Conference & Event ASL Interpreting and Captioning Services
Provide accessible communication for conferences, meetings, and live events with professional ASL interpreters and real-time captioning services nationwide. Complete the request form below to get started.
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Business and marketing conferences
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Motivational and self-improvement conferences
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Virtual conferences
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Exhibitions
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Symposiums
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Conventions
What does a recommended timeline for access planning look like?
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1
3 months in advance
Make a schedule of events during the conference. This schedule should include a breakdown of times (start and end times for each day and session within the day), the configuration of breakout and plenary sessions, networking sessions, meals, and any additional social activities.
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2
2 months in advance
Provide DSU with a full list of presenters and their phone and email information, as well as communication modality preferences (this is especially important for any Deaf or hard of hearing presenters). Provide DSU with any registration or vaccination requirements for interpreters and captioners to complete in advance.
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3
1 month in advance
Provide DSU with the contact information for Deaf and hard of hearing conference attendees, so that information can be obtained regarding their schedules, interpreter preferences, and communication modality preferences.
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4
2-4 weeks in advance
All requests for services by conference attendees are submitted. Requests made with fewer than two-weeks’ notice may be harder to fill.
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5
1-2 weeks in advance
Submit any final presentation materials for interpreters and captioners to use in preparation for providing services. Share point-of-contact information, check-in locations, and parking details for the day of the event with DSU.
In addition to the conference schedule, location, and topic, the information below is helpful in determining your conference needs.
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Complexity & Planning
Factors in complexity may include the number of participants, the number of Deaf and hard of hearing participants and presenters, the communication needs of the Deaf and hard of hearing participants, and the number of breakout sessions occurring at any one time.
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Considering Logistics
How long is the conference? What is the format of the conference sessions? Will participants register for sessions in advance, or will they wait to select sessions day-of? What is the setup of the room(s) the conference will take place in? Will additonal lighting be needed?
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Preparing Materials
How soon can you provide copies of presentation materials? PowerPoint slide decks, specialized acronyms and terminology, written speeches or abstracts, pre-recorded videos, and run-of-show documents all help captioners and interpreters prepare.
Request a Quote Now!
Request a QuoteThe perfect time to begin planning is now. Fill out this short form for our team to put together a quote specifically for your event!
Our team is ready and waiting.
Here’s what we offer.
Capabilities
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Top quality in-person interpreting and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services in American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English
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Top quality Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) captioning services in English and Spanish
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Nationally certified interpreters and CART writers, locally licensed and available to practice in your area
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Complete coordination of services by our professional staff
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100% compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and pertinent federal, state, and local laws
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Specialized Interpreting: Deaf-Blind, CDI, Team Interpreting, Post-Production
Accessible Media
Post-Production Interpreting & Captioning
Make your recorded events and conference materials accessible to every viewer. Our post-production team provides professional captioning and ASL interpreting overlays for webinars, trainings, and conference recordings—ensuring your content meets accessibility standards and reaches a wider audience. Whether you’re sharing internal materials or public-facing media, we’ll help you deliver a polished, inclusive final product.
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Conference Access Planning Tips
FAQs
Why should conferences provide ASL interpreters and live captioning?
Providing ASL interpreting and live CART captioning helps make conferences, meetings, and events accessible to Deaf and hard of hearing attendees. Accessibility services allow participants to fully engage with keynote speakers, breakout sessions, panel discussions, networking events, and question-and-answer sessions. In addition to creating a more inclusive experience, communication access may help event organizers meet accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for public events and conferences.
Can ASL interpreters and captioners support both virtual and in-person events?
Yes. Professional ASL interpreters and CART captioners regularly support onsite, virtual, and hybrid events. For virtual conferences, interpreters and captioners can join platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex. For in-person events, providers work alongside audiovisual teams to ensure attendees can clearly see the interpreter or captions throughout the event. Hybrid conferences can combine onsite and remote accessibility services to support participants regardless of where they are attending.
How many ASL interpreters are needed for a conference or event?
The number of interpreters depends on the length of the event, the schedule, the number of attendees requesting accommodations, and the complexity of the content. Many events require interpreter teams for longer sessions to maintain accuracy and reduce fatigue. Large conferences may also assign interpreters to multiple breakout rooms or concurrent sessions. An experienced accessibility provider can recommend appropriate staffing based on your agenda and communication access needs.
What types of events can benefit from ASL interpreting and CART captioning?
ASL interpreting and CART captioning can be provided for conferences, conventions, annual meetings, trade shows, corporate events, association conferences, nonprofit fundraisers, shareholder meetings, product launches, award ceremonies, community events, and webinars. Whether your event is in person, virtual, or hybrid, communication access helps ensure Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants can fully engage with presentations, discussions, and audience interactions.