Hi all

 

Rate is actually .5 hour per hour of note-taking to allow typing up.

 

Here are the relevant sections from the Guidance Notes (which also makes it clear that this is not electronic notetaking:

 

5.3.3   Manual Note-takers

 

This support is provided for students who require notes to be taken on their behalf, for example because they have a physical or hearing impairment.  The activity of note-taking is to produce an accurate record of the content of lectures, seminars, discussions, off-campus events etc. in the student’s preferred style and format. 

 

There is a wide range of ways to deliver information to students which may reduce or remove the need for individual note-taking.  For disabled students there are also many forms of assistive technology that can provide some support in this area, for example recording devices, and these should be considered as an alternative to note-taking where possible.  Assistive software is likely to enable students to become independent, autonomous learners in many cases and therefore should be considered where a particular barrier exists.

 

The DSAs Study Needs Assessor should determine the required format of notes at the needs assessment taking in to consideration the course, the student's needs and compatibility with the student's assistive technology where appropriate.  If the student requires typed notes, then that should be made clear and an appropriate person appointed to take the typed notes.  If the student requires handwritten notes, that should similarly be justified (e.g. in the case of needing diagrams for a specific lecture etc.).

 

The DSAs study Needs Assessor should also try to determine: the actual number of note-taking hours required based on timetable; or where this is not possible (i.e. prior to course commencement or when module options have not been finalised) make informed estimate of the likely number of hours based on contact with HEI, discussion with the student etc.

 

Where typed notes are required by the student the assessor must take steps to identify workers that can take typed notes at the time required.  Only if that is not possible should provision for a handwritten note be provided with the notes being typed up for the student afterwards.  A note typed at the time is the default position if available – given value for money considerations.  The typing up of written notes by the note-taker or a third party is not considered to be electronic note-taking or specialist transcription services and should not be charged as such (see 5.4.2 and 5.4.3). 

 

In the case where handwritten notes and subsequent typing up is the only available option, (see example above) a maximum additional charge of 30 minutes will be paid for the typing up time, per 1 hour of manual note-taking.  But only where it has not been possible to provide a note-taker that can take typed notes or typed notes are not appropriate. 

 

Note-taking costs should be clear on the invoice.  Typed notes should be invoiced as manual note-taking (typed).  This is a band 2 activity.  Where the notes have been taken by hand and typed later, the invoice should set this out clearly as manual note-taking (written) + typing up fee.  The subsequent typing up of notes is not a band 2 activity and therefore an appropriate reduction in the amount charged for typing up after the session is therefore expected.  Typing up charges should be no more than half the amount charged for the actual note-taking session. 

 

Note – we do not expect note-taking charges to rise in response to this instruction and the cost of note-taking will be monitored to ensure charges remain appropriate.  Further, a charge from NMH suppliers for typing up notes where the hourly rate currently includes typing up will not be accepted.

 

Note – No generic recommendations should be made by or imposed on assessors by the HEI or NMH provider.

 

 

5.4.2   Electronic Note-takers

 

This support activity is predominantly for hearing and visually impaired students.  The primary requirement of this support is to simultaneously remove barriers to live access to the content of the teaching session, seminar etc. and the ability to take handwritten notes for review and revision purposes.  The note-taker will make a comprehensive although non-verbatim, live, typed record of the content of lectures, seminars, discussions, off-campus events etc. in the student’s preferred style and format. This may include the information appearing simultaneously on the student’s computer using either Speedtext or Stereotype specialist software. The laptop could also be linked to Braille reading equipment. The notes can be sent to the student within a specified time frame or will be saved by the student at the end of the session if using the specialist software described above.

 

For disabled students there are now many forms of assistive technology (for example, recording devices) that can provide some support in this area and may be considered as an alternative. Assistive technology may enable students to become independent, autonomous learners in many cases and therefore should be considered where a particular barrier exists and where assistive technology would fully meet the student’s note taking needs.

 

Assistive software responses should be considered as an alternative to such support where appropriate.

 

Regards, Lesley

 

 

Lesley Morrice
ACCESS Centre Manager
Student Services Centre
Portland Building
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
 
Tel:0115 8466114
Fax:0115 9514376
 
My hours of work are:
Mon - Thurs 8.a.m. till 5.00 p.m
Fri 7.45 a.m. till 12 noon

 

 

 

 

 

My understanding is the same as yours, rate is 1.5 hours per hour of notetaking to allow typing up. This does seem to be an area where conflicting information is being passed around and I would welcome some clarity too.

 

A recent case I had of is where a university charges one hour of notetaking plus insist on one hour of Electronic Notetaker support, totalling something in the region £60 per hour charged to DSA, which I thought was ludicrous, but SFE agreed it. The recommendation came from the disability adviser, though was not supported by the assessor (pre-changes DSA change).

 

 

 

I would be grateful if anyone could clarify the payment rate for students who require typed up notes please.

 

I thought that if students were recommended notes to be typed up, then the Support Worker would be paid a full hour for manual notetaking and then half hour to type up the notes.  For instance, if the hourly rate for notetaking is £22 then the Support Worker should be paid £33 overall.

 

I’ve recently read an email from my colleague which seems to suggest that the Support Worker gets paid a quarter of the hourly rate.  Therefore the Support Worker would be paid £27.50 in this instance.

 

I hope this email has made sense, clarification would be great.

 

Thank you,

 

Delyth

 

Delyth Morgan Disability & Dyslexia Adviser Student Support & Wellbeing Division Cardiff University 50 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT t: +44 (0)29 20870074 blog I facebook I twitter I youtube I   Your Student Life, Supported. Advice & Money I Careers & Employability I Counselling, Health & Wellbeing I Disability & Dyslexia

Delyth Morgan Cynghorwyr Anabledd & Dyslecsia Adran Cymorth a Lles Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd 50 Plas y Parc, Caerdydd, CF10 3AT Ff : +44 (0)29 20870074 blog I facebook I twitter I youtube I   Eich Bywyd Fel Myfyriwr, Gyda Chefnogaeth. Cyngor ac Arian I Gyrfaoedd a Chyflogadwyedd I Cwnsela, Iechyd a Lles I Anabledd a Dyslecsia

 

 

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