Mindful Captions: Enhancing Neurodiverse Access

March holds Neurodiversity Awareness Week! 

Neurodiversity refers to the wide spectrum of mental processing. This paradigm includes a range of processing in areas such as sensory sensitivity, cognition, social comfort, motor ability and focus. 

CART Captioning, or Communication Access Real-Time Translation, and subtitles are emerging as an accessible, resourceful tool for neurodiverse individuals when absorbing video based content or auditory based presentations. 

Take, for example, Dr. Cassi Lovelock’s exploration on captions supporting her processing within her ADHD diagnosis.  

“Lots of ADHD-ers struggle with auditory processing. This means we struggle to understand and process sounds, their directions, spoken words, and music. It is not a struggle to ‘hear’ (though I have that too) but the brain struggles to process the sounds, particularly in loud environments with multiple overlapping noises. It can be hard for ADHD-ers to figure out if they have auditory processing problems; particularly because asking someone to repeat themselves, taking longer to respond to questions that are ‘usual’ and having difficulty following multiple instructions given at one time are all experiences of both ADHD and auditory processing issues…. 

For neurodivergent folk with auditory processing issues, living in a world designed for neurotypical people is exhausting. When you don’t ‘naturally’ or easily process sounds and information it takes up a lot of energy, time, and mental resources to navigate everyday conversations. So often we are accused of being rude, of not paying attention, of disregarding people but in reality (at least for me) sometimes your words just haven’t filtered through the wool/custard which metaphorically makes up the pathways from my ears to my brain. What’s more, when my senses are completely overloaded, captions allow me to consume content with no sound at all.” 

 – Dr. Cassi Lovelock in Help! I can’t hear without my subtitles 

This revelation within the neurodiverse community provides a clear opportunity to neurotypical individuals to provide neurodivergent accessible experiences. Consider the following social/organization examples where CART captioning might aid in the neurodiverse attendee’s experience:  

• Conference 

• Summit 

• High School or College Graduation 

• Court Proceedings 

• Educational Class 

• Council or Organizational Meeting 

• Theatrical Productions 

Visit us at https://deafservicesunlimited.com/capabilities/cart-captioning/ to learn more about our CART captioning services! 

Q&A

1. What are mindful captions?
   Mindful captions, including Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) and subtitles, provide real-time text of spoken content. They support neurodiverse individuals by aiding in comprehension and reducing cognitive overload.
2. How do captions assist individuals with ADHD?
   Captions help individuals with ADHD by providing a visual representation of spoken words, aiding in focus and information retention. They can also assist in environments with multiple overlapping noises, making it easier to process auditory information.
3. Why are captions beneficial for individuals with sensory processing disorders (SPD)?
   For individuals with SPD, captions offer an alternative to auditory information, allowing them to process content visually. This can be particularly helpful in noisy environments or when certain sounds are unpleasant.
4. In what settings can captions enhance accessibility for neurodiverse individuals?
   Captions can enhance accessibility in various settings, including conferences, graduations, court proceedings, educational classes, and theatrical productions, by providing real-time text of spoken content.
5. How can organizations implement captions to support neurodiverse attendees?
   Organizations can implement captions by providing CART services or subtitles during events, ensuring that all spoken content is accessible in real-time. It’s important to plan these accommodations in advance to meet the needs of neurodiverse attendees.

Source: https://ndconnection.co.uk/blog/help-i-cant-hear-without-my-subtitles