For Providers: Bill of Rights

The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) wishes to communicate to CART providers the basic rights to which they are entitled when serving consumers of Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services.

Article I

Respect. CART providers, as educated, trained professionals, have a right to be treated with dignity and respect.

Article II

Competence. CART providers have a right to expect that all individuals claiming to have the ability to provide communication access services have met minimum qualification standards for entry into the profession to ensure credibility and professionalism.

Article III

Equal Treatment. CART providers have a right to equitable treatment and shall not be subjected to ethnic, social, or sexual harassment. If such a situation exists, CART providers reserve the professional right to refuse to provide CART services.

Article IV

Legal Responsibility. CART providers have a right to maintain confidentiality of consumer information, unless otherwise ordered by a court of law.

Article V

Impartiality. CART providers have a right to impartially provide communication access to all parties in all aspects of CART and to be alert to potential conflicts of interest. CART providers have a right and duty to disclose a potential conflict of interest or inability to be impartial prior to providing services.

Article VI

Information. CART providers have a right to obtain basic information before an assignment commences such as names of participants, agendas, books, computer postings, and copies of prescripted materials in order to properly perform their duties.

Article VII

Location. CART providers have a right, in conjunction with CART consumers, to make informed seating decisions in order to provide effective communication access for CART consumers.

Article VIII

Advanced Technology. CART providers have a right to utilize advances in technology, including computer hardware and software, in their provision of services.

Article IX

Working Conditions. CART providers have a right to work in a safe, clean, and appropriate setting at all times.

Article X

Compensation. CART providers have a right to be paid in a timely manner for services rendered. CART providers also have a right to receive timely notification of cancellation, postponement, or rescheduling of assignments.

NCRA's CART Community is committed to leading the CART profession by providing access to NCRA programs and services as well as definitive, up-to-date news and information; developing quality continuing education; facilitating networking opportunities; and by working in collaboration with CART consumers to promote excellence in the provision of Communication Access Realtime Translation.

NCRA is committed to being the leader in advancing the profession of those who capture and integrate the spoken word into a comprehensive and accurate information base for the benefit of the public and private sectors.

NCRA accomplishes this through ethical standards, testing and certification, educational opportunities, communications, government relations, research and analysis, and fiscal responsibility.