Sign Language View in Microsoft Teams

Introduction

Sign Language View allows individual users to designate two others in a meeting (sign language interpreters) who will remain prominently visible in high quality throughout the meeting when their video is turned on (Sano, 2022). While Sign Language View can be activated during a meeting, it can also be set to turn on automatically for all meetings through accessing the Accessibility Pane (Sano, 2022). Each individual user can access the Sign Language View setting without others knowing; using Sign Language View will not impact what other users see, and will not impact the ability to pin videos or screen share material (Microsoft Teams, 2022).

Accessibility Pane and Assigning Interpreters

Before a Meeting

1. Within Teams, click on the three dots next to your user icon
2. Select Settings
3. Click Accessibility
4. Switch on Sign Language
5. Click on Manage Signers
6. Search for the name of the interpreter, select, and save.

*You also have options to switch on captions and to turn off animations.

Within a Meeting

1. Click on the three dots (”More”) to the left of the camera button in a meeting
2. Click on Accessibility
3. Switch on Sign Language
4. Click on Manage Signers
5. Search for the name of the interpreter, select, and save.

*You can also designate someone to be a signer by selecting People and then navigating to the participant; select “make a signer” after clicking the three dots (Microsoft Teams, 2022).

Additional Considerations

• Interpreters may want to prioritize another interpreter or student on their screen; the same steps outlined above can be used to designate a student or another interpreter as a signer.

Mobile Device Users

• A user won’t be able to see both a shared PowerPoint and the designated signer at the same time on the screen; however, you can toggle between the two screens.

Resources

For more detailed information about Sign Language View, visit the following resources:

• Use Sign Language View in Microsoft Teams
• Introducing Sign Language View for Teams Meetings

References

Microsoft Teams. (2022). Use sign language view in Microsoft Teams. Microsoft 365 Support. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-sign-language-view-in-microsoft-teams-c6c11f67-0747-4598-ac27-c90801b94434?storagetype=live

Sano, C. (2022, November 17). Introducing sign language view for Teams meetings. Microsoft Teams Blog. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/introducing-sign-language-view-for-teams-meetings/ba-p/3671257