Microsoft Teams is a messaging and video app that Bryn Mawr uses for internal collaboration. This article covers some of the most commonly used accessibility features in Microsoft Teams. Visit Microsoft's website for a comprehensive list of the the accessibility features in Teams.
Use Live captions
Live captions make Teams meetings more inclusive for participants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, have differing levels of language proficiency, or are in places with loud background noise. Depending on what type of device you're using, the methods for enabling captions are slightly different.
Note: Users can only enable captions for themselves within Teams. This is unlike Zoom, where all participants have access to captions if any one participant enables them.
Enable captions on a desktop or laptop
- In meeting controls, click More.
- A drop-down menu will open. In it, select Language and speech > Show live captions.
- Live captions will now appear underneath the video screen for the meeting. If you ever need to turn them off, reverse your steps from before: select More, then Language and speech > Hide live captions.
Note: Live captions are are available in multiple languages. To change your language, select Caption settingsa > Language settings in your Teams window. Regardless of the language you use, speak clearly, slowly, and directly into the microphone to have best results. Also, avoid having multiple people speak at the same time.
Enable captions on a mobile device
- In meeting controls, click More.
- Click Live Captions
- The menu Start live captions will open. Make sure Spoken language is set to the proper option. Click the arrow icon if it isn't.
- Click Confirm. In a moment, captions will begin appearing at the bottom of the screen.
Reduce background noise
Teams offers noise suppression to limit background noise in meetings. This feature is automatically enabled for all meetings, but in case you ever turn it off, you can turn it back on in the following ways:
In the Teams app (desktop of laptop only)
- With the Teams App open, select Microsoft Teams > Settings... from the top-level menus.
- Within the Microsoft Teams window, the Settings page will open. Open the Devices menu within it.
- On the next page, toggle the Noise suppression switch.
Noise suppression will now be automatically enabled for all meetings you join.
On the Teams website
- Select Settings and more...
- From the drop-down menu, select Settings
- Within the Microsoft Teams website, the Settings page will open. Open the Devices menu within it.
- On the next page, toggle the Noise suppression switch.
Noise suppression will now be automatically enabled for all meetings you join.
In a Teams meeting
- Within your Teams meeting window, click More.
- Click Audio Settings.
- A new menu will open within your Teams meeting window. Find the section Advanced settings.
- Within Advanced settings, toggle the option Noise suppression.
If you don't turn noise suppression back off before the end of the meeting, it will be automatically turned on for all future meetings.
Use the Immersive Reader
The Immersive Reader in Teams can be used to have posts and chat messages read aloud.
Enable immersive reader
- Hover over a chat message post with your cursor, or tap on it if you're using a touch screen device
- Click More options.
- Click Immersive Reader, which launches a full-screen view
- Within the full-screen view, click Play to have the message read aloud. Click Voice Settings to change the Voice Speed (goes from 0.5 to 2.5) and Voice Selection (Male or Female).
Questions?
If you have any additional questions or problems, don't hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!
Phone: 610-526-7440 | Library and Help Desk hours
Email: help@brynmawr.edu | Service catalog
Location: Canaday Library 1st floor
