Planning a conference involves countless moving parts – from speakers and schedules to tech setups and delegate experiences. But one crucial element often gets overlooked: communication accessibility.
In 2024 and beyond, making your conference content accessible isn’t just about ticking a diversity box. It’s about making sure every single person in the room or online knows what’s going on, in real time.
Don’t leave attendees behind
Live conferences are fast-paced. Panels overlap, keynotes overrun and breakout sessions get noisy. If attendees miss crucial points because they can’t hear clearly or don’t speak the language fluently, you’re losing impact, and potentially alienating part of your audience.
Whether it’s a busy exhibition centre, a virtual platform, or a hybrid event, clear and inclusive communication ensures:
- Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees can follow the conversation
- Non-native speakers can fully engage with content
- Neurodivergent participants who prefer reading can absorb information
- Everyone walks away with a better understanding of your message
Live captioning brings clarity to every word
Human live captioning provides accurate, real-time text of everything that’s said, displayed on screens, devices or embedded into live streams. It’s a simple but powerful way to make your conference more inclusive, professional and polished.
Unlike auto-generated captions, our human captioners:
- Accurately capture terminology and speaker nuances
- Understand accents, industry jargon and fast speech
- Deliver clean, readable captions with minimal delay
- Can caption in multiple languages (including Spanish, Japanese, French, and more)
And yes, we’re compatible with popular platforms like Zoom, StreamText, Text on Tap, and 1CapApp.
Add sign language interpretation for full inclusion
Live captioning is one piece of the puzzle – sign language interpretation is another. Many Deaf attendees use British Sign Language (BSL) or other sign languages as their primary form of communication. Providing qualified interpreters ensures equal access to your event’s content.
121 Captions can supply interpreters in:
- BSL, ISL, and ASL
- AUSLan and Lithuanian Sign Language
- Teams of interpreters for longer events
We’ll work with you to make sure interpreters are briefed, visible, and seamlessly integrated into your session.
Meet your legal and ethical obligations
With accessibility regulations tightening across the UK, Europe, and the USA, providing real-time accessibility solutions is no longer optional. The upcoming European Accessibility Act (2025) means non-compliance could result in legal and reputational consequences, particularly for large organisations and public sector events.
But beyond legalities, it’s just good practice. Accessibility shows you value your audience and want everyone to feel welcome, included, and heard.
Make your next conference truly inclusive with 121 Captions
At 121 Captions, we specialise in live human captioning and sign language interpretation for conferences of all sizes—virtual, hybrid, or in-person. Our services are trusted by corporates, event agencies, and public sector bodies across the UK, Europe, and the USA.
Make sure everyone knows what’s going on at your next event. Get in touch to discuss how we can make your conference accessible, impactful, and unforgettable.
