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!
Justin Gomez New Student ServicesTreena Davis Disabled Students' ProgramDerek Coates Disability Access & Compliance
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.
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:
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!
If you are attending the Online Teaching Conference, we invite you to visit the Aberdeen Broadcast Services booth to discuss your specific DECT strategy and accessibility plans with our experts.
If you’re not able to attend the conference, contact Aberdeen's DECT specialist, Tony Baltayan, to learn more and discuss your specific goals. Contact Tony here.
We are constantly reminded of the difference that live captioning services can make for a ministry.
Take a quick listen (under a minute!) as our Matt Cook, Aberdeen President, talks about Woodland’s success with live captioning.
After working with Woodlands Church for many years on the post-produced closed captioning and AberFast Station Delivery of the Kerry Shook program, it was just a few years ago that they decided to give our live captioning services a try. Before long, they discovered all of the positive ways live captioning supports their events and services — and, most importantly, makes them more accessible to church embers.
“Woodlands Church has used Aberdeen live captioning services since 2018. The audience engagement and measurable growth have been so positive that we've added captioning to an additional service.”
Vince W. - Online Campus Pastor – Woodlands Church
Earlier this month at NRB Proclaim 17, we hosted a brief talk with broadcasters regarding the most updated FCC laws pertaining to closed captioning. Although it was intended as a review of the laws that are already in place, it proved that many of the laws are still not known, or unclear, to many broadcasters.
The talk was hosted at the Learning Arena located in the vendor exhibit hall. The goal of the Learning Arena is to foster true interaction between exhibiting companies and convention participants to share and connect; highlighting relevant education and training.Read
Audible exhales could be heard throughout the nearly 1 million square feet of exhibit space as the final closing announcement was sent over the loudspeakers of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Some, involuntary gasps of panic from what was left of 103,000 NAB attendees that just realized they didn't make it successfully through the 4 halls of the convention; and others, sighs of relief from the exhibitors of the 1,700 companies as they realized that the past 31 hours of standing on their feet is over.
That closing message also marked the 7th consecutive year of Aberdeen Broadcast Services exhibiting in the South Lower Hall at the NAB Show. This time, with a new location and a fresh look. As we continue to grow as a company, so does the size of our booth and the gathering of our team.
Upgraded 20'x20' booth complete with a 10'x4' triangular overhead hanging sign.
In the years past, Aberdeen has had a nice presence in a 10'x20' space just beyond the main product demonstrations from Red Digital Cinema, Blackmagic Design, and Adobe Systems. This year we were right in the middle of all that activity adjacent to Amazon Web Services.
We could not have predicted the perfect balance of inquiries across our 3 divisions. Frequent visits from producers looking for further education on the new closed captioning laws. TV stations looking to continue to free up their resources in the tape-less world. International producers looking to expand their audiences with multilanguage translations. And, unexpectedly, a dozen universities whose attention has focused on captioning their online courses after the recent lawsuit filed against a couple of Ivy League schools.
This year saw new innovative video and broadcasting technologies introduced at a rate only Flash Gordon could keep up with. 8K display systems, 10-ounce Micro Cinema Cameras, a storm-chasing Jeep Wrangler that would make Bill Paxton salivate, and drones. Drones EVERYWHERE. And like the drones, attendance is soaring: in six years, the turnout has grown to over 21,000 and now represents 164 countries!
It’s also encouraging to see the overall growth in the broadcasting industry at large. After all, the NAB was originally founded as the National Association of Radio Broadcasters and it wasn't until 1951 that the name was changed to include television broadcasts. Now, just “broadcasters” seem to cover it all.
2015 Aberdeen Broadcast Services Exhibitors
(Left to right) Michael, Tony, Arif, Kyle, Matt D., Steve, Becky Isaacs, Nathan, Ryan, Ed, and Matt Cook.
NAB Show, THANK YOU and we’ll see you again next year. April 16-21, 2016.
Sony Electronics and Aberdeen Captioning along with software developer CPC have joined forces to develop the first file-based closed-captioning system that maximizes the benefits of Sony’s XDCAM HD422 tapeless technology. The new workflow uses Sony’s PDW-HD1500 optical deck to make the process more efficient, faster and more flexible.
“Because the XDCAM system is file-based, we’re able to do our work in a much more refined and streamlined way,” said Matt Cook, President of Aberdeen Captioning. “Now, once someone is done with their XDCAM edit, we take their file, caption directly onto that file, and then place it back onto the disc. We’ve eliminated the need to go through a closed-captioning encoder—which can cost up to $10,000—therefore eradicating the requirement to do real-time play-out.”
According to Cook, clients—which include a range of broadcast networks, groups and independent producers—benefit from faster turnaround times and a more cost- and time-efficient process than previous methods.
“The primary benefit for clients is that they can keep their file in its original form, and send it to us on a hard drive, via FTP site, or on a disc,” he said. “Once we put the captioning data back in the video file, we can then return it to the client in the format of their choice.”
The PDW-HD1500 deck is designed for file-based recording in studio operations. A Gigabit Ethernet data drive allows it to write any file format from any codec onto the optical disc media, and it also makes handling either SD or HD content much easier.
“This deck is perfect for applications like closed captioning, where turnaround time is often critical and multi-format flexibility is a key,” said Wayne Zuchowski, group marketing manager for XDCAM system at Sony Electronics.
Cook added, “We can handle any format without a problem. That type of capability and functionality is very important to us because as a captioning company we’re required to deliver a finished product in any format a client requires.”
When Aberdeen receives content from a client, the company first converts it to a smaller “working file,” for example Windows or a Quick Time media file, which is used to do the transcribing, captioning and timing.
“Once the captioning work is done, we marry the original MXF XDCAM file and our captioned data file through our MacCaption software,” Cook said. “With the press of a button, both files are merged, and we can drag and drop it back onto the disc and send out, or FTP it to a client and they can drag and drop onto a disc.”
The Sony and Aberdeen joint captioning system will be on display at NAB in Sony’s exhibit, C11001, Central Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center.
Article Written by Tom Di Nome, from Sony Electronics
