Office of Disability Services

Note-Taking

www.ods.appstate.edu

Policy

For a number of students with physical impairments, learning disabilities and some other disorders, listening to lectures while taking notes at the same time is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Support services, such as note-taking, may be a reasonable accommodation for providing equal opportunity and access to information at Appalachian State University.

Procedure

  1. The student must be registered with the ODS.
  2. The student’s documentation must establish that the student is eligible for the academic accommodation of alternative note-taking strategies.
  3. Students must attend class regularly. The provision of a note-taker is not a replacement for class attendance.
  4. Note-takers can offer their services voluntarily or be paid a small stipend at the end of the semester.
  5. Students may employ the following strategies on their own:

    a. Students may use their personal tape recorder to record lecture(s).

    b. Students may utilize a laptop for typing their own notes.

    c. Students may exchange notes with other students in their class so they have a second set for reference.

    d. Students may ask other students in their class for a copy of their notes and to serve as "voluntary" note-takers for them.

    e. Students may ask instructors for a copy of their notes, Power Point presentations, overheads, handouts, etc. (if available), prior to classes. (Note: Some professors prefer not to provide these materials to students)

  6. The ODS will also help facilitate a note-taker for a particular class by:

    a. Providing the student with written instructions to give to the instructor, granting the instructor permission to announce that a note-taker is needed for a student in that particular class.

    b. Providing duplicate note-taking paper upon request.

    c. Providing, upon request, detailed guidelines for "best practices" for facilitating the note-taking process for students with disabilities.

  7. The student and/or professor will send the note-taker to the ODS where she/he will sign a contract for services if she/he chooses to receive the small stipend.

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