Skip to content | Change text size
 

Notetaking Service: Rights and Responsibilities - Disability Liaison Unit (DLU)

Purpose of the Note Taking Service

The note taking service exists to provide students who have a disability with an accurate summary or representation (rather than a complete record) of information/ material delivered in lectures, tutorials or practical/laboratory classes.

The note taking service is not designed to substitute for the participation of a student in classes. The note taking service does not include extra information, explanation, coaching or tutoring assistance.

Eligibility

Note taking services are available to students who:

  • have been assessed as eligible by the Disability Liaison Unit and have provided appropriate documentation outlining their disability and impact on taking notes in classes.
  • are enrolled in an on-campus award course. This includes Off-campus Learning students attending on-campus workshops.

It is essential that students maintain contact with the DLU on a regular basis to ensure appropriate services are being provided. The DLU must be advised of any changes in a student's condition or circumstances.

Withdrawal of Service

If a student fails to advise and substantiate to the DLU his/her failure to attend 3 consecutive classes in the same subject area, the university reserves the right to withdraw note taking services.

Copyright of Notes

The note taker must give the notes directly to the student once they have been completed. The copyright of the note taken by the note taker is the property of the DLU.

Note taking services are provided on the condition that students receiving the service DO NOT offer the notes for sale, favour or free to another person unless authorised to do so by the DLU.

Students with Temporary Disabilities or Medical Conditions requesting Note Taking

A student who is not a registered student of the DLU but has a temporary disability or medical condition (eg: broken arm) of less than six weeks duration will not be eligible for note taking services except in extraordinary circumstances. The DLU will investigate other alternative strategies such as tape recording or access to lecturer's notes. If these are not satisfactory, then it will be up to the discretion of the Disability Liaison Unit to provide a note taking service on provision of appropriate medical documentation.

Application for Support Workers

In order to receive note taking, students must first speak to their Disability Liaison Officer. Upon approval, students need to complete a request for note taking form and indicate subject code, subject name, venue, times and whether the class is a lecture, tutorial or practical class. A request will not be accepted without this information.

Requests for note taking (or AUSLAN interpreting, reading, personal assistance) should be made at the earliest opportunity, and any changes to timetables advised as soon as possible. If only partial information can be provided, students should still contact the DLU, however, it remains the responsibility of the student to provide complete information as soon as it becomes available. Note taking will not be provided until these details are complete.

All requests should be made at least two weeks prior to commencement of classes. As much notice as possible should be given if requiring AUSLAN interpreting.

Disclosure

A student of the DLU is not obliged to disclose the nature of their disability to their note taker. Note takers should refrain from asking specific questions about the student's health or disability. The DLU will not disclose a disability to a note taker unless the position requires a specific style of note taking (eg for hearing impairment) and the student has granted written permission. Of course, students are free to discuss their disability should they wish to do so.

What are my Responsibilities?

Employing appropriate note takers for students takes time. It is essential that you forward timetables and changes to the DLU as soon as you know what they are.

  • As a matter of courtesy, we suggest the student explain to the lecturer/tutor that she/he will be having a note taker, and if possible introduce the note taker to the staff member.
  • The DLU may inform the lecturer/ tutor on the student's behalf if the student wishes to remain anonymous by making a request with the DLU.
  • The student is responsible for providing paper and pens to enable the note taker to complete his/her job.
  • It is the student's responsibility to let the lecturer know if they require clarification on any points they might have missed.
  • The student will be asked to verify the note taker's timesheet where requested ie: sign the attendance verification box.

Attendance

Note taking services are provided on the condition that students receiving the service MUST attend all sessions for which they receive the service. Attendance in this instance is defined as being present for the entire session.

Before the first class

Note takers are supplied with your phone number when they are appointed. They will contact you prior to the class they are assigned, to organise a meeting place.

The student should make a time to discuss with the note taker the type of notes required and how to set out, etc. It is the student's responsibility to provide feedback to the note taker so that they may adjust their style to suit.

The student should discuss first with their note taker if they are not satisfied with the notes provided by their note taker, and if it can not be resolved then to contact the DLU.

The student should negotiate with the note taker before the lecture about seating arrangements and where and when to provide the notes after the class.

At each class

Note takers are instructed to wait for 20 minutes and if the student does not arrive, they are then required to leave the session and inform the DLU.

Absences

Any student who is unable to attend classes for reasons of illness or other serious circumstance must advise the DLU and their note taker as soon as practicable. A student may be requested to provide a doctor's certificate or other appropriate documentation to the DLU if they wish the service to continue. The DLU has the discretion to discontinue the note taking service.

All support workers are paid for the full booking unless 24 hours notice of cancellation is given to them. The DLU should be contacted at least 24 hours beforehand if a student knows he/she will be absent, to avoid any unnecessary expenditure of valuable funds.

If the student is found to be no longer eligible for the note taking service or fails to comply with the guidelines regarding exclusive use, the note taking service will be withdrawn.

It is the students responsibility to read the above guide and if receiving note taking for the first time, sign a hard copy version (available at the DLU) to verify that they have read and understood the note taking service rights and responsibilities.