Communication Services
CDHP is committed to ensuring that D/deaf and hard-of-hearing students can participate in all programs, services, and activities offered through WesternU. CDHP’s communication services include access to sign language interpreters, remote real-time captioning, personal amplification systems, and captioned media services.
Communication Accommodations
CDHP provides the following communication accommodation services:
Sign language interpreters provide translation services to students requiring this accommodation to ensure that effective communication takes place. Interpreters are communication mediators and facilitate integration of the student into the classroom environment. The shape, placement, movement of the hands, facial expressions, and body movements all play important parts in conveying information. Sign language is widely used in classrooms, discussion sections, labs, meetings, seminars, clinicals, orientations, and other campus activities. Students approved for sign language interpreters as an accommodation should review CDHP’s Sign Language Interpreter Procedures for Students who are D/deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), referred to as Realtime Captioning, is the instantaneous transcription of the spoken word into text. This text can be viewed on a mobile device, computer, tablet, or large screen. CART is widely used in classrooms, labs, seminars, orientations, and other campus activities. Students approved for CART as an accommodation should review CDHP’s Remote Real-time Captioning Procedures for Students who are D/deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.
Personal FM systems act as a conduit to reduce the speaker to listener distance so that to the user it sounds as though the speaker is within inches of the listener’s ear. This makes it much easier for the user to hear the speaker over background noise. FM systems work well when the user needs to listen to one speaker at a time. The speaker wears a body-pack transmitter and a clip-on microphone. The speaker’s voice is broadcast as an FM radio signal. Listeners use the pocket receiver and earphone or headphone to hear the speaker’s voice directly, with reduced background noise. Students approved for a personal FM system should watch the Intro to Williams FM Sound System – YouTube tutorial to learn how to use it. Students approved for a Williams FM Sound system must sign a CDHP Student Loan Agreement.
Captioned media displays spoken words as text and includes speaker identifications, sound effects, and music descriptions. The audio content of a television clip, webcast, film clip, or short video is converted into text and displayed on a screen or monitor, also known as closed captions. While this accommodation is primarily used by those who are D/deaf or hard of hearing, those with other disabilities, such as auditory processing disorders may also benefit. Please review CDHP’s Accessible Media Procedures
For Information
For information about communication accommodations email: