For many organizations, the April 24, 2026, deadline around ADA Title II has raised an important question: Is this a new requirement, or something that’s been in place all along?

The answer is straightforward: Accessibility under ADA Title II is not new. What’s new is clarity.

In 2024, the Department of Justice issued a final rule that formally defines how ADA Title II applies to websites, mobile apps, and digital content. For the first time, public entities now have a clear technical standard and a firm deadline.

This post breaks down:

• What existed before
• What the new rule clarifies
• Who is affected (and when)
• How this impacts captions, video, and accessibility moving forward

What ADA Title II Already Requires

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II, state and local governments have long been required to provide equal access to their programs, services, and activities, along with effective communication for individuals with disabilities.

In practice, this has always applied to core public functions like meetings, educational programs, and government services. As digital communication became central to how these services are delivered, enforcement made it increasingly clear that the same expectations extended to websites, online video, and other digital materials.

Accessibility in digital environments wasn’t new; it was a continuation of an existing requirement.

What the 2024 Rule Clarifies

The DOJ’s 2024 update does not change the core obligation. It defines it.

For the first time, public entities now have:

• A clearly defined scope (websites, apps, and digital content)
• A specific technical standard (WCAG 2.1 Level AA)
• A firm compliance timeline

Why Clarification Was Needed

While the requirement itself was well established, how to meet it was not.

There was no officially defined technical standard, no universal deadline, and no consistent enforcement model. As a result, organizations relied on interpretation, guidance, and precedent to determine what “accessible” meant in practice.

Much of that guidance came through enforcement and legal action. The Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights investigated complaints and entered into resolution agreements, while high-profile cases helped shape expectations. The University of California, Berkeley case required the removal or remediation of inaccessible online video content, and lawsuits involving Harvard and MIT reinforced expectations around captioning and digital access.

These cases made one thing clear: Accessibility was required, but organizations didn’t have a consistent, measurable way to implement it.

ADA Title II: Before vs. Now

Category	Previously (Before 2024 Rule)	Now (2024 Rule – Effective 2026/2027)
Legal Requirement	Accessibility required under ADA Title II	Accessibility still required
Digital Coverage	Implied through interpretation and case law	Explicitly includes websites, apps, and digital content
Technical Standard	Not formally defined	WCAG 2.1 Level AA required
Enforcement Style	Complaint-driven (OCR, lawsuits)	Proactive and enforceable
Deadlines	No universal deadline	April 2026 / April 2027
Captioning Expectation	Required under “effective communication”	Clearly required under WCAG
Consistency	Varied by organization	Standardized across public entities

What the Rule Says About Captions

One of the most immediate impacts of the rule is clarity around captions.

Under WCAG 2.1 Level AA:

• Prerecorded video must include captions
• Live video must include real-time captions

This aligns with how accessibility has already been enforced, but now it is explicitly defined and expected. Just as important, the standard is not simply whether captions exist, it’s whether they are effective.

WCAG does not define a specific accuracy percentage. Instead, it requires that captions present the full meaning of the content, including spoken dialogue and relevant non-speech elements, in a way that is properly synchronized and easy to follow. This is reinforced by ADA Title II’s broader requirement for effective communication: Captions must allow a viewer to fully understand the message—not just approximate it.

In practice, that means:

• Errors that change meaning can create compliance risk
• Missing speakers or key context can make captions insufficient
• Captions must be timed correctly and appear in sync with the audio
• Delays or poor timing can reduce usability and comprehension

With that in mind, it’s important to understand how different captioning approaches align with these expectations. There are two primary approaches used today: automated captioning powered by AI (ASR) and human captioning performed by trained writers.

In practice, the right choice comes down to context. ASR can be effective in controlled environments with clear audio and lower risk, offering a scalable and cost-efficient solution. Human captioning is better suited for high-stakes, complex, or public-facing content where accuracy, speaker identification, and reliability are critical.

The goal isn’t choosing a method—it’s ensuring the message is fully understood.

The “Older Content” Exception

The rule includes a limited exception for content created before April 24, 2026, but it’s narrower than many expect.

Older content can remain as-is only if it is truly archival. That means it is not actively used, not updated, and not part of any current program, service, or activity.

Where this gets important is how “use” is defined. If older content is still being used in any meaningful way, it must be made accessible—even if it was created years ago.

Common scenarios where older content must be updated

• Training and education
  A recorded lecture from 2022 reused in a 2026 course must be captioned.
• Ongoing programs or services
  A webinar library that users are encouraged to access is considered active content.
• Linked or referenced materials
  An older video linked on a current webpage is no longer “archived.”
• Frequently accessed resources
  If users regularly rely on it, it’s part of your current service.

When content may remain exempt

Content may qualify for the exception if it is:

• Stored for recordkeeping or historical reference
• Not linked from current pages
• Not used in training, services, or public engagement
• Left unchanged and not maintained

The practical way to think about it: If your audience is expected to use it, it must be accessible. The exception isn’t based on age; it’s based on relevance and use.

What About Language Requirements?

The rule does not require translation. There is no percentage threshold that triggers multilingual content, no requirement to offer multiple languages, and no rule that content in one language must be mirrored in another.

What the rule does require is consistency: Any language you provide must be accessible.

