1. Mason Update: Centralizing Captioning Korey Singleton, Manager Assistive Technology Initiative George Mason University Virginia AHEAD 2011

2. Objectives Current state of captioning at Mason What are we proposing?
Tools/Resources to support this project
Questions/Answers/Suggestions

3. Mission of the ATI
Our mission is to help provide individuals with disabilities an accessible university environment by supporting access to all technological, architectural, and educational resources available at George Mason University through the incorporation of assistive technologies, the provision of technical support, and the development of university-wide strategies for universal access.

4. Staff Korey Singleton Kara Zirkle Elizabeth Miller Nancy Borck
ATI Manager
Kara Zirkle
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Elizabeth Miller
Accessible Text Coordinator
Nancy Borck
Program Support Specialist
Korey Singleton
Manager
Kara Zirkle
IT Accessibility Coordinator
Elizabeth Miller
Accessible Text Coordinator
Nancy Borck
Program Support Specialist

5. ATI Services Informal AT assessments Accessible Text Services
Technical Assistance for ITU and Libraries
Web Accessibility/Section 508 Training and Support
Assistive Technology Labs
Proposed: Centralizing Accessible Media Services

6. Accessible Media
Accessible media includes providing captions for any audio/video hosted on Mason websites or within classrooms (i.e., face-to-face, online), as well as providing video description for any video shown in classrooms (i.e., face-to-face, online)

7. Related Laws
21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act
Section 508 of Rehabilitation Act of
Revised ADA Regs, Title II and Title III -

8. Example - Accessible Video
Stuck on an Escalator (Accessible Version) from YouTube:

9. Example - Accessible Video
Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes (with audio description and closed captions)
from YouTube:

10. Current State @Mason No centralized support…
Departments/units operate independently
Examples:
Mason Home Page
Mason Nation Page
In the classroom (f2f, online)…
More and more classrooms are using web-based resources (i.e., streaming media)
Blind student in English course
Deaf/HOH student must access 10 YouTube videos
Library resources...
Dated reserves – 10K+ titles available in VHS and DVD
Unreliable database
Current Practices

11. Issues Lack of technical knowledge
Last minute solutions are rarely timely and/or inexpensive
No “quick fix” or single solution to solve all of the issues
Biggest Issue: Who pays??
As a result, student suffers!!

12. Goals for this project
Use of the DocSoft AV appliance (jointly supported by KIHd and ATI) to create captions from electronic media owned by Mason.
Establishment of a protocol for handling video description requests.
Purchase of equipment necessary to convert VHS tapes to a digital format.
Additional ATI support staff to manage accessible media requests.
Assistance from department chairs to ensure that all electronic media shown in class or posted online provides equivalent access for individuals with sensory impairments.

13. Proposed Procedures - Highlights
Accessible Media Request Form/Instructions
Sent by ODS to all faculty that will have students with sensory impairments in their courses (hopefully prior to first day of classes)
Form/Instructions sent directly back to ATI
Communicate with faculty regarding formats/technical details/timelines
ATI follows up with Library (i.e., Media Services) and Copyright
ATI determines most efficient method for providing post-production access (e.g., YouTube vs. VHS vs. Mason-owned media)
Outsourcing handled through ATI Office

14. Anticipated Costs Total: $35k-$40K Costs include:
Increasing one PT position to FT
Graduate student workers (2)
VHS-to-digital media conversion technology
Computers workstations (2)
DocSoft licensing costs
Outsourcing budget for jobs that cannot be
handled in-house

15. Current Tools/Resources
Server-based software and hardware solution designed to audio mine (capture) the spoken content in digital audio and video (AV) files. It can be used to automatically generate text transcripts and closed captioning formats and can be configured to output virtually any text based format. (The transcripts require editing)
Uses advanced speech recognition engine to analyze the spoken content within digital AV files and converts it to an XML based format.
Supports output to formats such as Quicktime Text, RealText, WMP, or plain text.  Combining the generated transcript file with the video will allow users to create the necessary closed caption feature for ADA compliance.
$15,000 cost shared with Kellar Institute;
annual maintenance costs split
Demo/Training Resources
DocSoft:AV (server appliance)
DocSoft:TE (transcript editor software)
Web:

16. Current Tools/Resources…
Dragon Naturally Speaking (Instructional Design Office)
Workstation set up in instructional design office to support instructors that will be using tools like Camtasia or Captivate to record lectures
Training Videos – Creating Accessible Camtasia or Captivate videos

17. Current Tools/Resources…
Some other current resources
Mason’s Web Accessibility Website
WebAIM – Web Captioning Overview
CaptionTube – Create captions for YouTube videos (free)
Descriptive Video Titles
DBVI Library and Resource Center – Descriptive Video List
YourLocalCinema.com

18. Questions/Answers/Suggestions

19. Contact Information
Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI)
George Mason University
Aquia Building, Room 238
Hours: M-F, 8:30am-5:00pm
Office Phone:
Fax: (703)
Skype: GMU-ATI-Office
G-Chat: gmuati
Web: