for the 2020-21 school year, but will be sharing this cost in future years.

Captions are only required if needed as an accommodation, but auto captions are still recommended if available.

Ensure your event includes a clear accommodation statement in all advertising materials. You can find examples in the EO/AA templates for publications.

If you receive an accommodation request for captions, please fill out the Captioning Request Form.

Captions are required if you have a student with a closed caption accommodations, but auto captions strongly recommended if not. The DAC will contact you if you have a student with a closed captioning accommodation.

Closed captions are required. Fill out the Captioning Request Form.

Captions are only required if needed as an accommodation, but auto captions are still recommended if available.

Ensure your event has a clear accommodation statement in all advertising materials. You can find examples in the EO/AA templates for publications.

If you receive an accommodation request for captions, please fill out the Captioning Request Form.

Request Captions

Caption Request Form

Still have captioning questions?

Reach out to the DAC's Communication Access Manager at drscc@wwu.edu.