MDeHaven's avatar
MDeHaven
Active Contributor
4 years ago
Status:
Investigating

Closed Caption ADA accessibility with video playing

Recently, there has been a switch with the ability to play videos that include sound when using YouTube directly. What we appreciate about YouTube in training is that it has closed captioning, which assists people who may be hearing impaired and/or deaf. By only having audio option through uploading directly onto the GoToWebinar platform, we no longer have access to the closed captioning. Accessibility for people with disabilities is vital, and the law, according the the American's with Disabilities Act. It's also critical, especially when we consider teaching and teaching a wide audience who may require additional accommodations under this law. I'm requesting that this is an immediate and pressing need to resolve so that people with disabilities can access the same material, in the same format and structure as those without disabilities.

Thank you,

  • presidentkygs's avatar
    presidentkygs
    Active Contributor

    Hi All, I've been using GoToWebinar for over a decade. I prefer it over Zoom and other similar products. I tell people about it, refer my peers to it (even though most use Zoom), etc. I am a GoTo advocate.

     

    However, it is time for closed captioning and auto translation of people speaking during a webinar. This isn't just about accommodating people who have hearing impairment, it is a civil rights issue. The Americans with Disability Act was passed in 1990 and signed into law by George H. W. Bush.

     

    It's time for GoTo to make the necessary technology investments to make this happen. This is 2022. As an organizer and leader of a community that includes at least a couple hearing impaired people, I'm sick of having to make excuses for GoTo. 

     

    It's time for the GoTo product engineers to sharpen their pencils, get in a GoTo Meeting together, and figure out how to **make this happen.**

     

    Thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter.

     

     

    • namrata's avatar
      namrata
      Active Contributor

      My audience is from various parts of the world and speakers are from english speaking countries..can gotowebinar give transcripts when the speaker is speaking during the webinar for audience to have clarity

  • MDeHaven's avatar
    MDeHaven
    Active Contributor

    This is not for the entire broadcast. In those cases, we can have someone proficient in ASL to be present. This is for playing videos using the uploaded feature. YouTube, has for many videos, closed captioning, which you are unable to access if upload videos. Or the other option is to play, without sound using YouTube site directly. When doing live trainings, accessibility should include both.

  • AshC's avatar
    AshC
    Retired GoTo Contributor

    MDeHaven  Playing desktop audio through your VoIP connection is also coming soon to webinars, so you should be able to play it locally in the near future with the included video audio, from the YouTube site itself.

  • KateG's avatar
    KateG
    GoTo Manager
    Status changed:
    New
    to
    Reviewed by moderator
  • We have been challenged as to why we are not using Zoom for our webinars as they provide subtitles for the deaf community. I can't see any such facility via Go To Webinar and wondered if this is in your roadmap soon? Otherwise we may have to consider moving as we work with several people in the deaf community.

  • KateG's avatar
    KateG
    GoTo Manager
    Status changed:
    Reviewed by moderator
    to
    Investigating
  • KateG's avatar
    KateG
    GoTo Manager

    SueWat thanks for your idea, I moved your post here for better visibility.  We do understand the need for Closed Caption and it's currently part of our internal beta testing. It is set to be released to GoTo Meeting first. We will keep the Community updated once we have a timeline for GoTo Webinar. Thanks.