TO:
FROM: Kay Smith, Disability Services & Resources
DATE: May Session, SSI,SSII, Fall Semester, Spring Semester

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR PEER NOTETAKER

A Disability Services & Resources student has requested a peer notetaker for the following class:

Course: (your course)

This student has a documented disability and an Academic Access Plan on file with the UMD Disability Services & Resources office. Note taking assistance has been deemed to be a reasonable and appropriate academic accommodation for this student by the student's Disability Services & Resources counselor.

We are now asking your assistance to help identify and recruit a peer note taker in your class. You may make your own announcement to the class, contact an individual student whom you know to be a skilled note taker, or read the enclosed announcement to your class. Please refer the volunteer note taker to the Access Center for further information.

To become a peer note taker, a student must:
1. Have clear, legible handwriting or printing.
2. Have well-organized notes
3. Attend class regularly
4 Complete the Disability Services & Resources Note taking Training Module and sign a confidentiality agreement

The benefits to peer note takers are many:
1. They have the opportunity to work with another student, and report this activity on their resumes;
2. The experience they receive note taking for other students will also improve their own notes;
3. They are assisting other students to reach their academic goals.
And, if that isn't enough,
4. Disability Services & Resources provides a $50.00 gift certificate for UMD Stores to peer note takers at the end of the term!

Disability Services & Resources will coordinate copying of the notes and will provide information to the peer note taker on note taking policies and protocol. When an appropriate peer note taker is identified, please refer her/him to Kay Smith in the Disability Services & Resources main office, 256 KSC for additional information.

Enclosed you will find a copy of the in-class announcement and a form for the peer note taker to fill out and return to Disability Services & Resources.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and effort to make your class accessible. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the session, please feel free to contact me by telephone: ext. 6130 or by e-mail: kaysmith@d.umn.edu.