Notetaking, Recording of Lectures, and Access to Lecture Slides Accommodation Informational Sheets

Overview of Accommodations

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Amendments (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal, state, and local laws, students registered with The AccessAbility Center/Student Disability Services (AAC/SDS) may receive notetaking services, access to lecture slides, or permission to record lectures upon meeting with and receiving approval from AAC/SDS staff. These accommodations ensure equal access to course content due to the impact of a disability.

Legal Background

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 C.F.R. Part 104.44b) states:

(b) Other rules. A recipient to which this subpart applies may not impose upon handicapped students other rules, such as the prohibition of tape recorders in classrooms…that have the effect of limiting the participation of handicapped students in the recipient’s education program or activity.

Academic Integrity Policy: Students are held to the same academic standards upheld by the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity which reads as follows:

“Academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York. Penalties for academic dishonesty include academic sanctions, such as failing or otherwise reduced grades, and/or disciplinary sanctions, including suspension or expulsion.”

Academic dishonesty is defined as: cheating, plagiarism, obtaining unfair advantage, falsification of records and official documents. If an accommodation is intentionally misutilized, the assigned AAC counselor and AAC Director will address these concerns with the professor.

Procedures

Permission to record lectures grants students with disabilities access to course content that is otherwise impeded due to disability status, including but not limited to learning disabilities, psychological disabilities, and visual impairments. Recording of lectures grants students access to Sonocent Audio Notetaking software. In order to receive permission to record lectures, students must complete the following:

  • Read and sign the Policies and Procedures Agreement for Accommodations Form during registration appointment at the AAC/SDS.
  • Meet with the AAC/SDS Counselor for a brief Sonocent tutorial. Students will be granted access to Sonocent software during this meeting.
  • Once students are registered with Sonocent, they are responsible for using the software themselves.
  • In cases where transcription is required, Dragon may be installed to interface with Sonocent, or notetaking will be provided.
  • If any issues occur while using Sonocent, students should contact the AAC/SDS Counselor Jeremy Britton (lbritton@ccny.cuny.edu).

Notetaking services grants students with disabilities access to course content and classroom notes otherwise impeded due to disability status, including but not limited to learning disabilities, psychological disabilities, and visual impairments. Notetaking provides students with handwritten or typed notes from a peer. Peer notes are not intended to be a verbatim account of the class or a study guide, rather they should be an overview or outline of material covered. In order to receive notetaking services, students must complete the following:

  • Read and sign the Policies and Procedures Agreement for Accommodations Form during registration appointment at the AAC/SDS.
  • Fill out and submit the Notetaking Request Form, available on the AAC/SDS website under “Forms.”
  • Once a note-taker has been assigned by AAC/SDS staff, notes will be delivered to the student via email from notetaking@ccny.cuny.edu.
    • If you know who your note-taker is, you are welcome to arrange an in-person delivery system with them. Simply inform the AAC/SDS Policy and Access Coordinator if this is the case.
  • Receiving notetaking accommodations is not a substitute for attending class. All students receiving notetaking accommodations must regularly attend classes.
  • If you withdraw from a course or no longer need notetaking services, you must inform the AAC/SDS Policy and Access Coordinator as soon as possible.
  • If any issues occur with receiving notes, students should contact the AAC/SDS Policy and Access Coordinator at notetaking@ccny.cuny.edu.

Access to lecture slides grants students with disabilities access to course lecture slides when ability to take notes or record lectures is impeded due to a disability, including but not limited to learning disabilities and psychological disabilities. In order to receive access to lecture slides, students must complete the following:

  • Read and sign the Policies and Procedures Agreement for Accommodations Form during registration appointment at the AAC/SDS.
  • Meet with assigned AAC/SDS counselor to determine if access to lecture slides is an appropriate accommodation. If determined to be an appropriate accommodation, the AAC/SDS counselor will contact professors on behalf of the student to request lecture slides be shared with the student in order to ensure equal access to course content.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are receiving lecture slides in a timely manner. If the student is not receiving lecture slides in a timely manner, the student should contact their AAC/SDS counselor as soon as possible.

Please note: If a student needs to add to or alter their accommodations at any time, they can contact their assigned AAC/SDS counselor.

 

Confidentiality Statement: AAC/SDS is committed to ensuring the protection and maintenance of student records.  All student records housed in the AAC/SDS are considered both HIPAA and FERPA protected since they contain educational and medical/psychological information. AAC/SDS staff will not release information related to disability unless a registered student with a disability has given informed consent, the AAC/SDS receives a court order to release student records, or if the AAC/SDS determines the student is a threat to their own safety or the safety of others. AAC/SDS has its own file management system, both paper and electronic, that has restricted access to AAC/SDS staff.  Grievances filed on disability issues permit relevant information as it pertains to the complaint to be released to the necessary parties (i.e., VP of Student Affairs, 504/ADA Coordinator).  Within CCNY, accommodation data is released by the AAC/SDS staff on a "need-to-know" basis, in order to remove barriers for equal access purposes.  General student records that CCNY staff and faculty have access to do not disclose disability status, registration, or accommodations; thus, transcripts and schedules will not demarcate this confidential information.

Last Updated: 02/10/2020 12:38