Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is the instant translation of the spoken word into English text using a stenotype machine. The English text can be displayed on a notebook computer, iPad, tablet, flat screen TV, or projected onto a big screen. This technology is primarily used by people who are hard of hearing.

CART Captioners assist consumers in multiple settings: classrooms, business meetings, seminars and conventions, medical appointments, support group meetings, disability review meetings, courtrooms, weddings and funerals, theatrical events, etc. The CART Captioner may attend the event with the text recipient or they may provide their services from a remote location.

Although Arizona does not have a state certification for CART Captioners, the National Court Reporters Association offers testing and national certification. NCRA Certified CART Captioners will hold the designation CCP – Certified CART Provider – and abide by NCRA’s Guidelines for CART Captioners.

As stated by NCRA:

The CCP is a two-part exam consisting of a Written Knowledge Test (WKT) and a Skills Test (SKT). The CCP is an entry level exam that measures the knowledge, skill, and ability of the candidate to produce complete, accurate, simultaneous translation and display of live proceedings utilizing computer-aided translation. The CCP Skills Test consists of three steps:

1. Setting up and operating your equipment
2. Accurately writing realtime for five minutes at 96% accuracy from professionally recorded literary material at the speed of 180 words per minute.
3. Converting your file to an ASCII text file. You are only graded on your final submitted text file.

The Americans with Disabilities Act specifically recognized CART as an assistive technology which affords "effective communication access."

Link to NCRA brochure for clients and prospective CART Captioners

Link to NCRA Guidelines for CART Captioners