When Ashleigh Kramer received an email from the Department of Disability Services, she wasn’t sure what to think at first.
A student in one of her classes needed assistance, and once Kramer discovered all she needed to do was share her class notes, there was nothing that could hold her back.
“I wanted to take on the job because it was something so simple that I could do to help someone else and have an on-campus job at the same time,” Kramer, a junior speech pathology major, said. “Little did I know that it would turn into such a rewarding experience for both me and my student I worked with.”
Since opening in the late 1960s, the Department of Disability Services has offered students at Ball State a variety of resources, including note taking. This specialized service is offered to students with any mental, physical or learning disabilities, and fellow peers are asked to assist in the process.
Courtney Jarrett, the associate director of disability services, is the woman behind the notetaker program. When a student reaches out for extra help, Jarrett sends emails to all of the students in the class.
“I’m looking for classmates that can work productively with the student they are going to be working with and the willingness to take adequate, helpful notes during class,” Jarrett said. “Based on responses I get, I choose someone to get paired with the student as soon as possible, and I’ll work with both the student and the notetaker during this whole process.”
Notetakers do get compensated, but some, like Kramer, end up viewing their work as more than just a job. Kramer made an effort to get to know her student during and after class, and as a result the two became good friends.
“I communicated with [my student] through email first, but after a few weeks I got to know [the student] more in class so we could just talk in person after that,” Kramer said. “It turned out that we have the same major and even lived in the same dorm.”
Because each disability is different, notetakers must adapt to fit the needs of each student they work with. Most of the time, said Jarrett, a Word document with notes will suffice, but some students request verbal recordings of class discussions or copies of handwritten notes.
Jarrett added that note taking doesn’t always stop inside the classroom. Notetakers may use time outside of class for clarification or to review notes with the student, although it is not required.
Kramer found that this additional communication was important when clarifying notes and information from the class.
If the Department of Disability Services told Kramer that another fellow student was in need of a notetaker, she said she would “absolutely do it again.”
“It’s a simple, good job and a great way to get to know other students, all while helping them in the process,” she said.
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