Jan and David responded to my response to David's query.

I'll try to answer their questions.  It is uncommon at this time to produce
videotapes which acknowledge the difficulties of the deaf.

I have worked with deaf and blind people for more than thirty years, but
this is the first time in all that time that anyone has asked for screen
data to suppliment a videotatpe.

It means absolutely nothing to me that Jan is not making much money; there
is no relationship between Jan's income and the cost to produce a
videotape.  If Jan will ONLY purchase videotapes which are *close
captioned* then the students will suffer.

Once again, it means nothing to me.  While I may instruct, I am not a
teacher, by trade.

I have taught a blind person how to re-back leather bound books; I have
taught a deaf person how to tune up a car.

These things can be taught, but it is best done by example.  Closed
captioned videotape is nothing more than a simulacrum.  It may make one
feel good, but it is no replacement for the real thing.

It is not my intention to seem unfriendly in posting this response.

After more than 20 years of instructing, I have arrived at some conclusions
and they are related above.  David asks, "how common is it now to include
closed captions >on material made to be distributed as recordings, as
opposed to broadcast?

As one who has prepared videotapes for broadcast as well as for recordings
(i.e., for in-house broadcast) I can tell you that the cost to combine all
of the elements discussed here would exceed the allocated funds.  Whatever
they are. Unless you are selling toilet seats to the US Military.

Jack


>Date:    Fri, 20 Dec 1996 12:07:42 EST
>From:    "David A. Penney" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Adding Captions to Videotape
>
>Jack Thompson:
>
>Thanks for your information and comments about adding closed captions to
>existing video programs. The situation seems pretty much as I had expected, but
>I wanted to respond knowledgably to our visitors and staff.
>
>Since you're in the business, though, perhaps you can answer another question
>for us--how common is it now to include closed captions on material made to be
>distributed as recordings, as opposed to broadcast?
>
>Many of the tapes we use are in commercial distribution, but it seems few or
>none of them are available in closed caption versions. Do you think this will
>change, what with ADA and all? Would it add a great deal to the production
>>costs if planned from the beginning of a project?

ate:    Fri, 20 Dec 1996 16:28:11 MST
>From:    Jan Wilson <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Adding Captions to Videotape
>
>This is slightly off subject but here goes:  I have about decided that when I
>spend what little money I have on videotapes for my anthropology classes, I
>will purchase only those videotapes which are captioned.  In at least one out
>of three classes, I have a student who is deaf or hard-of-hearing.  I want to
>buy materials which aid me in making material accessible to all my students.
>A $200 tape purchase is a serious matter for me, since my take home pay for
>one class monthly is about $340.00 at one place and around $500.00 at another
>place.
Cheers.
JanW,[log in to unmask]
>
>(Oh, I do use college tapes too -- but I sometimes purchase tapes that tie in
>better with the topics I am covering.)

Jack C. Thompson
Thompson Conservation Lab.
7549 N. Fenwick
Portland, OR  97217

503/735-3942  (voice/fax)      "The lyf so short; the craft so long to learn."
                                                               Chaucer,  1386
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