Note-taking accommodations may be approved for students with:
- Hearing loss, e.g. difficulties hearing the instructor while writing notes or accessing communication via an interpreter, Typewell or CART transcriber
- Vision loss, e.g. difficulties seeing information presented on overhead screens
- Mental health conditions or attention-related disabilities, e.g. difficulties sustaining attention or attending to orally-presented information while taking notes
- Learning disabilities, e.g. difficulties recording notes when information is presented orally
- Physical disabilities, e.g. motor- or pain-related difficulties, broken wrists or arms
When approving note-taking as an accommodation, AS considers a combination of:
- Student expression of need for note-taking – as related to a specific educational barrier being experienced
- Information contained in their provided medical documentation
- Type and/or structure of course
Students requiring a note-taking accommodation
In order to receive a notetaking accommodation you must be approved by your Accessibility Specialist for this accommodation. The following procedures only apply to you if you have been approved for a note-taking accommodation. Once your accommodations are approved you will be able to log into the portal with your CNA credentials to request notes.
- Sign into the page
Need help?
- Check out the Online Portal - Student Guide (Notetaking)
- Watch the tutorial on how to request a notetaker
Student volunteer note-takers
Note-taking is an essential accommodation that ensures students with disabilities have access to important course material that they would not otherwise be able to access. Volunteers work with the Note-Taking Program Coordinator who is available for support and assistance with any role-related issues or concerns. Student volunteers make a critically important contribution towards enhancing equity and access for students with disabilities at Douglas.
Additional benefits of volunteering include:
- Practicing and improving your own note-taking skills
- Better retention and attendance to course materials for your own studies
Refer to the Volunteer Note-Taker Reference Sheet for a comprehensive overview of a note-taker's duties and responsibilities, as well helpful tips.
How to volunteer
- Sign into the page
- Complete the profile information and select the course(s) for which you wish to volunteer
- Upload sample notes
If you have any questions please contact us at ASnotetaking@douglascollege.ca