Enabling subtitles in Zoom meetings can significantly improve the accessibility and inclusivity of your virtual meetings. As an advocate for inclusivity and technology accessibility, I recognize the significance of providing subtitles for individuals who are hearing impaired. This article will walk you through the steps of enabling subtitles in Zoom meetings, while also exploring different settings and choices.
Step 1: Sign in to your Zoom account
To enable captions in your Zoom meetings, you need to sign in to your Zoom account. If you don’t have an account already, you can easily create one by visiting the Zoom sign-up page and following the instructions.
Step 2: Accessing the Zoom settings
Once you are signed in to your Zoom account, you need to access the Zoom settings to enable captions. To do this, click on your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the Zoom app. From the dropdown menu, select “Settings.”
Step 3: Enabling captions in the meeting settings
In the Zoom settings menu, navigate to the “Meeting” tab. Scroll down until you find the “In Meeting (Advanced)” section. Here, you will find the “Closed Captioning” option.
Click on the toggle switch next to “Closed Captioning” to enable captions in your meetings. Once enabled, you will have the option to assign someone to type the captions or use a third-party service.
Step 4: Assigning someone to type the captions
If you choose to assign someone to type the captions during your meetings, you can select the “Assign a participant to type” option. This allows you to designate a participant as the captioner, who will have access to the captioning controls during the meeting.
To assign a participant as the captioner, click on the “Manage Participants” button at the bottom of the Zoom meeting window. In the Participants panel, hover over the participant’s name and click on the “More” button (represented by three dots). From the dropdown menu, select “Assign to Type Closed Captions.”
Step 5: Using a third-party closed captioning service
If you prefer to use a third-party service for captioning, you can select the “Use a 3rd party captioning service” option in the Closed Captioning settings. This allows you to integrate a separate service into your Zoom meetings, ensuring accurate and professional captions.
When using a third-party service, you will need to enter the service provider’s details, such as their website and credentials, in the corresponding fields in the Closed Captioning settings.
Conclusion
Enabling captions in Zoom meetings is a simple yet impactful way to make your online meetings more inclusive and accessible. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that participants who are deaf or hard of hearing can fully engage and participate in your meetings. Let’s work together to create a more inclusive digital environment for everyone.