Ava: AI-Powered Live Captioning for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Accessibility
Running community events or board meetings where deaf and hard-of-hearing participants struggle to follow conversations in real time? Ava delivers 99% accurate live captions in 50+ languages through AI and professional human scribes—making every meeting, worship service, and community gathering genuinely inclusive without the $200+/hour cost of traditional CART services.
What It Does
Lip reading only gives deaf individuals about 20% comprehension in group conversations. Professional CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services cost $150-250 per hour and require advance scheduling. Your community deserves better.
Ava uses artificial intelligence combined with trained human scribes to provide real-time live captioning that's 60-70% less expensive than traditional services and delivers 99% accuracy when you need ADA compliance. Whether you're hosting a board meeting, running a workshop, leading a worship service, or conducting one-on-one appointments, Ava transcribes spoken conversations into text captions instantly on any device—empowering deaf and hard-of-hearing participants to engage fully rather than piece together fragments.
Unlike generic transcription tools built for meeting notes, Ava is purpose-built for accessibility. It identifies speakers by name, works across 50+ languages, integrates with Zoom/Teams/Google Meet in one click, and saves transcripts for later reference in TXT, DOC, or PDF format. For nonprofits serving diverse communities, Ava transforms accessibility from an expensive compliance burden into an achievable daily practice.
Best For
Organization Size
Small to large nonprofits (2-500+ staff); faith-based organizations; educational institutions; healthcare nonprofits; community service providers
Best Use Cases
- Organizations hosting regular public meetings, events, or workshops requiring ADA compliance
- Nonprofits serving deaf and hard-of-hearing community members
- Multilingual organizations needing captioning in 50+ languages
- Faith communities making worship services accessible
- Organizations replacing expensive traditional CART services
Ideal For
Roles: Executive Directors, Program Managers, Event Coordinators, Accessibility Officers, HR Directors, Faith Leaders
Teams: Anyone responsible for making meetings, events, or services accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing participants
Key Features for Nonprofits
Hybrid AI + Human Scribe Captioning (99% Accuracy)
Ava Scribe combines artificial intelligence with trained human editors who correct AI-generated captions in real time with only a 3-second delay. This delivers 99% accuracy that meets ADA compliance requirements—far exceeding AI-only tools (typically 80-90% accurate) and twice as fast as traditional CART services, all at 60-70% lower cost.
50+ Language Support for Multilingual Communities
Serve Spanish-speaking families, Mandarin-speaking seniors, or multilingual refugee populations with live captioning in 50+ languages including Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and more. Switch languages mid-conversation or provide captions in multiple languages simultaneously—essential for nonprofits with diverse community members.
One-Click Video Platform Integration (Ava Connect)
Ava Connect integrates with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet in a single click—no technical setup required. All Ava features work seamlessly across platforms: speaker identification, transcript saving, language support, and Scribe accuracy. Your team doesn't need to learn new software or change meeting workflows.
Speaker Identification & Transcript Export
Ava tracks which participants are speaking and labels their names in the transcript, making it easy to follow multi-person conversations. After every meeting or event, transcripts are automatically saved and can be exported as TXT, DOC, or PDF files for record-keeping, accessibility documentation, or sharing with participants who couldn't attend.
Voice Feature for Non-Voicing Participants
Deaf individuals who don't use their voice can type responses in Ava, which are then read aloud by the app so hearing participants can understand. This creates truly two-way accessible communication—not just passive captioning—enabling deaf participants to lead discussions, ask questions, and contribute fully to conversations.
Cross-Platform Availability (Mobile, Web, Desktop)
Ava works on iOS, Android, web browsers, and desktop apps (Windows and Mac). Participants can access captions on their phone during in-person meetings, join via laptop for virtual events, or use tablets for one-on-one appointments. This flexibility ensures accessibility regardless of device preference or technical setup.
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
A community health nonprofit serving 1,200 patients—including 40 who are deaf or hard-of-hearing—was spending $800-1,200 per month hiring professional CART interpreters for patient education workshops, support groups, and board meetings. Scheduling interpreters required 2-3 weeks advance notice, which meant last-minute meetings couldn't be made accessible. Several deaf patients stopped attending because they felt like an afterthought.
After implementing Ava Pro (with Scribe for compliance-critical board meetings and AI-only for informal support groups), they achieved 24/7 accessibility without scheduling delays. The organization now pays approximately $250-350 monthly for unlimited Pro plan usage—a 60-70% cost reduction—and can offer real-time captions in both English and Spanish for their bilingual patient population.