If an organization offers content in Spanish, that version must be accessible in Spanish. If content is delivered in English, it must be accessible in English.

For example, a Spanish video would need Spanish captions, and an English livestream would need real-time English captions.

Language access itself is governed by other regulations. ADA Title II focuses specifically on accessibility for people with disabilities, ensuring that whatever content is provided can be fully understood.

Who Needs to Comply, and When?

The rule applies to public entities under ADA Title II, including state and local governments, public universities, school systems, and municipal agencies.

The timeline is based on population size:

April 24, 2026

Applies to public entities serving 50,000+ people, such as:

• Large cities and counties
• State agencies
• Major public universities
• Large transit systems

April 26, 2027

Applies to entities serving under 50,000 people, including:

• Smaller towns and municipalities
• Rural counties
• Smaller local agencies

The requirement is the same for both groups—only the timeline differs.

What About Churches and Private Organizations?

Churches are not considered public entities under ADA Title II and are generally exempt from ADA Title III as well. This means they are not legally required to meet WCAG standards.

However, many churches are still adopting accessibility tools like captions and translation—not because they are required to, but because they recognize the value. Accessibility improves understanding, supports multilingual communities, and helps remove barriers for first-time visitors.

Accessibility in this context isn’t about compliance. It’s about connection.

Final Takeaway

ADA Title II has required accessibility for decades. The 2024 rule does not introduce a new obligation—it provides a clear, consistent framework for meeting one that already existed.

For public entities, that means:

• A defined standard (WCAG 2.1 AA)
• A clear timeline (2026 / 2027)
• And a shift toward building accessibility into digital content from the start

Accessibility has always been about ensuring people can fully receive the message. Now, there is a clear path for how to deliver it.

Matt Cook joins Kenny Jahng on the Church Tech Today Podcast

We’re excited to share that our President, Matt Cook, was recently featured on the Church Tech Today Podcast hosted by Kenny Jahng — one of the leading voices in digital ministry and AI innovation for churches. The conversation dove into how Aberdeen’s real-time AI captioning and translation tools are making worship services more accessible, inclusive, and effective for everyone in the pews.

Watch the full episode

Read the article on ChurchTechToday.com: Church Tech Today Podcast Feature with Matt Cook

Why This Conversation Matters Now

The conversation wasn’t just about cool tech — it was about mission. AI is opening the door for churches to reach people who’ve been sitting quietly in their pews, unable to fully engage — whether due to hearing loss, language barriers, or generational differences in media consumption.

As Kenny noted, "Most churches are barely scratching the surface of what's possible." But with the right tools, accessibility can be seamless, affordable, and incredibly impactful.

Key Takeaways from the Interview

1. AI Makes Accessibility Affordable for Every Church

Matt shared how Aberdeen has taken technology once reserved for large, media-savvy churches — and made it accessible for congregations of all sizes. Even 100-member churches are now using AI captioning and translation to serve ESL communities and individuals with hearing loss.

“We’ve had churches start this just to help one deaf member, and suddenly realize there are more people quietly struggling to engage — and they begin reaching new audiences they never expected.”
— Matt Cook, Aberdeen

2. Captions Aren’t Just for the Hearing Impaired

More than 70% of Gen Z and over 50% of Millennials now watch content with captions on. It’s not an accessibility issue — it’s an engagement issue.

Captions help with focus, retention, and accessibility for everyone — not just those with hearing impairments.

“Captions help us absorb more. They’ve become part of how the next generation engages with content, including sermons.”
— Kenny Jahng

3. Live, In-Person Captions Are Easier Than Ever

Churches don’t need expensive gear or complex workflows. Aberdeen’s AI captioning and translation system works right from the audio feed churches already have. Viewers can scan a QR code and get real-time captions or listen to a voice dub in their preferred language — right on their phone.

“Setup takes just minutes. Most churches already have everything they need.”
— Matt Cook

4. Voice Dubbing in 60+ Languages

Beyond just captions, Aberdeen offers AI voice dubbing — allowing attendees to hear the sermon in real time in their own language, with natural inflection and clarity. This opens the door to multi-generational families, immigrant communities, and global reach without needing separate services.

A Tool for Growth, Not Just Accommodation

Kenny brought up an important shift in thinking: Captioning and translation aren't just for “accommodation” — they’re tools for growth and connection.

Whether it’s helping Gen Z absorb more of the message, allowing a Spanish-speaking grandmother to understand her grandson’s baptism, or making someone with hearing loss feel seen and included — accessibility is kingdom work.

Try It with Your Own Content

As Matt shared on the podcast, Aberdeen offers churches a free trial month and will even demonstrate the technology using the church’s own sermon video.

• Real-time captions
• Mobile access via QR code
• Translation and voice dubs in 60+ languages
• Seamless setup using your existing equipment

Ready to See It in Action?

Curious how it would work for your services? We’re now offering personalized live demos using your actual content so you can see how real-time captions and multilingual translations would look during your own worship services.

• Get guidance tailored to your tech setup
• Experience the interface with familiar voices and formats
• Evaluate translation quality in real-time

Schedule your one-on-one demo now using our calendar link below.

In a recent StreamingChurch.tv webinar, Aberdeen Broadcast Services President Matt Cook joined Phil Thompson to discuss the powerful role artificial intelligence is playing in making church services more accessible—both in-person and online.

