With the increase in online courses and use of media in course curriculum, ARC provides services for instructors to ensure their media is captioned and accessible.

ARC can add captions for:

  • YouTube clips
  • Podcast Transcripts
  • Pre-recorded Lectures

Please note that ARC strongly discourages requesting captions for Vimeo videos due to technical challenges and lengthy turn-around completion time.

Before You Submit a Request

Before you submit video captioning requests, please check ALL media to be shown for captions. Look for these symbols on media packaging:

Captions symbols: CC in a square box and a dialogue box.

What if captions are not available on my course media?

ARC can create professional captions for Kaltura/My Media videos, as well. Please follow the directions for making ARC Captioning Coordinators co-editors of your videos and for tagging your videos before you submit a captioning request.

If no captions are available on other course media, please search the sources below, as a captioned video may be available elsewhere:

  • Kanopy, the video streaming collection available on the UWM library website. This site provides access to 26,000 videos, 75% of which are captioned. PLEASE NOTE: Due to the high cost of leasing individual title access, some changes have been made to the way we access Kanopy films. See Kanopy FAQ. The UWM Media Library will not lease films for individual recreational viewing.
  • Films on Demand: A video streaming collection available on the UWM library website.
  • Swank Digital Campus: A video streaming collection available on the UWM library website.
  • UW-System Library
  • Milwaukee Public Library
  • TED.com
  • NETFLIX, etc.
  • A Google search might turn up a captioned copy.
  • LinkedIn Learning (embedded in Canvas)

If no captioned video is available from any of these sources, you can place a request through PROFconnect. Log into PROFconnect as soon as possible with your UWM credentials and go to Communication Access, then Submit Video Captioning Request. ARC asks that you submit your request at least one week in advance of showing the video, in order to provide captions in a timely manner.

Resources and Helpful Hints

Test your videos before class to make sure they’re captioned and that you know how to turn on the captions if necessary.

Instructors can add and edit captions in Canvas by following the guidelines outlined in this article, How do I Order and Edit Automated Captions through My Media in Canvas?

For assistance with classroom equipment, see Campus Technology, Faculty & Staff Resources or contact Campus Technology via phone (414-229-2382) or email.

Outside Vendor Media Captioning Services

If you would like to use outside media captioning services, see UW System’s approved list of vendors for Media Captioning Services.