Most importantly, deaf and hard-of-hearing participants reported feeling genuinely included rather than accommodated. One patient shared: "For the first time, I could follow the entire diabetes management workshop without missing half the conversation. I understood 80-90% instead of the 20% I'd get from lip reading. It's empowering." The organization also discovered that captions benefited English-as-a-second-language participants and created valuable transcripts for anyone who missed sessions.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Session Length | Accuracy | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 40 minutes | Basic captions (~90% AI) | Testing, occasional use, individuals |
| Community | $14.99/mo ($9.99/mo annual) | Up to 40 minutes | 3 hours/month premium (~90% AI) | Small orgs with occasional needs |
| Pro | Contact sales | Up to 2 hours | Unlimited 90% + Scribe 99% (24hr notice) | Regular meetings/events, ADA compliance |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Up to 8 hours | Unlimited 90% + Scribe 99% (6hr notice) | Large organizations, dedicated support |
Free Trial
15-day free trial available for organizational plans (Pro and Enterprise). Free plan provides unlimited access to basic captioning with no credit card required.
Annual Savings
Save 20% with yearly billing on individual plans. Community plan drops from $14.99/month to $9.99/month ($119.88 annually vs $179.88).
Ava Scribe Professional Captioning
Ava Pro includes 30 minutes of Scribe time by default; Pro plan at $119/month includes 12 hours of Scribe. Scribe provides 99% accuracy through hybrid AI+human captioning with only a 3-second delay. Organizations requiring more than 10 hosts or additional Scribe time qualify for volume discounts—contact sales directly.
Note: Pricing information is subject to change. Please verify current pricing directly with Ava at ava.me/pricing.
Nonprofit Pricing
Nonprofit discounts available for organizational plans (Pro and Enterprise) but require contacting sales for eligibility verification and custom pricing.
How to Access:
- Start with the 15-day free trial to test Ava with your team and community
- Contact Ava's sales team via ava.me/pricing or reach out to their advocacy team
- Mention your nonprofit status and ask about organizational discounts
- Provide verification of 501(c)(3) or equivalent nonprofit status
- Discuss your specific needs (session length, Scribe hours, number of users)
- Receive custom pricing quote tailored to nonprofit budget constraints
Additional Support:
Ava's advocacy team helps nonprofits set up accessibility programs for work, school, events, or places of worship. They provide implementation guidance beyond just the software—helping you establish accessibility best practices that serve your community effectively.
Estimated Cost Savings:
Traditional CART services cost $150-250 per hour. If your nonprofit hosts just 4 hours of meetings/events per month requiring captioning, traditional services would cost $600-1,000 monthly. Ava Pro organizational plans typically start around $250-350/month with volume discounts—representing 60-70% cost savings while providing 24/7 accessibility instead of scheduled-only access.
Learning Curve
Time to First Value
- Download and setup: 5 minutes (create account, install app or access web version)
- First captioned conversation: Immediate (open app, start captioning)
- Video platform integration: 10-15 minutes (one-click Ava Connect setup)
- Full proficiency: 1-2 hours of regular use
Technical Requirements
- Smartphone, tablet, or computer (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac)
- Internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data)
- No coding required—entirely point-and-click interface
- Basic familiarity with video conferencing (if integrating with Zoom/Teams/Meet)
Support Available
- In-app chat and email support (Community plan and above)
- Online training webinars for organizational plans
- Dedicated advocacy team for nonprofits setting up accessibility programs
- Premium support and dedicated account manager (Enterprise tier)
- Help documentation and getting-started guides
Integration & Compatibility
Video Conferencing Platforms
Ava Connect: One-click integration with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. All Ava features work across platforms with no additional setup required.