As churches strive to reach broader and more diverse communities, the need for multilingual captioning and translation has never been greater. During the conversation, Matt shared how Aberdeen has spent years refining AI tools behind the scenes before confidently bringing them forward for real-time use.

“We’ve been using AI in post-production captioning for years—combining it with human editors to ensure top-tier quality,” Matt explained. “But we didn’t want to offer it live until we were confident it would meet the high standards our clients expect.”

A New Era of Real-Time Accessibility

What once required dedicated human captioners or translators can now be achieved instantly through AI—with support for over 60 languages in both subtitles and audio dubbing.

Whether you’re broadcasting to viewers across the globe or welcoming a multilingual congregation in your sanctuary, Aberdeen’s real-time solution is built to scale with you. During the live demo, attendees saw firsthand how captions and translations could be instantly toggled across multiple devices—no app, log-in, or special equipment required.

Designed for Churches—Not Just Tech Experts

One of the biggest takeaways from the webinar was that you don’t have to be a tech expert to bring this level of accessibility to your church. Aberdeen’s cloud-based tools work with any encoder and can be used in both live streams and in-person worship services.

“It’s as simple as scanning a QR code or clicking a link. Your viewers can then choose their preferred language and follow along in real-time,” said Matt.

Watch the Full Webinar Replay

If you missed the live event or want to revisit what was shared, you can now watch the full replay on demand here:

You’ll see:

• A live demo of the tech in action
• How churches are using it for both local and international outreach
• A walkthrough of Aberdeen’s 60+ language support
• The inspiration behind Aberdeen’s long-term commitment to accessibility

See It in Action—With Your Own Content

Curious how it would work for your services? We’re now offering personalized live demos using your actual content so you can see how real-time captions and multilingual translations would look during your own worship services.

• Experience the interface with familiar voices and formats
• Evaluate translation quality in real-time
• Get guidance tailored to your tech setup

Spots are limited and filling up quickly. Schedule your one-on-one demo now using our calendar link below.

The Bottom Line

Churches today have an unprecedented opportunity to reach global audiences, welcome newcomers, and serve members of all abilities and backgrounds. With trusted AI-powered tools from Aberdeen, you can break language barriers and make sure no one misses the message.

Learn more about ASR-powered accessibility tools for churches here.

A Whirlwind of Connection and Community

What a July and August it has been for the Aberdeen team. It was a whirlwind tour of airports, convention centers, and some truly inspiring conversations as we connected with the higher education community at three incredible events: the Online Teaching Conference (OTC), the CSU+UC Event Professionals Network (EPN) conference, and the AHEAD conference.

While each conference had a specific focus, we found a powerful common thread at every stop. We were visiting one unified community of passionate people all working toward the same goal of making education more inclusive. Our team came home exhausted but overwhelmingly inspired. This is a thank you to the community that welcomed us and a collection of stories we hope you find valuable.

Kicking Things Off in Long Beach

Our journey started in sunny Long Beach at the Online Teaching Conference. The energy was electric, with the theme of "AI, Innovation, and Equity" buzzing in every conversation. What struck our team was the shift in the dialogue around AI. The narrative has moved beyond fear and is now rooted in possibility. The conversations we had were full of this optimism, reminding us that technology at its best is a tool for connection.

Our Higher Education Accessibility Specialist, Tony Baltayan, also had the privilege of presenting at OTC, where he shared Aberdeen’s latest advancements in captioning and translation. It was an energizing moment to highlight how far the technology has come and how it’s helping campuses right now.

Connecting with Event Professionals at Berkeley

Next, our team headed to the gorgeous UC Berkeley campus for the CSU+UC Event Professionals Network conference. This event brought together the talented individuals who create every campus experience, from departmental meetings to massive commencements. The conversations were centered on logistics, engagement, and creating seamless events. It was a fantastic opportunity to discuss how accessibility can be woven into the planning process from the very beginning, making it a natural part of every event rather than a last-minute addition.

Being on the UC Berkeley campus for the conference was a wonderful excuse to arrive early and meet with our partners in person. We had the opportunity to sit down and interview some of the key people behind their accessibility initiatives. We were blown away by their collaborative model, which we started calling the "Heart, Head, and Hands" of accessibility. It’s a powerful approach linking passionate student advocacy, strategic ADA compliance, and flawless technical execution. Their story is a testament to what’s possible when a university commits to access at every level. We can't wait to share our full interviews with their team, so keep an eye out for those videos coming soon!

Deepening the Mission in Denver

For our final stop in Denver for the 48th annual AHEAD conference, our team was ready to listen and learn. As the global epicenter for professionals in higher education and disability, this was our chance to connect as students of the industry. We were humbled by the dedication in every room. An "aha" moment for us came during a session about the immense pressure on small DRC offices. It was a stark reminder of how critical reliable partners and efficient systems are when a student's education is on the line.

Tony was honored to present at AHEAD as well, highlighting Aberdeen’s cutting-edge captioning and translation solutions. Presenting at AHEAD highlighted the shared commitment of professionals working to advance access in higher education.

Inspired for the Road Ahead

Looking back on our journey, the one theme that rings true is community. We met instructional designers, event coordinators, and DRC directors who are all united by a shared passion for opening doors.

