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ASL Interpretation ​and CART Services

This page provides information on requesting American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) live-captioning services for campus staff, events, activities, and meetings.  

For students requesting academic accommodations in classrooms, please refer to the Academic Accommodations for Students section below.

Requesting ASL Interpreters or CART Services

If you are planning an event, meeting, activity and need to request ASL interpretation and/or CART live-captioning services, please submit a request using the form below.

📌 ASL/CART Request Form (Microsoft Form)

Who Should Request Services?

  • Event organizers arranging accessibility services for attendees (see below for more information on when ASL or CART services are required).
  • d/Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing faculty or staff who may need ASL and/or CART services for themselves.  

When Do I Request Services?

  • Submit your request at least two weeks in advance (three weeks recommended) to ensure interpreter availability.
  • Late requests (less than two weeks before an event) will be accommodated as availability allows but are not guaranteed.

If you have any questions, email the District Accessibility Office: dist.accessibility@seattlecolleges.edu
 

Academic Accommodations for Students

If you are a student and need ASL or CART services for classes or campus activities, contact your campus Accessibility Services office:

Frequently Asked Questions About ASL/CART

ASL (American Sign Language) interpreting helps people who are d/Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing communicate with those who speak English and can hear. ASL interpreters are trained professionals who accurately and neutrally translate between spoken English and ASL.  

Types of ASL interpreting include: 

  • In-person interpretation
  • Video Relay Service (VRS) - which allows a d/Deaf person to use a video interpreter to communicate with a hearing person over the phone in real time.
  • Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), which provides sign language interpretation via video for real-time conversations, including virtual meetings like those on Zoom, when the interpreter is not physically present with the d/Deaf participant. 

CART provides real-time captions for spoken content. A CART provider (also called a captioner) listens to what is being said and types it into a computer, creating real-time captions that appear on a screen.  

Captions can be: 

  • Integrated into Zoom or other video platforms, so they appear directly on the screen.
  • Viewed on a separate link, which participants can open on their own devices, or displayed on a device (e.g., a TV screen) in a meeting room.
  • Provided in-person (with the captioner in the same room as the event) or remotely (with the captioner listening online).  

Providing ASL interpretation is a necessary step to ensure accessibility and uphold the rights of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

ASL Interpretation must be provided when: 

  • A d/Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing participant requests it as an accommodation.
  • The event is public, high-profile, and/or widely attended. 

Examples of events that will need ASL Interpretation services: 

  • Graduations, commencements, and awards ceremonies
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
  • Discover Seattle Colleges
  • Access Community and Opportunity (ACO) Office district-wide guest or keynote speaker events
  • College and District-Wide Town Halls
  • President and Chancellor presentations during President’s Day, Convocation, Development Day, etc. 

What if I’m Unsure? 

If you are unsure whether ASL interpretation is necessary for your event, ask participants in advance or contact District Accessibility (dist.accessibility@seattlecolleges.edu) for guidance.   

To meet WCAG AA standards, live captions must be provided for many real-time videos. This ensures that people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing can access the audio content. 

CART must be provided when: 

  • A participant requests it as an accommodation.
  • The event is public, high-profile, and/or widely attended.
  • The event involves complex discussions, interactive elements, or specialized content, where real-time language access is essential.
  • The event is live-streamed or recorded, ensuring future accessibility for all viewers. 

Examples of events that will need CART services are college or district-wide events where a general invitation is widely available: 

  • Graduations, commencements, awards ceremonies, etc.
  • MLK Celebration
  • Discover Seattle Colleges
  • ACO Trainings/Workshops
  • College and District-Wide Town Halls

Examples of events that may need CART services: 

  • Keynote and Guest Speaker Events
  • Trainings, workshops, and conferences 

What if I’m Unsure? 

If you are unsure whether ASL or CART services are necessary for your event, ask participants in advance or contact District Accessibility (dist.accessibility@seattlecolleges.edu) for guidance.

Seattle Colleges employees can access expanded guidance, detailed checklists, and training materials in the Seattle Colleges Digital Accessibility Resource Hub (Canvas). 

This includes step-by-step instructions for accessible meetings, events, and digital content including;

  • How to integrate ASL and CART into Zoom settings

  • Recording a meeting and ensuring the Interpreter is on the recording

  • Guidance and expectations for working with ASL and CART providers for in-person events