Note-Taking assistance is provided as an accommodation for students whose documented disabilities inhibit their abilities to take notes.
We strive to foster responsibility and self-sufficiency while acknowledging that these accommodations are meant to aid student learning, not replace active class participation and personal note-taking efforts.
DASS Note-Taking Accommodations:
Messenger Pigeon (MP)
What is MP?
- Messenger Pigeon (MP) is a third-party contracted digital technology tool that provides a set of typed notes from a professional specialist Note-Taker. Students upload an audio lecture recording from either their personal recording device or a DASS recorder to receive summarized notes from the MP website.
- Learn more on all MP steps (, 385KB)
MP Eligibility
- MP serves as the primary source of note-taking for students eligible for note-taking accommodations. If a students believes MP does not provide them with effective solutions, students can contact DASS to schedule a meeting with the DASS Note-Taking Assistant.
Peer Note-Taking
What are Peer Note-Takers?
- Peer Note-Takers are hired student assistants who are trained to take handwritten or typed notes based on lecture content during in-class scheduled sessions.
- Learn more on all Peer Note-Taking steps (, 253KB)
Peer Note-Taking Eligibility
- MP may not be the best fit for some students with specific disability types such as hearing, hand/arm mobility and visual limitations. Due to this, students are approved for Peer Note-Taking or MP-Live services. Peer Note-Takers serve for in-person classes only.
- Not all courses qualify for peer note-taking. Courses that do not have a lecture component do not qualify for notes, including most labs, open discussion forums, performance art (dance) courses, etc.
MP-Live
What is MP-Live?
- MP-LIVE sends a contracted professional note taker to take notes synchronously during a virtual class session. Notes will be uploaded to selected students' DASS Online Portal accounts afterwords.
- Learn more on all MP-Live steps (, 255 KB)
MP-Live Eligibility
- MP-Live may not be the best fit for some students with specific disability types such as hearing, hand/arm mobility and visual limitations. Due to this, students are approved for either Peer Note Taking or MP-Live services. MP-Live serves for virtual classes only.
- Not all courses qualify for MP-Live. Courses that do not have a lecture component do not qualify for notes, including online-only classes with no lecture recordings.
Note-Taking Resources
Messenger Pigeon (MP) Videos:
DASS Recorder Training Guide:
- Digital Recorder Guide (, 564KB)