On behalf of the entire Aberdeen team, we want to extend a huge thank you to the organizers and to every single person who shared a story with us. You’ve energized us, you’ve inspired us, and we can’t wait to continue the conversation and build the future of access together.

Want to see how our latest accessibility technology can support your campus? Read More.

Gather25, hosted by IF:Gathering, was a groundbreaking 25-hour global broadcast connecting audiences across every continent. With over 1.25 million online viewers and participation from more than 21,000 Gather Groups worldwide, the event aimed to inspire and unite the global church community.

Aberdeen Broadcast Services has partnered with IF:Gathering since 2020, providing both live captioning for streaming events and post-produced captioning for archived content. Gather25 marked an ambitious new chapter in that partnership—the first time Aberdeen was brought on to help scale the event’s global reach through real-time translation.

As far as we know, this was a first-of-its-kind undertaking: a multilingual livestream of this magnitude, requiring impeccable coordination across dozens of languages and platforms. Aberdeen was one of several trusted vendors, working alongside the technology and broadcast partners hired for the event to make it all possible.

The Challenge: Delivering 25 Hours of Multilingual, Real-Time Access

Supporting a continuous, multilingual broadcast of this scale introduced several technical challenges:

• Maintain uninterrupted captioning across a 25-hour live stream spanning 7 global broadcast hubs.
• Generate real-time captions and translations for 84 language streams with high accuracy and minimal latency.
• Implement a dynamic captioning system that allows viewers to pause, rewind, and review up to four hours of content during the live event ("rolling DVR" functionality).
• Collaborate across multiple teams — Element Media Group (master control), Sardius (video player delivery), SyncWords (captioning/subtitle platform), and Interprefy (live interpreters) — to ensure flawless live execution.
• Deliver caption files in a continuous VTT format, dynamically updating during the broadcast to support both live viewing and post-event on-demand access.

The Solution: Continuous Live Captioning and Translation Across 84 Languages

Before the event went live, a workflow that could support uninterrupted, real-time captioning and translation across dozens of simultaneous streams needed to be built. This required deep coordination with multiple teams to align audio sources, language feeds, and delivery endpoints. Our goal was to ensure every segment of the broadcast could be accurately captioned and translated with minimal manual intervention once the event began.

A key technology partner behind this workflow was SyncWords, whose platform Aberdeen leverages to manage real-time captioning and translation delivery. SyncWords played a vital behind-the-scenes role in not only powering the infrastructure we used to deploy captions across dozens of streams but also collaborating directly with engineers at Sardius and Elemental Media to implement specialized audio-isolation coding for the event. This coordination ensured that every audio feed we received was optimized for clean, accurate transcription and translation at scale.

Pre-Event Testing

To guarantee performance, Aberdeen conducted over 50 hours of pre-event testing, stress-testing multi-language streams, and simulating 25-hour sessions to ensure system endurance. A key priority was ensuring that VTT caption files would function as continuously updated feeds, rather than static uploads. This real-time updating was essential for Sardius’ platform to support both live captions and rolling DVR features, while also allowing seamless access to captions during on-demand playback after the event.

Streaming Caption Workflow

In a typical video workflow, captions are created after recording, uploaded separately, and synced to on-demand content. For Gather25’s livestream, captions had to be generated and delivered in real time, alongside the video stream.

The system worked like this:

• Live video was broken into segments (HLS .ts files) and stored in an S3 bucket, alongside a .m3u8 manifest file managing playback.
• Simultaneously, a VTT subtitle file was created and appended in real time—each new caption line was added to the file without restarting it.
• This continuous file structure allowed Sardius’ player to provide viewers with immediate access to live captions while also enabling DVR controls—viewers could rewind up to four hours and then return to the live stream without losing their place.
• Once the event ended, these same VTT files remained attached to the recorded content for full accessibility during on-demand viewing.

This architecture required precise timing, structured file delivery, and full alignment with Sardius’ streaming infrastructure.

Workflow Optimization

Aberdeen’s team engineered a sophisticated workflow to process 20 incoming HLS feeds. Working closely with Element Media Group, which managed master control and delivered stripped audio to Sardius, Aberdeen received feeds prepped for accessibility:

• Speech-Only Audio Extraction: Each of the 20 HLS streams included up to 16 audio tracks; Aberdeen pulled content from Track 16, where music had been removed to isolate spoken word, ensuring clean inputs for accurate captioning and translation.
• Language Processing:
  • Live English captioning was performed by Aberdeen’s professional human captioners via a broadcast encoder at Master Control, ensuring exceptional accuracy of the English captions for the television broadcast.
  • Translated English to Kinyarwanda, a language not supported by any of the major ASR engines, demonstrating a custom solution beyond standard automation.
  • Created native-language captions for 14 non-English spoken feeds, including Arabic, Mandarin, French, German, Portuguese, and more.
  • Translated stripped English audio into 68 other languages, selecting the best available machine translation engine per language (prioritizing: DeepL > OpenAI > Amazon > Google > Azure).
• File Management: All caption files were delivered to Sardius using clearly labeled S3 bucket destinations (e.g., EN for English, ES for Spanish), with structured naming conventions to ensure accurate mapping during the live event and in the post-event archive.

