844-897-3935In the context of TypeWell services, communication access means giving a student equal access to what is being said in class — in real time. With TypeWell, the information appears on a computer screen as the discussion happens.
Different forms of communication access
Communication access can be provided in many ways, depending on the needs of the student:
- Sign language interpreting
- Cued speech
- Oral transliteration
- Real-time transcription (such as TypeWell)
The phrase “communication access” comes directly from U.S. laws such as the ADA, IDEA, and Section 504, which guarantee that students with disabilities have the right to equal communication in classrooms and other settings.
See ADA.gov's guidance on Effective Communication (PDF)
How TypeWell provides communication access
A trained transcriber listens to the teacher and students, then produces a live, meaning-for-meaning transcript. This transcript goes beyond traditional notetaking because it captures the flow of classroom interaction — lectures, student comments, even jokes or side stories — while leaving out false starts and repetitions that don’t add meaning.
Some people describe this service as “text interpreting” or “hybrid captioning.” Regardless of the label, the result is the same: a clear, concise transcript that allows the student to follow along and participate fully.
For a more detailed comparison of meaning-for-meaning vs. verbatim transcription, including a short video, see → What does "meaning-for-meaning" mean?