The National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) is pleased to announce that applications open next month for the newly renamed NCRF CART Captioning Training Grant, formerly known as the Court to CART Grant. The grant reflects the Foundation’s vision of helping NCRA members grow their careers by developing the specialized skills needed to provide Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services.
Applications will be accepted Sept. 21-Nov. 20 through the NCRF grants web page.
Established in memory of Eligio Antonio Rosario Sr., the late stepfather and lifelong role model of Rich Germosen, FAPR, RDR, CRR, the one-time $1,500 grant helps experienced court reporters expand their skills into the growing field of CART captioning. The grant is open to eligible NCRA members interested in pursuing CART captioning, regardless of their current reporting specialty.
Recipients receive far more than financial assistance. Under the leadership of Patricia Graves, FAPR, RDR, CRR, CRC, founder and past president of Caption First Inc., participants receive a comprehensive assessment of their realtime skills, individualized mentoring, hands-on CART training, instruction on current CART technology, and educational resources designed to support a successful transition into CART services.
“The need for highly skilled CART providers continues to grow as more individuals, educational institutions, workplaces, and organizations recognize the importance of communication accessibility,” said Graves. “This grant provides experienced court reporters with mentorship, training, and the confidence to expand their careers while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
The grant honors Germosen’s commitment to professional excellence while continuing the Foundation’s mission of supporting court reporters as they broaden their skills and serve new communities. CART captioners provide real-time communication access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as individuals for whom English is not their primary language.
“The CART Captioning Training Grant represents the Foundation’s commitment to helping our members grow professionally while expanding access to communication for those who rely on CART services every day,” said NCRF Chair Meredith Bonn, RPR, CRR. “By investing in our members’ development, we’re strengthening both the profession and the communities they serve.”
Applicants must:
- Be a current NCRA member in good standing.
- Hold at least the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification (Realtime certifications such as the CRR or CRC are preferred).
- Demonstrate at least 96 percent realtime accuracy in judicial settings.
- Have a strong desire to develop the skills necessary to provide high-quality CART captioning services.
- Current NCRA Board members are not eligible to apply.
As part of the application, candidates must submit an essay of 400 words or fewer addressing the following prompt:
Describe your motivation for pursuing CART captioning training through the NCRF CART Captioning Training Grant. Include:
- Why do you want to expand your professional skills into CART captioning?
- What value do you believe CART services provide to individuals and communities?
- How this training and mentorship will help you achieve your career goals and contribute to greater communication accessibility.
Complete eligibility requirements and application materials will be available through the NCRF grants web page on Sept. 21.
Send inquiries about this grant to NCRF Director Jill Parker Landsman at jlandsman@ncra.org or NCRF Foundation Manager Alex Vlahopoulos at avlahopoulos@ncra.org.
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