Platform Availability
- Mobile: iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android apps available
- Web: Browser-based access (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Desktop: Windows and Mac apps available for download
- Cross-platform syncing: Access transcripts from any device
Data Portability
- Export transcripts as TXT, DOC, or PDF files
- Transcripts saved automatically after each conversation
- Speaker names included in exported transcripts
- No vendor lock-in—full transcript export ensures data portability
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Purpose-built for accessibility: Designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, not adapted from meeting transcription tools
- 99% accuracy with Scribe: Hybrid AI+human captioning meets ADA compliance requirements
- 60-70% cost savings: Dramatically cheaper than traditional CART services ($150-250/hour) while providing 24/7 availability
- Multilingual support (50+ languages): Serves diverse communities with Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and dozens more languages
- Cross-platform flexibility: Works on iOS, Android, web, Windows, Mac—participants use their preferred device
- Two-way communication: Voice feature lets deaf participants type responses that are read aloud, enabling full participation
- Zero learning curve: Participants can start using immediately—no training required for basic captioning
Cons
- Free tier very limited: 40-minute sessions with basic captions; not suitable for organizations with regular accessibility needs
- Community plan not ADA-compliant: $9.99-14.99/month tier provides 90% accuracy but doesn't meet legal compliance requirements
- Organizational pricing not transparent: Pro and Enterprise require "contact sales" quotes; nonprofits can't budget without inquiry
- Scribe requires advance notice: 99% accuracy captioning needs 6-24 hours scheduling (though still better than traditional 2-3 weeks)
- AI accuracy drops with fast speech: 90% AI-only captioning struggles to keep up with very rapid speakers or overlapping conversations
- Session length limits: Free/Community (40 min), Pro (2 hours), Enterprise (8 hours)—long events require Enterprise tier or session breaks
- Requires internet connection: No offline functionality; stable Wi-Fi or cellular data essential for reliable captioning
Alternatives to Consider
If Ava doesn't feel like the right fit, consider these alternatives:
Otter.ai
Best for: Meeting productivity and collaboration features
Pricing: Free (600 minutes/month), Pro ($16.99/month), Business ($30/month per user)
Otter.ai excels at meeting transcription with automated summaries, action items, and team collaboration features. It integrates with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet to automatically join meetings and generate searchable transcripts. However, it only supports English and achieves ~95% accuracy (not ADA-compliant).
Choose Otter.ai if: Your primary need is meeting productivity (summaries, action items, keyword search) rather than accessibility compliance, and all participants speak English. Choose Ava instead if: You need ADA-compliant captioning, multilingual support, or purpose-built accessibility features.
Google Live Transcribe
Best for: Free, basic Android-based captioning
Pricing: Free (Android only)
Google Live Transcribe is a free Android accessibility app that provides real-time captioning with adjustments based on conversation context and automatic punctuation. Transcripts can be saved for up to 3 days directly on your device. Simple, no-cost solution for everyday conversations.
Choose Google Live Transcribe if: You need a free solution for informal, one-on-one conversations and all participants use Android devices. Choose Ava instead if: You need cross-platform support, longer transcript storage, professional accuracy for meetings/events, or multilingual captioning.
Traditional CART Services
Best for: Critical legal/medical settings requiring certified interpreters
Pricing: $150-250 per hour with 2-3 weeks advance booking
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) provides professional human stenographers who caption live events with near-perfect accuracy. Certified for legal proceedings, medical consultations, and other high-stakes environments. However, they're expensive, require advance scheduling, and offer no flexibility for spontaneous accessibility needs.
Choose traditional CART if: You're in a legal/medical setting requiring certified human interpreters or have a large budget for occasional high-stakes events. Choose Ava instead if: You need regular, affordable, 24/7 accessibility for routine meetings, events, and community programs at 60-70% cost savings.
Why You Might Choose Ava Instead
Ava uniquely combines 99% ADA-compliant accuracy (with Scribe), 50+ language support, cross-platform availability, and 60-70% cost savings compared to traditional services—all designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing accessibility rather than adapted from meeting productivity tools. If your nonprofit serves diverse communities and needs reliable, affordable, 24/7 accessibility, Ava is purpose-built for your mission.
Quick Win: Your First 24 Hours with Ava
Want to see immediate value before committing? Try this simple experiment to understand Ava's impact:
1. Download and test the free plan (15 minutes)
Create a free account on ava.me and download the app (iOS, Android) or access via web browser. No credit card required. Open the app and test basic live captioning in a casual staff meeting or phone call.
2. Test with a deaf or hard-of-hearing community member (30-45 minutes)
Schedule a one-on-one conversation with someone from your community who would benefit from captions. Let them use Ava on their device while you speak naturally. Ask for honest feedback: How much did they understand compared to usual? How did the experience feel?
3. Try Ava Connect in your next video meeting (15 minutes setup)
Connect Ava to your next Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet call with the one-click integration. Observe how seamlessly it works within your existing workflow. Check if participants can read captions on their devices in real time.
4. Review the saved transcript (10 minutes)
After the meeting, export the transcript as a PDF or DOC file. Notice how speaker names are identified and how accurate the captions were. Consider how valuable these transcripts would be for documentation, accessibility records, or sharing with absent participants.
What You'll Learn:
Whether real-time AI captioning genuinely improves accessibility for your community members. Most nonprofits discover that participants understand 80-90% of conversations with Ava versus 20% with lip reading alone—a life-changing difference that justifies the investment.
