Note Taking Services

Students who have hearing impairments, hand-function limitations, learning disabilities impacting written expression, or students with visual impairments may be eligible for note-taking accommodations. Note-taking accommodations may include: Sonocent or other lecture recording devices, volunteer note-takers, and access to course materials (e.g. PowerPoints, class notes, etc.).

The best notes are those you create yourself.  Notes from others reflect the foundation of knowledge that individual has about the subject matter.  In addition, someone else's notes reflect their impression about what is important in a lecture, and may not necessarily correspond with what you would consider important. Therefore, students who use volunteer note-taking services are also strongly encouraged to take notes of their own as possible. 

Recorded lectures can be used to review and update notes, whether the notes are your own or are borrowed from someone else; they also provide a back-up source of information to be used as a study tool.

DSS also has a limited quantity of SmartPens and Sonocent licenses available for student loan.  SmartPens are an effective tool that allow students to record lectures and sync the lecture with their written notes. Sonocent is similar, however, all notes are completed through an online platform. If interested, please talk to your DSS coordinator.