The goal of the Class Notes accommodation is to ensure that students with qualifying conditions have notes comparable to what they would take if their disability did not interfere with note-taking. The determination of this accommodation is to be made on a case-by-case basis. This accommodation is not a substitute for the students’ attendance and active participation.

Instructors can consult with the student first, to determine how to best facilitate the Class Notes accommodation for their course. In some cases, the accommodation is not applicable.

For example:

  • When a course packet is provided which contains complete and thorough notes for the entire term.
  • When notes are made available online, such as through the ICON course module, or on an instructor’s website.
  • When due to the nature of the course, class notes prove unnecessary (please contact Student Disability Services for any clarification). 

The instructor is responsible for facilitating access to class notes. Student Disability Services can provide support, by discussing possible options available, that meet with the course structure and capacity. Below we have provided four common suggestions. We can consult on how to best implement the Class Notes accommodation. 

Four options for how notes might be shared:  

  1. A student volunteer note-taker, identified by the instructor. This webpage contains resources for identifying and asking for volunteer student notetakers while respecting confidentiality.
  2. A Teaching Assistant, Discussion Leader, or Lab Assistant, designated by the instructor to share a copy of their notes.
  3. An instructor may choose to provide a copy of their own notes.
  4. Where practical, an instructor can assign a group or groups of students to transcribe and upload notes, for the entire class to access. This scenario can provide universal benefits, including collaboration, exhibiting an understanding for the learning material, and providing rapid feedback to what the students regard as important to glean from course lectures. 

Class notes are:  

  • Typically more thorough and comprehensive than a PowerPoint, presentation materials, or outline.  
  • Notes that give the structure of the class and build on presentation materials.
  • Notes that include any assignment directions or reminders given in the class. This includes reminders about any quizzes or exams, reviews, and reminders and changes to course schedule. 
  • Notes from classes where other students are taking notes. Class notes might not be available in classes that are highly participatory in nature (such as yoga, rock climbing, etc.). 
  • Notes in discussion classes that cover the questions asked or discussed, or any important information such as themes or concepts.
  • Only for educational purposes. It is the responsibility of the student registered with Student Disability Services to not share them publicly on any platform.  

After consulting with the SDS student these materials may or may not be sufficient for class notes:

  • PowerPoint or other presentation materials or slides. It can be helpful to share these materials, but presentation materials alone do not constitute Class Notes.
  • Video or audio recordings of the class.
  • Transcripts of the class or verbatim notes.

Some students may choose to utilize a note taking service. Student Disability Services provides students with NoteTaking Express accounts. This may be an option for some students. For more information on Note Taking Express visit this webpage with additional resources.