In museums, captioning is used in videos and films, live performances and demonstrations, planetarium shows, lectures, web sites. Captioning benefits more than people who are deaf or hard of hearing. In loud or crowded exhibition halls, captioned videos allow sighted visitors to read what they cannot hear.
Captions also benefit new readers and people who are learning English as a second language.
Be sure to advertise the availability of captioning in brochures and on your web pages. Use appropriate signage and symbols in the museum to alert potential users to where captioning is available and, if necessary, where they can procure equipment for viewing captioning. Museums cannot charge visitors for use of caption viewing equipment. If options are available, staff should always ask visitors which device they need or prefer. Also, staff who dispense captioning equipment need to be trained in its use and maintenance.