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Communication Access Services (CAS)

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Legal Communication Access Services
Rural Communication Access Services
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Communication Access Services (CAS)

Our Communication Access Services (CAS) program supports making communication accessible. Services provided include certified sign language interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART or live, human-generated captioning) to ensure deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind Coloradans can fully participate in everyday life.

We oversee both Legal Communication Access Services (LCAS) and Rural Communication Access Services (RCAS). LCAS supports communication access in certain court and legal settings and RCAS connects community members in rural Colorado to qualified communication access providers.

Contact Email

cas.cddhhdb@state.co.us

Legal Communication Access Services

Legal Communication Access Services (LCAS) provides legally credentialed sign language interpreting and CART captioning (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services for Colorado State Courts and state administrative proceedings. LCAS also covers all court-ordered services, including probation, mediation, and therapy/treatment.

 

The Colorado Judicial Branch maintains a centralized request form for ADA requests for programs and services. You can request accommodation directly using this form.

 

Note: This request form is for Colorado State and District courts only. For city and municipal courts, contact those courthouses directly.

Request For ADA Accommodation - Colorado Judicial Branch
Service Provider Lookup Become A Vendor

The Legal Communication Access Services Service Provider List is available to help people find legally credentialed sign language interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioners. The list shows which providers are qualified for court/legal settings, in addition to general community settings.

 

Under Colorado law, law enforcement and prosecutorial personnel must utilize this Referral Resource List to secure Court/Legal qualified providers for situations involving arrest and witness/victim interviews. See C.R.S sections 13-90-202(1), 13-90-204(1)(d) and (f); 13-90-205(3).

If you need a legally credentialed sign language interpreter/CART captioner for a legal-related assignment, look for Status I or II vendors.

Become a Legally Credentialed Provider

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What is the Legal Credential Authorization?

LCAS is responsible for issuing a Legal Credential Authorization (LCA) to providers who qualify for court and legal settings. In addition, LCAS is required by state law to maintain a referral list of providers for the use of law enforcement and prosecutors so they can secure qualified providers.

Communication access services providers qualify for different designations depending on their certification, training, and experience.

Sign Language Interpreters

  • Status I:
    • Holds a current Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L) or Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Court Interpreter Certification, or holds a RID Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) or BEI Intermediary Levels IV or V certification.
    • Has passed the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) written exam.
    • CDIs also must have completed at least 65 hours of training specific to legal interpreting and 50 hours of mentoring.
    • Note: the SC:L certification is no longer available as of January 1, 2016.
  • Status II:
    • Holds a current RID or BEI certification (e.g., CDI, NIC, BEI Intermediary Levels IV or V, or BEI Advanced or Master, etc.).
    • Completed at least 65 hours of training specific to legal interpreting and 50 hours of mentoring.
  • Status III:
    • May or may not have formal training or certification but has experience with the unique communication needs of the deaf or hard of hearing individual.
    • Appointed on a case-by-case basis and works under the supervision of a Status I or II Court/Legal interpreter.
  • Status IV:
    • Holds a current accepted RID or BEI certification.
    • Works in non-legal settings such as court-ordered therapy or treatment, or classes.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) Captioners

  • Status I:
    • Holds a Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) designation from the National Court Reporters Association.
    • Successfully completed a minimum of six hands-on assignments in the Colorado State Courts under the supervision of a current CART LCA holder.
    • Completed a LCAS orientation.
    • Passed a Colorado Judicial Department background check.
  • Status II:
    • Graduated from an accredited court reporting program.
    • Has a minimum rate of 98% accuracy at 225 words per minute.
    • Has two years of general CART experience post-graduation and a minimum average of 20 hours of CART services per week for each of the most recent two years of CART work.
    • Successfully completed a minimum of six hands-on assignments in the Colorado State Courts under the supervision of a current CART LCA holder.
    • Completed a LCAS orientation.
    • Passed a Colorado Judicial Department background check.
  • Status III: Communication Assistants may or may not have formal training or certification but have experience with the unique communication needs of a particular deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind individual (for example, foreign sign languages, home sign, deafblind-specific communications, etc.).
    • Communication Assistants may be assigned on a case-by-case basis and shall only work under the supervision of a Status I or Status II Court/Legal Interpreter.
    • All on-the-record interpreting shall come from Status I or II Court/Legal Interpreters.
  • Status IV:
    • meets the education, skill, and experience requirements for Status II captioners but works in non-legal settings such as court-ordered therapy or treatment, or classes.

Legal Communication Access Services Coverage

The Legal Communication Access Services (LCAS) program was created under state statute with specific program guidelines and requirements for coverage. The program must provide sign language interpreting, CART captioning, and other communication access services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind people involved in state court and administrative cases. If possible, the program can fill additional requests that state law does not require.

Services LCAS will provide, required by law:

  • Defendants, plaintiffs, respondents, or witnesses to a state court case.
  • Jurors in a state court case.
  • Parents or guardians of a minor appearing in state court.
  • Probation, mediation, or treatment ordered by a state court.
  • Parties to a state-run hearing (for example, a state unemployment hearing).

Services LCAS will not provide:

  • Accommodations for people who are not deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind. These services are provided by each court's ADA office.
  • Services for court employees such as judges and other court staff. These accommodation requests will be referred to their employers.

Services LCAS may cover, if resources are available:

  • Attorneys appearing in court, including public defenders, district attorneys, private attorneys, and others.
  • Employees not in witness roles. Examples are social workers, case workers, DOVE advocates, or other supporting roles.
  • Judicial nominating committee members.
  • Family members or the general public observing court proceedings from the gallery.
  • Self-Help Center walk-ins.
  • Public events hosted by the court, such as law day or school events.

Requests that are not filled by the LCAS program will be filled by the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Program Contact:

Legal Communication Access Services Program

Email: cas.cddhhdb@state.co.us

Rural Communication Access Services

Rural Communication Access Services (RCAS) provides information, education, and sign language interpreting and captioning (Communication Access Realtime Translation, or CART) services to deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals in rural areas of Colorado at no charge to those communities. RCAS also provides training opportunities and certification testing support for providers who are willing to take work in rural areas of the state.

Requesting an RCAS Interpreter or Captioner

Sign Language Interpreting and CART Captioning Services

  • Requesters must complete an intake process.
  • Services are provided at no charge to rural communities.
  • Make requests at least two weeks in advance if possible.
  • Requests submitted with less notice will be accepted but may not be filled in time.

List Of Division Communication Access Services Vendors

This vendor list is available to help people find sign language interpreters and CART Captioning (Communication Access Realtime Translation) providers. The list shows which providers are legally credentialed and/or certified for general community settings.

NOTE:

Under Colorado law, law enforcement and prosecutorial personnel must utilize the Legal Communication Access Services Referral Resource List to secure Court/Legal credentialed providers for situations involving arrest and witness/victim interviews. See C.R.S sections 13-90-202(1), 13-90-204(1)(d) and (f); 13-90-205(3).

Become An RCAS Vendor

If you want to be a freelance interpreter/independent contractor with RCAS, please visit our vendor webpage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rural Communication Access Services FAQs

Program Contact:

Rural Communication Access Services (RCAS) Program

Email: cas.cddhhdb@state.co.us

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