Impact: Real-Time Engagement and Global Reach Through Accessibility

Gather25’s accessibility efforts produced measurable results:

• Over 1 million minutes of English captions and translations were viewed during the live stream, equal to nearly 17,000 hours of real-time engagement.
• Continuous, real-time VTT streaming ensured seamless live accessibility, enabled four-hour rolling DVR, and extended caption access post-event.
• Aberdeen's workflow operated without any critical interruptions across the entire 25-hour window, validating the strength of its testing protocols and system reliability.

By combining AI-driven automation, human captioning expertise, and a deep integration with broadcast systems, Aberdeen Broadcast Services delivered scalable, high-quality accessibility at a truly global level.

Conclusion: Advancing Live Event Accessibility on a Global Scale

Gather25’s mission to unite believers around the world was made stronger through its commitment to accessibility. With real-time captioning and translation across 84 language streams, Aberdeen Broadcast Services helped make this global event inclusive, impactful, and available to all.

For organizations planning large-scale, multilingual broadcasts, Aberdeen’s tested and proven solutions offer the reliability and scalability needed to reach a worldwide audience.

Let’s talk about how we can support your next event. Contact us to learn more.

Distance education is rapidly expanding within California Community Colleges (CCC) as more students are choosing to take online courses to fit their busy schedules. Ensuring equal access demands accessible course content, notably captioning and transcription, to comply with legal requirements and support student success. The Distance Education Captioning and Transcription (DECT) Grant provides vital funding to all 116 CCCs, specifically addressing these critical accessibility needs in the growing online learning environment.

Pre-Approved Vendor Status

Aberdeen Broadcast Services is a state-approved DECT Grant vendor, allowing California Community Colleges to contract with us directly. This is the most streamlined process for colleges, as it signifies that we are already vetted and have a strong understanding of the grant requirements, simplifying both service delivery and billing.

Please visit the CCC DECT Grant website for official grant information and a list of approved vendors.

What's Covered by the DECT Grant?

The DECT Grant funds services that transcribe spoken content to ensure the accessibility of aural information. The scope of funding primarily includes:

• Live Captioning: Real-time transcription of the spoken word for synchronous online classes through Zoom or similar platforms. These services are also ideal for internal meetings, faculty-led sessions, and campus-wide events where accessibility is essential.
• Post-Production Captioning: Synchronization of text with audio or video for prerecorded content used in asynchronous learning, such as YouTube videos. This is used for course content that will not be viewed live.
• Transcription: Providing text versions of audio content. Ideal for students to review the transcript of the spoken content after it’s been viewed.
• Audio Description: Funding may also be available for Audio Description if the college is striving for WCAG 2.0 AA compliance.

Funding is available for accessibility services across various eligible course types and content:

• Distance Education (Online, Hybrid, Synchronous, Asynchronous).
• Credit and Non-Credit classes that generate apportionment.
• On-campus classes utilizing distance methods of content delivery (e.g., class capture, web conferencing, LMS content).

(Note: Specific rules apply to which videos qualify; consult the official grant website for full details. Community services/continuing education material is not covered.)

Accessing DECT Grant Funds

Requests for captioning services are typically made by college staff, often faculty who need their course materials captioned, or individuals in departments such as the Disabled Students Program or Accessibility Services.

Partnering with a pre-approved vendor can simplify the process of identifying needs and estimating costs. Simply fill out this request form, and we’ll help you get started!

Why Utilizing the DECT Grant Matters

Leveraging the DECT grant is crucial for California Community Colleges because it directly contributes to key institutional goals:

• Ensuring Student Access: Provides necessary accommodation for students with disabilities, particularly those who are deaf or hard of hearing, ensuring equitable access to educational content.
• Supporting Faculty Innovation: Empowers faculty to effectively use media-rich content in their courses without accessibility being a barrier.
• Meeting Legal Requirements: Helps colleges comply with federal and state accessibility laws and regulations.
• Advancing Technology Use: Supports the effective integration of technology in teaching and learning by making digital content accessible.

We’re here to help!

The DECT grant is a valuable resource designed to help California Community Colleges make their distance education offerings fully accessible and inclusive. Leveraging this funding is essential for supporting all students and advancing digital learning.

We encourage your college to take full advantage of this opportunity. Let’s work together to make sure your students have the access they deserve!

At the four-day International Christian Media Convention in Grapevine, Texas, Aberdeen Broadcast Services revolutionized accessibility by delivering real-time Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) and Automated Machine Translation (AMT) solutions. Through AI-powered captions, subtitles, and voice dubs, we ensured that all sessions, workshops, and events were accessible to a diverse audience, including Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) attendees, international guests, and non-English speakers.

This case study highlights the technical execution, engagement analytics, and impact of our AI-driven accessibility services, demonstrating how these innovations enhance inclusivity while setting new standards for multilingual communication in the religious broadcasting industry.

Client Overview: NRB (National Religious Broadcasters)

NRB unites content creators, broadcasters, and media professionals in faith-based media. The annual convention serves as a key platform for industry innovation and networking, drawing thousands of attendees from across the globe.

