Note Taking Accommodations

Students who experience barriers to capturing lecture content can qualify for note taking accommodations. DSS provides the following support for students to minimize the barriers: 

Note Taking Apps

Below are examples of note taking apps for students to use at their discretion. Note that some apps are free, while others require subscriptions and are fee-based.

AppPlatform(s)HighlightsBest For
NotabilityiOS, iPadOS, macOSAudio + synced handwritten notesiPad + Apple Pencil users
GoodNotes 6iOS, macOS, Android (beta)Handwriting + new audio recordingOrganized notebooks
OneNoteWindows, Mac, iOS, Android, WebFree, flexible, audio + textCross-platform, budget-friendly
Otter.aiiOS, Android, WebReal-time transcription + summariesSearchable text lovers
UnstuckiOS onlyAI-generated notes + Q&AAI study helper
SonocentWindows, MacStructured audio + highlightsStudents with accommodations

Note Takers

If technology does not provide effective solutions, DSS will provide support to students approved for note taking accommodations. A note taker is a student in the class who volunteers to share notes.

How to Obtain a Note Taker

There are three ways for students to obtain a note taker: 

  1. Student self arrangement: You may ask a classmate to share notes with you. 
  2. Faculty assistance: Faculty may have assigned student note takers in their classes. Ask your instructor to connect you with the note taker.
  3. DSS assistance: If you are unable to find a peer note taker on your own, email  [email protected]. Then, DSS will reach out to students currently enrolled in your course to recruit a peer note taker on your behalf. Once a note taker is identified, DSS will notify you via email. This email will include instructions on how to contact the note taker.

Notify DSS: Change or Issues with your Note Taker

Please notify DSS by email if:

Email [email protected].