For some students, due to the nature of their disability, assistance is needed with note taking. To support students, while encouraging student responsibility and autonomy, DSS provides note taking technology. This allows students the ability to independently take a comprehensive set of notes to serve as a study tool outside of class.
Students with an approved note taking accommodation will be given access to Otter.ai. This web-based application offers audio recording with automatic transcription. While transcribing, students have the ability to highlight information, comment on portions of the transcript, make personal notes/observations, and create task reminders. This platform helps to convert long-form conversations that take place between multiple people, such as lectures, into smart notes that may be easily searched. Otter.ai records conversations from your phone or computer. Students are able to add photos, speakers, and key phrases.
In order to use this accommodation, students approved for note taking will have to request Otter.ai for Note Taking through the DSS online portal. DSS will then notify the faculty that this accommodation will be used in their class. At this point, DSS will also grant the student access to the program.
In some instances, students may require a peer note taker. In these cases, students will need to request this accommodation through the DSS online portal. DSS will then notify the faculty and then work to recruit a peer note taker from the class in which the request has been made. The DSS Office will recruit, select, and facilitate the exchange of notes. To maintain confidentiality, the note taker is not provided with the name of the DSS student, nor is the DSS student aware of the identity of the note taker. Any concerns should be brought to the attention of the DSS Office.
Guidelines regarding note taking services:
- Only students approved for note taking may access this accommodation.
- Students must request note taking through the DSS online portal.
- Students are expected to attend class regularly. Note taking is not a substitute for classroom attendance.
- Students are not to share their notes with others in any format. No part of the class notes may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, internet, social media, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the faculty.
- For students with peer note taking:
- Once a note taker has been selected, the DSS Office will inform the student. Notes are uploaded to the DSS online portal. Students will receive an email each time new notes are uploaded for the class.
- Students must notify the DSS Office within 24 hours of dropping a class in which they are receiving peer notes.
- Students are responsible for contacting the DSS Office if they are not receiving notes, or if there are any concerns.