Aberdeen Broadcast Services has been a proud NRB member since 2001, and we’ve exhibited annually in the convention’s Exhibit Hall—supporting Christian media leaders with broadcast-quality captioning, translation, and broadcast transcoding and station delivery solutions year after year.

For more detailed information about NRB's mission, history, and upcoming events, you can visit their official website at https://nrb.org/.

Background & Project Objectives

Aberdeen Broadcast Services collaborated with the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) team to deploy automated captions and multilingual translations across all event venues.

The initiative aimed to:

• Enhance Accessibility – Ensure deaf & hard of hearing (D/HH) and multilingual attendees can fully engage with live content through captions and translated voice dubs.
• Expand Reach – Enable non-English speakers and international attendees to participate via real-time, high-accuracy ASR and AMT services.
• Seamless Integration – Deploy AI-powered solutions that integrate smoothly with the event’s media and AV infrastructure.
• Showcase Innovation – Demonstrate how AI-driven translation transforms live event accessibility.

Implementation Strategy

Aberdeen worked closely with NRB’s event tech and media teams to implement AI-powered captions and voice translations across conference rooms, exhibit halls, and keynote sessions.

Pre-Event Planning

To ensure a smooth deployment, Aberdeen conducted detailed pre-event coordination with NRB’s technical teams. These planning sessions covered AV compatibility, network readiness, and session logistics, laying the groundwork for a seamless on-site setup.

In parallel, Aberdeen’s AI models were fine-tuned specifically for NRB’s audience—incorporating religious broadcasting terminology, varied speaker accents, and unique session formats. This customization helped boost initial accuracy and reduced the need for on-the-fly corrections once the event was live.

On-Site Execution

Delivering real-time captions and multilingual voice dubs across dozens of live events requires more than great technology, it demands strategic integration, on-the-ground expertise, and proactive user engagement. At NRB 2025, Aberdeen’s team worked room by room to implement a reliable, low-latency system that ensured seamless delivery throughout the four-day event.

From technical setup to attendee onboarding, every detail was planned and executed to provide a smooth, accessible experience for all.

Here's how it came together on-site:

Technical Setup & System Integration

Aberdeen deployed a robust, multi-room workflow to ensure the reliable delivery of real-time captions and multilingual voice dubs throughout NRB 2025. Designed for low-latency audio capture and seamless cloud-based processing, the system was supported by a team of on-site technicians assigned to each room.

Technicians monitored session quality, managed live connections, and handled any real-time troubleshooting, ensuring maximum system uptime and translation accuracy across the event.

Audio feeds from each venue’s sound console were routed into video encoders and transmitted via dedicated Ethernet connections to Aberdeen’s ASR cloud servers. Simultaneously, technicians used laptops at each event to monitor session loads and dynamically add languages on the fly based on audience needs.

AV & Network Inputs from Each Room

• Sound Console (with audio out to connect to Aberdeen’s encoder)
• 5 Mbps+ Ethernet Connection (dedicated per room)

Aberdeen’s On-Site Equipment

• Network Switch
• Cat6 Patch Cables (x2): One to connect the encoder to the network and one to connect the technician’s controller laptop
• Video Encoder – Captured and streamed audio to ASR servers
• Aberdeen Laptop (Controller) – Carried by the technician for on-the-fly control and session monitoring
• Backup Audio Cable – Ensured compatibility with varying soundboard configurations

Here's a visual look at the setup:

Event Awareness & User Guidance

Complimentary Earbuds – Upon request, we provided headphones for attendees who wished to listen to the voice dubs.

Engagement Performance (Totals)

The NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) Convention welcomed more than 5,800 Christian media professionals—including 345 international attendees representing 52 countries outside the United States.

The following statistics reflect actual show usage, based on attendees who actively engaged with Aberdeen’s accessibility tools during sessions and events.

It’s important to note that every unique view was automatically recorded as a view of the English captions since English was the default language. Users then had the option to select a translated subtitle or voice dub, meaning the counts for translated languages reflect intentional user selection beyond the initial caption display.

NOTE: The following head counts reflect individual event attendance, not unique people. Many attendees participated in multiple sessions and events, so individuals may be counted more than once.

Metric	Total	% of Attendance
Head Count (Session Attendance)	6,215	—
Unique Users Engaged	663	10.67%
Voice Dub Usage	276	4.5% (41.63% of users)
Subtitle Usage (Non-English)	61	0.98% (9.2% of users)

• Over 6,000 seats were filled across four days of sessions, panels, workshops, and keynotes—showcasing the scale and momentum of NRB 2025.
• 663 attendees actively used Aberdeen’s accessibility tools, representing slightly over 1 in 10 participants who engaged with real-time captions, translated subtitles, or AI-generated voice dubs.
• Of those who engaged with the service, nearly 42% chose to listen to translated voice dubs, while just under 10% accessed content through on-screen subtitles—highlighting a clear preference for audio over text-based translation.

