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Disability Services

Note Takers

About Note Takers

If you and the Disability Services director have agreed that note takers are a reasonable accommodation for you, it is important that you talk with your professor as soon as possible to arrange this.
If you know others in the class, you may be able to obtain copies of their notes. If not, you may wish to ask your professor to distribute a sign-up sheet and/or make an announcement in class requesting volunteers to assist with note taking.
It is important that you and your professor agree ahead of time whether you wish to be identified to the class.
Once note takers have been selected, you should give them copy cards so they can easily make copies of their notes. You can obtain copy cards from the disability services office. Alternatively, many students find it easiest if the note taker uses a laptop and simply emails the notes to them.
If you and the instructor are unable to solicit a note taker after the first week of class, please notify the disability services office.

Do's and Dont's for Working with Note Takers

  • Do arrange for note taking assistance at the beginning of the semester.
  • Do obtain a copy card for each of your note takers (or for the professor or TA that makes the copies)from the disability services office, unless you have arranged to have notes emailed to you.
  • Do review course notes after each class and ask your note taker for clarification if you are unclear about the content of the notes.
  • Don't skip class just because someone else is taking notes for you.
  • Don't assume the professor will find someone else to take notes for you if your note taker is absent from class. It is your responsibility to get the notes from a classmate or to ask your professor for assistance.
  • Do talk with the disability services director as soon as possible if you are having problems with note taking services.