If you are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing or have an auditory processing disorder, captions are an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

You can request captions in any setting that is required by the ADA to provide accommodations. This includes your job, doctor's appointments and hospitals, school, theatre and sporting events and many other public services.

How do captions work?

Captions are provided by trained professionals. They must keep everything discussed confidential. The captioner uses stenography to create fast, accurate, complete captions in real time. 

In a one-on-one or small group setting, like a doctor's appointment or team meeting at work, captions can be displayed on a laptop or tablet provided by the doctor's office or employer.

In bigger settings, like a sporting event or concert, captions may be displayed on a tablet or shown on a large screen. For example, at U.S. Bank Stadium captions are displayed next to the video boards. Loons, Lynx, Timberwolves, Twins and Wild all show captions during their games on the ribbon board. Visit the stadium's website and search for Plan your Visit or Accessibility to learn more.

How do you request captions?

For doctor appointments: When you schedule your appointment, let the scheduler know that you need captions as an ADA accommodation. 

At work: Ask your boss, human resources or your office's ADA coordinator to arrange captions.

For an entertainment event: Some live theatres have a captioned performance. Check the venue's website or call the ticket office to see if they offer a captioned performance. If a captioned performance is not scheduled, contact the venue to request captions when you purchase your tickets. This also applies to sporting events. Many movie theatres have captions available. Look for "Closed Captions" or "Assistive Technology" before you buy your tickets. Then request the captioning device at the ticketing or information desk.

For more tips on requesting accommodations, see our Self-Advocacy webpage.

How do you arrange captions?

Anyone who wants to learn more about captions and how to arrange captions can visit our Real-time captioning webpage. 

More information

For more support with caption advocacy and education, please contact us.