The following are sections from NCRA's General Guidelines for Professional Practice that specifically relate to CART providers.
A Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) provider in a legal setting performs realtime translation as an aid to communication for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Common sense and professional courtesy should guide the Member in applying the following Guidelines. When CART is provided in a trial or deposition setting, special legal requirements may apply. When providing CART in the nonlegal setting, see the next section below.
In providing CART service, a Member should:
- Accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting, and the consumers involved, and accurately represent the provider's qualifications for CART.
- Establish a clear understanding of:
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who is hiring the CART Provider;
- the role played by the CART Provider in assisting with communication as opposed to the role of the Official Reporter of Proceedings in providing a verbatim record;
- the fact that no roughly edited electronic file is to be produced; and
- the need to preserve the unedited text file with disclaimer in accordance with statute or court order, or for a period of no less than five years.
- Refrain from working in the dual capacity of Official Reporter of Proceedings and CART Provider at the same time. When no other option exists, the role to be performed is that of the Official Reporter of Proceedings, and all present are entitled to read the display screen of the Official Reporter, which does not include the content and spirit of the speaker, as well as environmental sounds, that would normally be provided by the CART provider. Disclosure must be made to the court and all parties, including the person requiring interpretive services, of this limitation.
- Acquire, when possible, information or materials in advance to prepare a job dictionary.
- Know the software and hardware system used and be able to do simple troubleshooting.
- Strive to achieve, as nearly verbatim as possible, 100% accuracy at all times.
- Include in the realtime display the identification, content, and spirit of the speaker, as well as environmental sounds (except under circumstances described in C above).
- Refrain from counseling, advising, or interjecting personal opinions except as required to accomplish the task at hand.
- In a confidential setting (i.e., legal discussions, jury deliberations, attorney/client discussions), delete all files immediately after the assignment unless otherwise requested to do so, or ordered by the Court.
- Cooperate with all parties to ensure that effective communication is taking place.
- Preserve the privacy of a consumer's personal information.
- Familiarize oneself with the provisions of NCRA's "The CART Provider's Manual," these Guidelines, the General Guidelines for Professional Practice, and any updates thereto.
- Keep abreast of current trends, laws, literature, and technological advances relating to CART.
A Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) provider in a nonlegal setting performs realtime translation as an aid to communication for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Common sense and professional courtesy should guide the Member in applying the following Guidelines. When providing CART in the legal setting, follow the guidelines set out in the section above.
In providing CART service, a Member should:
- Accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, setting, and the consumers involved, and accurately represent the provider's qualifications for CART.
- Establish a clear understanding of:
- who is hiring the CART provider;
- whether an electronic file of the roughly edited text with disclaimer is to be preserved;
- if yes, whether all participants have been informed that an electronic file of the roughly edited text with disclaimer will be preserved; and
- who is entitled to receive a copy of the electronic file.
- Acquire, when possible, information or materials in advance to prepare a job dictionary.
- Know the software and hardware system used and be able to do simple troubleshooting.
- Strive to achieve, as nearly verbatim as possible, 100% accuracy at all times.
- Include in the realtime display the identification, content, and spirit of the speaker, as well as environmental sounds.
- Refrain from counseling, advising, or interjecting personal opinions except as required to accomplish the task at hand.
- Cooperate with all parties to ensure that effective communication is taking place.
- In confidential nonlegal settings (i.e., medical discussions, support groups), delete all files immediately after the assignment unless otherwise requested not to do so.
- Preserve the privacy of a consumer's personal information.
- Familiarize oneself with the provisions of NCRA's "The CART Provider's Manual," these Guidelines, and any updates thereto.
- Keep abreast of current trends, laws, literature, and technological advances relating to CART.
© 2002 National Court Reporters Association, All Rights Reserved
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