Thanks to the Trailblazers and Oregon Communication Access Project (OR-CAP), Trailblazers games are now captioned!

On November 2 at the Trailblazers/Spurs basketball game at the Moda Center the game announcements were captioned for the first time, much to the enjoyment and enhancement of the game for fans in attendance.   The public-address announcements are transcribed by an off-site captioner listening through a telephone connection, and displayed in print form on the replay scoreboard.  Captions not only benefit those with hearing loss or who are deaf but enhance the game for everyone regardless of hearing ability because of the crowd noise in sports arenas and stadiums renders everyone hard of hearing.
As one fan stated: “…captions are crucial for understanding what the announcers are saying, or even for taking notes to follow up on offers being made.    During the action, the announcers will say who scored the basket, or they will announce substitutions.  Quite often these cannot be heard clearly over the crowd cheering.   The captions are essential to understanding what is going on, and thus to the enjoyment for fans.  You do not have to be hearing-impaired to appreciate the captions.”
OR-CAP (or-cap.org ) is a volunteer organization that has as its mission the elimination of communication barriers that individuals with hearing loss face in Oregon’s public places, thereby increasing their productivity, participation in and enjoyment of these offerings.  The organization has worked successfully with organizations throughout the State including the Oregon Shakespeare Theatre, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Oregon State Athletics, University of Oregon, and the Hult Center (Eugene).  We are an advocacy organization that provides volunteer consultation as requested by project organizations.

Contact: Clark Anderson, [email protected].