Working with Online Video Conferencing Tools
Below are a number of helpful links pointing to guidance and resources from UVA sources, vendors, peer institutions, and subject matter experts. This is not an exhaustive list. Additional information can be found via an internet search or going directly to a vendor’s website and searching for “accessibility”.
See Hear Communication Matters - Video conference tool features - list compiled by Dr. Tina Childress
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) Friendly Features on Video Conference Platforms
General Information
NOTE: Options for the provision of captions/transcripts using automated speech recognition (ASR) solutions, for both live and recorded events, are available. These solutions are not approved for use when a disability-related accommodation request has been received.
General Best Practices and Other Information
- When to Caption: General Guidelines (UVA)
- Accessibility Tips for a Better Zoom/Virtual Meeting Experience (Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center)
- Video Conferencing Platforms Feature Matrix (National Assoc of the Deaf)
- Using Otter Voice Notes with Online Video Conferencing Tools (UVA)
Zoom
Best Practices
- Zoom: Accessibility Considerations & Best Practices (UVA)
- Zoom Accessibility Best Practices (Univ of Colorado – Boulder)
- Zoom Accessibility (Univ of Michigan)
Captioning (Live and Recorded Events)
- Zoom Live Transcription (Use for live events - UVA-ITS)
- Closed Captioning and Live Transcription (Zoom)
- Using Audio Transcription for Cloud Recordings (Use for the provision of captions/transcripts when recording an event - Zoom)
- How can I add an audio transcript to my Zoom recording? (UVA Collab)
- Closed Captioning with Zoom Rooms (Zoom)
Accessibility
- Accessibility Features (Zoom)
- Accessibility Features Walk Through in ASL (Zoom)
- Zoom: Using an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter in your meeting or webinar (UVA)
- Zoom Participant and Chat Windows Options (VIDEO in ASL) (Gallaudet Univ)
- Hot Keys and Keyboard Shortcuts for Zoom (Zoom)
- Free Audiobook – “Meet Me Accessibly – A Guide to Zoom Cloud Meetings from a Blindness Perspective” (Mosen At Large)
Microsoft Teams
Currently, it is not possible to integrate a third-party captioning vendor or easily add an ASL interpreter with Teams. MS Teams relies on Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) for this service. More information on ASR and other methods for creating transcripts and captions can be found on the Accessible Video and Audio Materials site on the UVA Library site. ASR is not a recommended solution when a disability-related accommodation for captioning/transcription has been received.
- Accessibility Overview of Microsoft Teams(Microsoft)
- Use Live Captions in a Team Meeting (Microsoft)
- Screen Reader: Accessibility Support for Microsoft Teams (Microsoft)
- How to Use Microsoft Teams with an ASL Interpreter on a PC (RMTC-D/HH)
- How to Use Microsoft Teams with an ASL Interpreter on a Mac (RMTC-D/HH)
- Using Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Translator (Microsoft)
Google Meet
- Google Meet Accessibility(Google)
- Use Captions In A Video Call (Google)