Montgomery College:

1. Letter to Faculty Regarding Assistance in Finding Volunteer Notetakers (MS Word .doc)
2. Note to Volunteer Notetakers (MS Word .doc)

University of Baltimore:

1. Requests for Audio Format Materials (MS Word .doc)
2. Tape Recorded Lecture Policy Agreement (MS Word .doc)
3. Request to Professor for Book Titles to Record (MS Word .doc)
4. Notetaker Manual
   • "would you take a note, please?" (cover) - (MS Word .doc - 19KB)
   • "welcome..." - (MS Word .doc - 21KB)
   • "it's who you know" and "where it's at" - (MS Word .doc - 26KB)
   • "and what you do..." - (MS Word .doc - 20KB)
   • "to say thanks to you..." - (MS Word .doc - 20KB)
   • "the necessary paperwork" (hiring form checklist) - (MS Word .doc - 21KB)

Notetaking Arrangements:

The need for note-takers will be documented in the accommodations letter. Students who cannot take notes or who have difficulty taking adequate notes, can be accommodated in a number of ways, including: taping lectures, using an in-class volunteer note-taker, and/or providing an outline of lecture materials. The student may ask the instructor for assistance in finding a classmate who would volunteer to provide a copy of lecture notes. Instructors can also be of great assistance in quality assurance by occasionally reviewing copies of the notes, especially early in the term, and giving feedback to the note-taker. The note-taker may copy notes at DSS or use carbonless paper, available to the student with a disability at no cost from the DSS.

One way that institutions hire notetakers:

1. Students who want note-taking accommodations must have prior approval from DSS.
2. The following are DSS note-taking procedures for students.
3. At the beginning of each semester, stop by DSS and pick up memos addressed to your instructors specifying notetaking as an approved accommodation.
4. At the time you pick up your memos, complete a DSS note- taker request form specifying the classes in which you will be requesting a note-taker.
5. Give your memos to your instructors and speak to them regarding arrangements for securing a note-taker.
6. Follow-up with your instructors on the status of your note-takers one week after they have made the recruitment announcement in class.
7. Contact XXXXX at DSS (XXX-XXXX) if your instructors have not identified a note-taker within two weeks.

Taped Texts

One way that institutions handle taped texts:

Students who have difficulty with printed material may receive their textbooks on tape through Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D). In the event that the requested textbooks are not available through RFB&D, Disability Support Services will record the texts using qualified students. Arrangements for such accommodations must be made through DSS at the beginning of each semester. Eligibility for this service is determined on an individualized basis. Students must demonstrate a substantial visual or learning impairment to receive this supplemental material.

In order to assure textbook availability, students must fill out an application for the books on tape program. On this application, students will list the course(s) for which they are requesting texts on tape.

In general, four to six weeks notice is required to obtain taped textbooks. DSS will make every attempt to provide materials as promptly as possible. However, late requests will result in a delay in providing materials.

Once students are notified that their texts on tape are available for pick up, they are expected to retrieve the material. Students who do not pick up their texts on tape from DSS in a timely matter may lose the privilege of this service. Additionally, students who do not return RFB&D material at the end of the semester may incur a $50 penalty. DSS will make every effort to contact students about the need to return texts on tape before a penalty is imposed.

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