PSTCC > SSWD > Services > Note taker

Obtaining a Volunteer Note Taker

One of the accommodations listed on the accommodation plan for students with disabilities is, "volunteer note taker from class." This is a valuable accommodation for students who need assistance with note taking. It is a joint responsibility of the instructor, SSWD staff, and student to help identify a note taker for a student with a disability. Because faculty members may not know the capable note takers on the first day of class, Services for Students With Disabilities recommends that students use the following procedure:

1. Meet with the instructor for the class in which you need a note taker.
2. Present the accommodation plan with the listed accommodations.
3. Discuss how to recruit a note taker in the class. Many instructors and adjunct faculty are not aware that it is part of their responsibility to help identify a note taker.

If the instructor needs assistance in order to identify a note taker you may suggest the following plan.

• The instructor may make a general announcement to the class stating that there is a student in the class with a disability who is in need of a volunteer note taker. The instructor should not mention the name of the student with a disability.

• The instructor should explain that Pellissippi State will provide special pressure-sensitive note paper that the student with a disability will be responsible for getting from Services for Students With Disabilities. The note taker will take notes as he/she usually does using the special note paper. The note taker will keep one copy and give the other to the instructor to give to the student with a disability. If the student with a disability doesn't want to remain anonymous the notes may be given directly to him/her. If the note taker prefers not to use the note paper, SSWD staff will make copies of the supplied notes on the copier in the SSWD office.

• If no one volunteers, the instructor might repeat the announcement the next class period and observe which students seem to be taking good notes and ask one of those students individually to serve as a note taker. Some instructors have been able to find a student in another section of the same course they are teaching willing to serve as a note taker when no one could be found in the class of the student requesting the accommodation.

• Some instructors are able to supply copies of their lecture notes or overheads, when volunteer note takers are not feasible in order to accommodate the student with a disability.

If a student has difficulty obtaining this accommodation he or she should immediately contact Services for Students With Disabilities for assistance.