For Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
Hearing loss statistics, as cited by the Captioned Media Program and the National Captioning Institute, note that there are more than 28 million Americans with a hearing loss. These people rely on captioned media for access to television, videos, and films. Federal law recognizes this and has mandated requirements of producers and distributors. However, some small businesses may qualify for the Disabled Access Tax Credit from the federal government to help defray the cost of captioning.

ESL Populations
There are 30 million people in the United States who use English as a Second Language (ESL), and that population is growing. Studies show that the ESL population dramatically improves language, vocabulary, and comprehension by watching captions. Watching captioned television is a great motivator for ESL students.

Improving Literacy with Adults
It is estimated that over 40 million Americans over the age of 16 have rudimentary reading and writing skills. When captions are added to television or videos, a powerful teaching tool is automatically available to improve literacy rates.

Children's Reading Scores
Children can spend over 30 hours a week watching television. Inner city children have dismally low reading scores on standardized tests. Research shows that hearing children can significantly improve their vocabulary and oral reading fluency by viewing captions. If captioned media is used in school or at home, students can watch, listen, and read simultaneously, much like having stories read aloud. Reading scores can improve.