What are the pros and cons of CART versus ASL interpretation?
CART can be a useful alternative to American Sign Language interpretation for certain students, such as those whose first language is English (an estimated 90% of the 25 to 35 million Americans with hearing loss) or who are enrolled in courses containing highly technical material. As with translation between any two languages, nuance can be lost and ambiguities can be introduced in the translation from English to ASL. ASL interpretation also requires that a student maintain continuous eye contact, usually necessitating additional notetakers. Students using CART can take their own notes; the last dozen or so lines of the lecture are displayed on the CART screen for easy reference. Individual ASL interpreters tend to charge less for their services than CART providers, but since interpreting is more physically and mentally arduous than CART, two interpreters are usually required for any class that lasts longer than one hour. A single CART provider can work for up to six hours at a stretch