Time invested: 1-2 hours
Potential insight: Could transform how you serve deaf and hard-of-hearing community members for years to come
Getting Started
Step 1: Start with the Free Plan (15 minutes)
Visit ava.me and create a free account. Download the app (iOS or Android) or access via web browser. No credit card required. Test basic live captioning in a casual conversation or meeting to see how it works.
Pro tip: Test with someone from your community who is deaf or hard-of-hearing and get their honest feedback. Their experience matters more than technical specs.
Step 2: Test Ava Connect Integration (30 minutes)
Connect Ava to your next Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet call using Ava Connect (one-click integration). Invite 2-3 team members to test how captions appear on their devices. Verify that speaker identification works and transcripts save correctly.
Pro tip: Use your regular meeting workflow—don't change processes to accommodate the tool. If Ava doesn't fit seamlessly, it won't work long-term.
Step 3: Evaluate Accuracy Needs and Pricing (1-2 hours)
Determine if 90% AI accuracy (Community plan at $9.99/mo annual) meets your needs or if you require 99% Scribe accuracy for ADA compliance (Pro/Enterprise plans). Calculate how many hours of captioning you need monthly. Compare against traditional CART service costs ($150-250/hour).
Decision framework: If you're hosting public events, board meetings, or educational programs requiring ADA compliance, you need Scribe (Pro/Enterprise). If you're providing accessibility for informal staff meetings or community conversations, AI-only (Community plan) may suffice.
Step 4: Contact Sales for Nonprofit Pricing (30-60 minutes)
If you determine you need organizational plans (Pro or Enterprise), contact Ava's sales team via ava.me/pricing or reach out to their advocacy team. Mention your nonprofit status, explain your specific needs (session length, Scribe hours, number of users), and request custom pricing with nonprofit discounts. Provide 501(c)(3) verification.
Pro tip: Be specific about your budget constraints and ask for a 15-day trial of Pro or Enterprise plans to test Scribe accuracy before committing. Most vendors are willing to accommodate nonprofits with flexible trials.
Need Help with Implementation?
Setting up accessibility programs can feel overwhelming, especially when you're navigating ADA compliance requirements, nonprofit budgets, and community expectations. If you'd like expert guidance choosing the right Ava plan, training your team, or establishing organization-wide accessibility best practices, we're here to help.
One Hundred Nights offers implementation support for accessibility tools, from quick setup assistance to full-service program design and staff training.
Contact Us to Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Is Ava free for nonprofits?
Ava offers a free tier with up to 40-minute sessions and basic captioning. Nonprofit discounts are available for organizational plans (Pro and Enterprise) but require contacting sales to verify eligibility. The Community plan at $9.99/month (annual billing) provides 3 hours of premium captions monthly, which works for small organizations with occasional accessibility needs.
Is Ava ADA-compliant?
Yes, but only when using Ava Scribe (the human+AI hybrid captioning service). The Community plan is NOT ADA-compliant. Pro and Enterprise plans with Ava Scribe provide 99% accuracy, meeting ADA requirements for live captioning. AI-only captions (90% accuracy) may not meet compliance standards for official accessibility requirements.
Does Ava integrate with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet?
Yes. Ava Connect integrates with all major video conferencing platforms including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. The integration is one-click and maintains all Ava features including speed, accuracy, speaker identification, and transcript saving across platforms.
What's the difference between Ava and Otter.ai?
Ava is specifically designed for accessibility with 99% accuracy (using Scribe), 50+ languages, and ADA compliance. Otter.ai is designed for productivity and collaboration with meeting summaries and action items but only supports English and achieves ~95% accuracy (not ADA-compliant). Choose Ava for accessibility compliance; choose Otter.ai for meeting productivity features.
How accurate is Ava's live captioning?
Ava provides 90% accuracy with AI-only captioning (free and Community plans). With Ava Scribe (Pro and Enterprise plans), accuracy reaches 99% through hybrid human+AI captioning. Scribe works by having trained professionals edit AI-generated captions in real-time with only a 3-second delay, which is twice as fast as traditional CART services.
Can Ava caption in multiple languages?
Yes. Ava supports 50+ languages including Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, and more. This makes it ideal for nonprofits serving multilingual communities or hosting international events. The language support works across all platforms (mobile, web, desktop) and all plan tiers.
Ready to Make Your Nonprofit Truly Accessible?
Start with Ava's free plan today and see how 99% accurate live captioning can transform accessibility for your deaf and hard-of-hearing community members—at 60-70% less cost than traditional services.