Interpreting and Captioning Services

Disability Support Services (DSS) provides sign language interpreting, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), and closed captioning services when deemed reasonable and appropriate. These services are available to currently enrolled GW students who are registered with DSS and have been approved for these accommodations.

If you are a consortium student taking classes at GW, please register with DSS to ensure the timely arrangement of your services.

For visitors in need of interpreting services during a campus tour, please inform the Welcome Center of your needs when scheduling your visit.

Online Courses

DSS acknowledges the evolving nature of GW's curriculum, with a wide range of online courses available to students in the Washington, D.C. area and worldwide. To ensure accessibility for both asynchronous and synchronous online course content, students who require captioning in the online environment must register with DSS. This requirement also applies to distance education students enrolled in individual courses at the university.

For questions about online course accessibility, please email dssatgwu [dot] edu (dssat[at]gwu[dot]edu).

Request Services for a GW Event

The George Washington University is committed to ensuring that all programs and events are accessible to everyone. Starting September 1, 2015, all GW-affiliated offices and programs are responsible for independently arranging and funding interpreting services for their events. Guidelines for arranging interpretation and CART services can be found on the Accessibility Events website.

If you need a list of contacts for sign language interpreting and related services, please email dssatgwu [dot] edu.

Closed Captioning

Closed captioning provides on-screen text for all auditory elements in a pre-recorded clip or film, including non-verbal sounds like sirens, thunderstorms, and laughter. This is different from subtitles, which typically only show spoken language.

For students approved for closed captioning accommodations, all in-class media must be captioned and accessible. This includes recorded lectures, videos (including YouTube clips), and audio files. Professors are encouraged to use real-time captions in PowerPoint presentations and to generate captions for recorded videos post-production.

Requesting Communication Accommodations (ASL Interpreting, CART and Video Captioning) in AIM

Log in to the DSS Student Portal.
On the Overview page, check the boxes next to the classes for which you are requesting accommodations.
Click Step 2: Continue to Customize Your Accommodations.
Under Select Accommodations, check the box next to the accommodation you’re requesting.
Click Submit Your Accommodation Requests.
Once you submit your accommodations requests, DSS will email both you and the instructor the Accommodation Letter. We will follow up with details regarding the provider information.

Scheduling Logistics for ASL Interpreting and CART Services

Adding and Dropping Classes: Use the DSS portal (AIM) to request ASL Interpreting for class changes or additions. Notify DSSAT (dssatgwu [dot] edu (dssat[at]gwu[dot]edu)) after making AIM updates. Please allow up to two weeks for ASL Interpreting services after submitting your request.
Lateness or Absence: Please inform DSSAT promptly if you're late or unable to attend class. If no advance notice is given, service providers will wait 15 minutes for one-hour classes, 20 minutes for two-hour classes, and 30 minutes for classes lasting three hours or more.
Class Cancellation: In the event that a class is cancelled, please notify DSSAT as soon as possible.

Requesting ASL Interpreting or CART Services for Course-Required Activities Outside Class Time

If you require ASL Interpreting or CART service for class-required activities held outside of the scheduled class time (i.e. field trips, project meetings, office hours), please submit a custom request in AIM. Whenever possible, please provide advance notice of such meetings or requirements.