Home > Newsletters > Fall 2005 > Note Taking
Your questions about notetaking assistance answered
Have you recently received a request from a student for help securing a notetaker in your class and wondered what to do? If so, please review the following checklist.
1. Has the student provided you with an accommodation letter?
At the student's request, DSS prepares letters that the student must present to each faculty member, outlining the nature of the student's disability and the accommodations for which the student is eligible. We ask that you not accommodate the student without prior receipt of this letter.
2. Has the student provided you with a yellow notetaking request form?
Even if notetaking assistance is listed in accommodation letter, DSS cannot act on a student's request for notetaking assistance before receiving the yellow notetaking request form completed by the student and the faculty member. The student needs to give you the form, and once you have complete contact information from a notetaking volunteer, the student needs to bring the form back to DSS.
3. Have you announced the need for a notetaking volunteer to your class?
We truly appreciate your taking the time to help with this crucial element in the notetaking assistance picture. All we require is that you not identify by name the student who is eligible for notetaking assistance, and that the notetaking volunteer's complete contact information appears on the yellow form. We suggest a statement like the following:
Disability Support Services is seeking an individual with strong notetaking skills to provide legible and thorough notes for a fellow student who has a disability. Note takers receive a $50 gift certificate to the GW Bookstore in appreciation for their service. Interested students should see me after class to sign up. In class or email announcements are fine, as long as the volunteer puts their complete contact information on the yellow form. Also please note that only one notetaker is needed per class.
We'll take it from there!
Please do not hesitate to contact us at 994-8250 or dss@gwu.edu if you have any questions. Notetaking assistance is never a substitute for the student's regular attendance in your class, and again we truly appreciate your assistance in leveling the playing field and giving our students the chance to succeed!
