Note-Taking Accommodations

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Student Disability Services engages in an interactive process with students to determine which of the following accommodations are appropriate based on documentation, student input, and faculty/course expectations. 

Students may be eligible for these accommodations for a variety of reasons which include, but are not limited to: learning, visual, hearing, and physical disabilities. For most students with disabilities, this accommodation is meant to supplement the student's own note-taking efforts. Students should reach out to SDS as needed to discuss their ongoing note-taking needs or implementation of these accommodations in their classes.

Recording lecture in audio format is allowed when the student qualifies for this accommodation on the basis of disability. The student must provide their own recording device and may discuss with the instructor the best placement of the recording device. Students should inform the instructor prior to using an audio recorder in their class as an approved accommodation. SDS can serve as a resource for questions regarding the recording accommodation. 

Faculty may request that a student who has been approved for use of recorder sign a statement acknowledging appropriate uses of the recorded material. An example statement follows: 

"By signing this statement I acknowledge I plan to utilize the accommodation offered in my accommodation letter permitting me to audio record this class.  I will do so with discretion, and I hereby promise that any audio recording done in class will be for this course's study purposes only. I promise that no portion of any recording(s) will be shared, transferred, transmitted, copied beyond my personal use." 

Use of a laptop or tablet is allowed when the student qualifies for this accommodation on the basis of disability. Use of this accommodation should be limited to disability related access including word processing and access to assistive technology (video captioning, audio recording, digital format of course materials). The student must provide their own device and should inform the instructor of their intention to use their device in their class as an approved accommodation. SDS can serve as a resource for questions regarding this accommodation.

This accommodation is necessary when a student needs a record of course content/outline during or after lecture and the professor is not providing this content to the class at large. The student must notify the professor of their need for this accommodation and discuss how course materials will be provided on a regular basis. SDS can serve as a resource for questions regarding this accommodation.

This accommodation is necessary when a student needs a record of course content/outline during or after lecture and no alternative written, audio, or visual record of the lecture is provided by the professor. This accommodation may also be appropriate for students with physical and/or sensory disabilities. 

Qualifying students will need to engage with SDS at the beginning of each term to identify courses in which a peer note-taker is needed. SDS will support faculty, students, and peer note-takers in the process of note-sharing:

  • Faculty
    • Coordinating recruitment of a volunteer note-taker
  • Student
    • Identifying appropriate level of note-taking support in each class
    • Building note-taking strategies 
    • Supporting file-sharing between the student and the note-taker as needed
  • Peer Note-Takers
    • Providing guidelines for peer notes
    • Offering verification of student's volunteer activity and commitment to diversity