Day-By-Day Trends

Day	Head Count	Unique Views	Dubs	Subtitles
Monday	1,002	37	20	0
Tuesday	1,734	272	112	2
Wednesday	2,220	240	90	37
Thursday	1,259	114	54	22

Room-By-Room Performance

Room	Head Count	Unique Views	Dubs	Subtitles	% Views
Texas Ballroom AB	2,067	78	31	0	6.19%
Texas Ballroom C	2,535	296	104	8	11.68%
Longhorn Workshop Stage	1,431	232	115	7	16.21%
Grapevine Ballroom C	182	57	26	46	31.32%

Notable Event Highlights

• Tuesday marked the highest engagement day for both attendance and unique views.
• Subtitle usage rose significantly midweek, peaking on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Longhorn Workshop Stage had the most consistent adoption, with over 16% of attendees engaging daily.
• Grapevine Ballroom C hosted the two-day Latino Media Summit, which drew 182 attendees and recorded the highest subtitle usage of the week, with 31.32% engaging with the accessibility service.
• Podcasting & Video Workshops (Longhorn Workshop Stage): 1,431 combined headcounts, 232 unique views, and highest per-capita voice dub usage of the week.

Challenges & Mitigation

Challenge	Solution
Hotel Network Configuration	The hotel’s IT infrastructure blocked standard static IPs and subnet masks. Aberdeen quickly adapted by configuring all encoders to use DHCP, scanning the network to identify active IPs, and manually accessing each WebUI to reconfigure the streaming setup.
User Awareness & Onboarding	Coming into the event, most attendees didn’t know the service was available or how to access it, so Aberdeen deployed printed QR cards, tall instructional banners, and pre-session screen slides to guide users before each session.
Scaling Across Diverse Room Setups	Different rooms had varying AV capabilities and audio console types. A technical kit was standardized and included flexible backup equipment (e.g., extra audio cables, patch cables) to adapt quickly from room to room.
Terminology Accuracy	Our team built custom dictionaries for each event, including names, acronyms, and phonetic pronunciations tailored to individual sessions, greatly improving real-time accuracy.

Conclusion & Future Strategies

Aberdeen’s AI-powered ASR & AMT deployment at NRB 2025 demonstrated strong engagement and adoption, especially in high-traffic venues. While initial awareness posed a challenge, the usage numbers and feedback show clear potential for continued growth.

Future Improvements

• Enhanced Pre-Event Marketing – Increase awareness and user adoption through targeted event promotions.
• Survey Language Preferences During Registration – Gather attendee language preferences ahead of time to personalize content delivery and better anticipate demand for specific translations.
• Expanded Language Support – Introduce additional languages to serve a broader audience.

This project set a new benchmark for AI-driven accessibility in religious broadcasting and live events. Aberdeen looks forward to refining these solutions and expanding their impact at future industry gatherings.

Ready to Make Your Next Event Accessible to All?

Whether you're planning a conference, live broadcast, or global webcast, Aberdeen’s AI-powered captioning and translation solutions can help you engage a broader, more inclusive audience.

Let’s talk about how we can support your next event. Contact us to learn more.

In today's world defined by constant digital engagement, younger generations increasingly rely on captions and subtitles to enhance their viewing experience. This trend, largely popularized by Gen Z and Millennials, isn’t just limited to streaming shows or watching social media content; it’s spilling over into live events, with a strong case for captions as a way to boost engagement and attendance in venues that historically may have overlooked them, such as churches.

Here’s a look at the data supporting this movement and how churches can use captioning to foster a more engaging environment.

Younger Generations and the Subtitle Revolution

Preply, a language learning platform, conducted a survey titled, “Why America is Obsessed with Subtitles,” to explore the growing trend of subtitle usage among Americans. The study involved over 1,200 participants, aiming to understand how and why individuals use subtitles in their media consumption. The findings revealed that 50% of Americans watch content with subtitles most of the time, with younger generations, particularly Gen Z, showing a greater preference for subtitle use.

• According to Preply's survey, 70% of Gen Z and 53% of Millennial viewers turn on subtitles most of the time when they watch content. This statistic highlights a major shift in media consumption patterns: it’s not just about watching but understanding and engaging with content that drives this trend.
• 74% of Gen Z also prefer subtitles when watching content in foreign languages. With the global reach of platforms like Netflix, young people are more accustomed than ever to encountering diverse media, where subtitles bridge language and comprehension gaps.
• Another 57% of younger viewers report watching content in public places, using captions to stay engaged while maintaining privacy or avoiding sound disruptions. This trend underscores their reliance on captions to stay connected to content in any setting.

This data reveals a generation that sees captions not as an add-on but as an essential part of the viewing experience. For churches, this could signal an opportunity: integrating captions into services may not only help with accessibility but also align with the viewing habits of younger generations.

Captioning Live Events: A Path to Higher Engagement

This enthusiasm for live captions reflects a shift in how younger generations want to consume live content. Captions at events enhance accessibility for everyone, regardless of hearing ability, and address concerns with acoustics or unclear speech, which often deter audiences. In the church context, offering captions during sermons, worship songs, or events could break down barriers that may otherwise prevent younger individuals from fully engaging.

Engaging a New Generation: How Captioning Can Help Churches Reconnect with Young Adults

Christian churches across the United States are increasingly challenged to capture the interest and attendance of younger generations, who are showing declining levels of religious affiliation and engagement." The Pew Research Center's 2019 article, "In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace," highlights a significant decline in Christian affiliation among younger Americans. The data indicates that only 49% of Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) identify as Christians, compared to 84% of the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945).

With reports indicating a decline in church attendance in the U.S., many churches are seeking strategies to re-engage their congregations, especially young adults. Captions could be a powerful, practical solution.

