Intellitext’s transcriptions let people read what they’re unable to hear

Ariel Castro had a front-row seat to all the action at the 2013 International CES in January, and he’s not even in the consumer electronics industry.

Castro is an Intellitext transcriber who recorded conversations and educational sessions for a businessman who contracted his services.

“It was actually a really interesting project,” said Castro, the Las Vegas branch manager for the transcription company.

In Las Vegas since January, Reno-based Intellitext is a 100 percent woman-owned business founded by Randi Hecht in 2011. With three Las Vegas-area employees and nine companywide, Intellitext offers real-time transcription services for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in settings including college classrooms, business meetings and legal proceedings. Intellitext also provides transcription of spoken-word audio files and other dictation work for hearing people.

“We’re basically trying to make a name for ourselves,” Castro said.

To build up its business in Southern Nevada, the company is reaching out to local colleges whose students may need its services.

“We have lots of relationships in Reno and we’re trying to build that relationship here as well,” Castro said.

Relationships like the one with Susan Trist, a coordinator for disability support services at Western Nevada College.

She described her experience with Intellitext as “absolutely positive,” because Hecht “as a business owner is highly responsive.” Trist said she’ll send Hecht a text or an email and receive a response back within an hour.

Cost for Intellitext’s services ranges from $30 to $120 per hour, depending on what’s entailed in the specific request.

“It really depends on the assignment, but we are very competitive with other transcription services in the area,” Castro said.

Contact reporter Laura Carroll at
lcarroll@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588.
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