About 121 Captions
Deaf-led. People-first. Passionate about communication.
At 121 Captions, we believe in one simple truth: everyone deserves to be understood.
Whether you’re Deaf, hard of hearing, neurodivergent, a second-language speaker, or just someone who values clarity — communication should never be a barrier. It should be a bridge.
And that’s what we do — we build that bridge.
We’re your human-powered, Deaf-led accessibility partner on a mission to make the world more inclusive for you.
How It All Started
121 Captions was founded by Tina Lannin, a Deaf entrepreneur with a vision: to make high-quality communication support available to everyone — not just big companies with big budgets.
Tina has personally experienced the challenges of inaccessible education, frustrating meetings, and the loneliness of being left out of conversations. Her own experiences shaped the core of what 121 Captions is about: practical solutions, delivered with empathy.
Her passion for access and inclusion became the foundation of a company that today serves clients around the world — from solo freelancers and students to global brands and government departments.
Our Mission
To make communication accessible, inclusive, and human.
We’re here to:
- Support Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in education and the workplace
- Help companies meet (and exceed) accessibility expectations
- Make video content clear, captioned, and usable for all
- Break down barriers with Deaf-led training, interpreting, and support
- Empower people through language — no matter how it’s expressed
We want a world where no one is left out of the conversation. That’s what drives us.
What Makes Us Different?
There are plenty of accessibility providers out there. Here’s why our clients choose (and stay with) us:
We’re Deaf-Led
We live the experiences our deaf clients face every day. Our leadership team gets it — because they’ve been there. That means we don’t just understand the technical side of accessibility — we understand the emotional and cultural side too.
We’re Experts — Real Ones
Our team includes highly trained live captioners, BSL interpreters, lip readers, lipspeakers, notetakers, subtitlers and accessibility consultants. Many are industry specialists in fields like law, healthcare, education, and media.
We’re Human
Everything we do is powered by people — not machines. While AI has its place, when it comes to nuance, context, humour, tone, ambient noise, accents, deaf voices or multiple speakers… nothing beats the human touch. And we’re proud of that.
We’re Fast, Flexible & Friendly
We don’t do red tape or robotic replies. When you reach out to us, you’ll speak to real people who listen and act quickly — whether it’s an urgent request or a long-term project.
We’re Confidential & Trusted
We’re GDPR-compliant, happy to sign NDAs, and used to working with sensitive material — from court transcripts to unreleased video footage. Discretion is a cornerstone of our business.
TRUSTED BY INDUSTRY LEADERS
Our Services at a Glance
We provide a full suite of accessibility services, including:
- Live Captioning Services for online and in-person events
- Subtitling Services for video content
- Live Electronic Notetaking for students
- Sign Language Interpreting
- Access to Work Support for Deaf employees
- Professional Lip Reading (e.g., silent footage, legal use)
- Deaf Awareness Training for teams and organisations
Whether you need one service or several combined, we’ll find the right solution.
Who We Work With
We’re proud to work with a huge variety of clients, including:
- Global tech companies (like Google and Microsoft)
- Public broadcasters and media (BBC, ITV)
- Top-tier universities and schools
- Government departments and councils
- Legal firms and healthcare trusts
- Independent creators, students, and small businesses
No matter your size, sector, or starting point — we meet you where you are.
Our Values
Inclusion
We want a world where everyone can participate fully — regardless of hearing ability, language, or background.
Empathy
We listen. We adapt. We care. Every client, every project, every time.
Quality
From our transcripts to our interpreters, we’re obsessive about accuracy and professionalism.
Collaboration
We work as an extension of your team — we’re not just a supplier. Our best work happens when we work together.
Meet the Team
We’re a diverse group of professionals across the UK and beyond — captioners, interpreters, trainers, advisors, and support staff — all united by a shared goal: communication without compromise.
Want to meet some of us? Check out our About Tina Lannin and Ambassadors pages to hear directly from the people behind the services.
Ready to Experience the 121 Difference?
Want to Work With Us?
We’ve worked with some of the world’s biggest names including Google, the BBC, Microsoft, Oxford University, and TEDx. But we also love helping small businesses, charities, freelancers, and individuals. No client is too big or too small, and every client gets the same commitment to excellence.