We Are the Lucky Ones

by Janice R. Friend, CSR, RPR

I received a request by NCRA to write a letter explaining why I provide CART and captioning services. I feel it an honor and privilege to be asked to contribute to the ongoing effort of encouraging more reporters to become captioners.

I started captioning 18 months ago when I realized I was experiencing burnout in the litigation arena. After being a court reporter for 20 years, I was tired of encountering the adversarial system and was equally tired of being treated like a potted plant. I loved the challenge of court reporting, but clearly needed change.

I was approached by a court reporter, who soon thereafter became my captioning mentor, to provide some relief for her captioning at SHHH meetings, which is a voluntary position. Filled with trepidation, I agreed.

That was the beginning of a journey that has led me to provide CART services for three different students at three different learning institutions, provide captioning for large events, small meetings, seminars, etc. At this point, I'm fairly certain the litigation side of my business will be nonexistent within a couple of years and the captioning side will be more than I can handle, because of the demand of the captioning market and because I will gratefully leave litigation behind.

The rewards of captioning are overwhelming. A deaf or hard-of-hearing participant who tells me they would not have been able to participate had it not been for the captions always approaches me after the event. I was told once that he would be in his bedroom in his pajamas if it weren't for me.

Beyond the personal satisfaction of dealing with a community of people who are incredibly grateful for my services, lifting them out of disenfranchisement and into the mainstream of our society, I want to share how fantastic the students at the universities are. I am constantly impressed by their stamina, intelligence, perseverance and good humor. I cannot even imagine what it would take to get to that educational level with the level of hearing loss they have. These students are truly stars. This society is indeed fortunate to be able to provide captioning services for them to reach their full potential because I can tell you with certainty, they are going to make a difference in our world. We are lucky ones, believe me.

I would like to close with a poem that was written on a certificate of appreciation given to me by the local SHHH president, which I have framed and hung in my office.