Offering live captions during services could address several issues:

• Accessibility and Inclusivity: Young people who are accustomed to captions often view them as an essential tool for inclusion. By offering captions in church, congregations can signal a commitment to inclusivity, welcoming not only those with hearing impairments but also those who may benefit from captioning for other reasons, like understanding speakers with different accents or enhancing focus.
• Boosting Engagement: With 55% of Americans saying it’s harder to hear dialogue in shows than it used to be, similar issues with acoustics or clarity in large church spaces might deter engagement. Captions can solve this problem, making services clearer and more engaging for all attendees.
• Attracting a Tech-Savvy Generation: For a generation that turns to their phones for entertainment, information, and engagement, adding captions is a way of bridging familiar digital practices into the church environment. Just as captions boost engagement on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, they could play a similar role in church services.
• Providing a Multilingual Option: In a diverse country, language can be a barrier for many congregants. With nearly 1 in 5 Preply survey respondents using subtitles to learn a new language, churches could consider offering caption translations in key languages relevant to their community, creating a multilingual service environment.

Moving Forward: A Call for Churches to Embrace Captioning

By understanding the viewing habits of younger generations, churches have the opportunity to create an environment that aligns with their engagement preferences. Embracing captioning technology for in-person services and online sermon streams not only makes services more accessible but can also foster deeper engagement, particularly among younger congregants who see captions as an essential part of their everyday experience.

As churches consider how best to adapt to changing times, incorporating live captions could be a powerful step toward renewing attendance and helping younger generations feel seen, heard, and included in the community. It’s a practical, meaningful solution that could not only enhance accessibility but help bridge generational gaps, allowing churches to resonate with the next generation and grow their community in an inclusive and modern way.

In this session, Tony from Aberdeen Broadcast Services, an accessibility specialist focusing on higher education, dives deep into the essentials of remote captioning. The talk, co-presented by Amiyah Lee, addresses some of the most frequently asked questions from colleges and universities regarding setting up remote captioning, where the live writer does not need to be physically present in the classroom. This approach offers greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness while maintaining the quality needed to meet accessibility standards.

Tony shares some statistics on the use of captioning in higher education, such as the fact that 19% of college students in the United States experience some degree of hearing loss. Additionally, 71% of students without hearing difficulties use captions at least some of the time, and 90% of students who use captions say that they help them learn more effectively. Furthermore, 65% of students use captions to help focus and retain information, while 62% use them to overcome poor audio quality.

Tony and Amiyah provide an overview of the practical steps institutions can take to implement remote captioning, including selecting the right technology and overcoming common challenges. They also discuss how Aberdeen Broadcast Services supports educational institutions by offering affordable captioning solutions, both human captioning and AI-powered ASR technology, that meet compliance requirements without compromising on quality.

Watch it on-demand here:

For more on our work with captioning in higher education, visit: Live Captioning for Universities.

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is now making a substantial impact on how local churches connect with their communities, breaking down barriers once caused by financial limitations. With ASR, churches can now offer inclusive services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) community. But it doesn’t stop there—when combined with Automatic Machine Translation (AMT), this powerful duo overcomes language hurdles, translating sermons into dozens of languages. Even the smallest congregations can now reach a global audience, sharing their message far and wide.

We previously explored the ethical and theological concerns with AI in the Church in our last blog post: The Role of AI in Enhancing Church Accessibility and Inclusion.

While human-generated captions and translations always offer the highest quality, ASR and AMT provide a cost-effective solution that can be utilized by churches and ministries of any size or budget. Imagine your sermon reaching the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) community, allowing for full participation, or sharing your message in various languages to a worldwide audience that might otherwise have been unreachable. AI-powered closed captioning and translations help make this a reality. ASR captions and translations are not only a technological advancement; they are tools for inclusivity and global outreach.

Churches aiming to make a significant impact can turn to AI-powered accessibility tools, once considered out of reach, for preaching and teaching. Practical uses of ASR include:

• Live Streaming: AI-powered ASR can integrate with live streaming services to provide real-time captions, subtitles, or even real-time voice dubbing, making worship services accessible to a global audience. This allows viewers from different parts of the world to follow along with the sermon, regardless of their language or hearing ability, thereby expanding the church’s reach and inclusivity.
• In-Person Services: ASR technology can make live sermons more accessible by providing real-time text or audio dubs on congregants’ mobile devices. By making the sermon text available on personal devices, churches can enhance comprehension and engagement for in-person attendees.
• Notes/Summaries: After a sermon is transcribed, extend the message's reach with our AI-enhanced sermon extras. Whether you want to generate Bible studies or daily devotionals, curate key terms and highlight Bible verses, or create summaries and discussion questions, our enhanced transcript materials are designed to add value and extend the impact of your content. Create endless content from a single sermon.

Aberdeen’s new ASR solution, developed with ministry in mind, employs robust AI engines and large language models to provide a powerful advantage in delivering Christian content. Each solution is carefully crafted to fit your specific ministry needs, providing high-quality captions at a fraction of the cost.

Discover how Aberdeen’s ASR solution offers a cost-effective approach to closed captioning & translation. Learn more here: Aberdeen ASR Closed Captioning.