The American Transcription Association

About

Mission Statement

The American Transcription Association (ATA) provides leadership, guidance, and support for U.S.-based transcriptionists and transcription companies. Our goal is to foster a strong domestic transcription industry to keep jobs in the United States.

Vision

The American Transcription Association (ATA) believes that:

  • A strong association promotes growth within the domestic market and helps keep jobs within the U.S.
  • Companies in the market for services prefer to work with recommended service providers such as members of a trade association
  • A strong association brings financial benefits to all members including group insurance rates, vendor discounts, and other benefits
  • An association can promote the industry through advertising and other methods not possible by individuals or individual companies
  • An association can provide a variety of resources including a Code of Best Practices, industry news, product reviews, links to web resources, and other support materials

The ATA is dedicated to helping all transcriptionists and transcription companies in the pursuit of these beliefs.

The American Transcription Association Advisory Board

The American Transcription Association and its activities are overseen by an Advisory Board comprised of an Executive Director and 11 Board members. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to address issues presented by its membership and to guide the ATA in its internal and external activities.

Executive Director and Founder

Donna M. Littrell

Board Members

Charlotte Lingard-Young
Anita Meadows
Sue C. Mitchell
Lori Nonemaker
Linda Tyson
Christi Walker
Kathie Welch
Daysha Weller
Janet West
Melissa Wood
Donna S. Houg

Purpose

Find out where the ATA stands on offshoring transcription work. Go to the ATA Open Letter on Offshoring to read more.

The American Transcription Association will promote, protect, and support the interests of all transcriptionists and transcription companies who:

  • Perform all work within the United States
  • Are able to legally work; or use the transcription services of those who can legally work within the United States
  • Are sensitive to matters of privacy, whether that be individual privacy or that of an organization
  • Take measures to ensure that privacy is upheld, including taking the appropriate data security measures

We will provide this support by:

  • Providing information and networking opportunities to members
  • Providing vendor specials and discounts made available exclusively to our membership
  • Promoting U.S. transcription services in general, and those services of our membership in particular
  • Coordinating communications and mentorship opportunities between members
  • Providing news and other information relevant to the transcription industry
  • Providing links to online resources for transcriptionists
  • Providing a members-only forum
  • Providing a Code of Best Practices
  • Providing an ATA Member Logo to display on your website and other marketing materials
  • Maintaining a Job Listings area of the ATA Forum

History

The transcription industry has seen a lot of change since the 1990s. The emergence of the Internet and the subsequent outsourcing of jobs overseas is one major change.

The American Transcription Association (ATA) formed in 2008 as a way to help U.S. transcriptionists and transcription companies meet the challenges of a changing industry. We support our members by providing standards and guidelines for best practices, promoting the need for U.S.-only transcription services, and providing member discounts to a number of vendors.

But this is only the beginning. Join the ATA today and have your say about how our industry should grow and evolve. Help us build a stronger transcription association!