What is CART?
CART is Communication Access Realtime Translation
ALDA was instrumental in the invention of CART almost twenty years ago!
See also: http://cart.ncraonline.org/Consumers/About/
All About CART for Deafened and Hard of Hearing People of all ages:By Lauren Storck and Shari Majeski, for ALDA-Maine
INTRODUCTION Generally, CART consumers are individuals who have developed a hearing loss after the acquisition of language (from age 2 and up). One in three to ten people develop a hearing loss, depending on the age group, and most do not use sign language. Most speak ‘normally’ just like hearing people. However, with acquired hearing loss, they no longer understand human speech (speech discrimination becomes increasingly absent). In order to communicate as usual with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and with all others in everyday life, CART is needed, a captioning system. CART is used by people with hearing aids, cochlear implants and other personal “assistive” listening systems too, since these personal technologies do not cure hearing loss, nor provide clear speech discrimination. CART is full equal “ACCESS” for communications, for anyone who cannot hear well enough to understand human speech in any environment used (any meeting room, public town auditorium, Government agency, medical lecture or appointment, at work, at home, for community events, etc.) For deafened and hard of hearing people, to remain healthy and participate in community life, full text (visual) communications are required. CART is an acronym for Communication Access Realtime Translation. The provider uses a stenograph machine to provide word-for-word translation of speech, not a summarization, and of environmental sounds. The CART provider uses a steno machine, notebook computer, and realtime software to render instant translation on a computer monitor or other display for one consumer, or for a group of any size, either on site or remotely over the Internet. (Remote CART is available from several national companies. It needs a wireless system, screen, and speakerphone.) UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE CART PROVIDER
A CART provider’s role is to facilitate communication. The provider is present for this purpose and is not to be a participant during an event. If the provider is requested to step out of role to answer questions, this may be done with the approval of the CART consumer.
Certification for CART providers is available through their professional body, the National Court Reporters Association, which has established Guidelines for Professional Practice for CART providers.
Certified CART providers understand the preferred communication mode of a person with a hearing loss depends upon whether that individual identifies him/herself as Deaf, deafened, late-deafened, or hard-of-hearing.
Impartiality and confidentiality are required of the CART provider at all times.
WORKING WITH A CART PROVIDERThe same guidelines apply as outlined while working with a certified sign language interpreter. However, because CART involves the use of computer hardware and software to provide communication access for consumers, the provider will coordinate with the hiring party, in advance, setup in the room and obtaining materials to prepare for the terminology inherent to the assignment.
Captioning/CART requires intense concentration and repetitive hand motions. Whether two providers are needed to work as a team on an assignment depends upon the length of the event and the type of event. If one CART provider is captioning your event, please talk with your provider about a schedule for breaks so that the provider can maintain accuracy.
To assist the CART provider in the provision of excellent service, you may be asked for the following information - names of all persons who may be speaking, a copy of speaker PowerPoints or handouts, if applicable, what method is desired for display of text, whether for all in the room, or for one or two consumers, if a screen is available and if not, a blank clear white wall; to display for a group, the location of electrical outlets and placement a screen may be discussed.
To find a CART provider in your region, it’s best to contact any department, agency, or company that works for people with deafness or hearing loss. Local agencies may be affiliated with one or more of the following for example: divisions on deafness, departments of Health and Human Services, of Education, or of Labor (Vocational Rehabilitation). Agencies that provide ASL (American Sign Language) Interpreters sometimes have information about CART providers also.
And on the Internet, the following pages have a lot of useful information: WWW.CARTINFO.ORG
FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS – The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) In brief, people who are deafened and hard of hearing are protected by law, for equal and full communication “access.” People with all disabilities have many abilities also. Be it CART, a ramp for a wheelchair, or visual accommodations, and many other needs in modern life, all people have a right to full access. See: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/adalinks.htm to begin learning about the law.
ALDA-MAINE is the ONLY self help group for the hard of hearing and deafened in Maine. Join us so that we survive!
CART in action in the photo below - at an ALDA-Maine meeting. Come join us, we'd love to meet you.
The CART professional (from MaineCART) is seated, at the stenographer machine, connected to her laptop, connected to a projector. Our words are projected, verbatim, for full communication access, on the wall (or a screen in other places). When 'hearing' friends join us, many enjoy the visual text communications also - and CART can provide an immediate 'transcript' - notes from the meeting and disucssions. Communication Access is what it's all about, at our meetings, and in the world.
Others
Please ask us about CART! Not enough people in Maine know what it is. Not enough of the 95,000 or more hard-of-hearing or deafened people in Maine know what it is or request it. Not enough funding is provided for it.
Some countries make sure that all HOH and deafened citizens have CART for a minimum number of hours each year (e.g. 200 hours for full communication access, at work, at play, for town events.) That is not a lot to expect from any caring society. It would cover about (and only) two meetings a month (of 1-2 hours each) - better than nothing, to remain healthy, involved, contributing all our abilities to our communities. What do you think? Join our discussions and advocacy and education for this new technology.