About this factsheet

This factsheet is part of RNID’s communication range. You will find it useful if you are deaf and want to find out about manual notetakers, or if you are an organisation or business that needs to book a manual notetaker. We use the word ‘notetaker’ to refer to manual notetakers. We use the term ‘deaf’ throughout to refer to all types of deafness and hearing loss.

Read this factsheet to find out:

What does a notetaker do?

A notetaker takes notes for you when you cannot do it yourself. For example, if you are deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL), it is impossible for you to follow a BSL/English interpreter or lipspeaker and take notes at the same time. A notetaker takes notes so you can focus on what is being said and not miss information.

A notetaker is trained to take clear notes in handwritten English. Electronic notetakers type the notes using a laptop computer. For more information, see our factsheet, Working with an electronic notetaker.

When should I use a notetaker?

A notetaker works mainly in further and higher education. They take notes in classes, seminars or lectures for you to read later. They can also take ‘live’ notes. This means that they take notes as somebody speaks and you sit next to them and read what they have written. A notetaker is also trained to take notes in meetings, for example at work and other events. However, they do not take minutes of meetings, so you should not ask them to do this.

How do I book a notetaker?

Your college or university should normally book a notetaker for you. They should look for a notetaker with a CACDP Level 2 Certificate in Notetaking for Deaf People or Level 3 Certificate for Language Service Professionals Working with Deaf and Deafblind People (Notetaking). Qualified communication support workers (CSWs) are also trained in notetaking and some also have the CACDP notetaking qualification.

Notetakers may specialise in a particular field. For example, if you are taking a science degree at university, the notetaker needs to know something about the subject. If you have specific needs, your college or university may need to spend time finding the right notetaker to support you.

Sometimes, a colleague or fellow student can do a notetaking course so they can work with you. You should always have a trained notetaker and you should not be expected to use notes that your fellow students have taken for themselves.

Notetakers offer a confidential service, but some work with further education or higher education college support teams, so they may pass information about your work to a support tutor. They should agree this with you first.

If you need a notetaker for a meeting where you think you will discuss sensitive information – for example, with a student welfare adviser – make sure that confidentiality is specified in the notetaker’s contract.

Your local RNID Communication Services can book notetakers for you. See Where can I get more information? for contact details.

How many notetakers will I need?

Normally you will only need one notetaker, but it does depend on how long your classes or lectures are and how long the notetaker will have to work. Notetakers need regular breaks, although in practice they often work for up to one-and-a-half hours. Do not expect your notetaker to work through lunch and breaks unless this is necessary, in which case you may need to book two notetakers.

It will help the notetaker to know in advance what your assignment involves so they can prepare properly for it. They may need to speak or see your tutors to get advance copies of any papers, teaching materials or other information.

How much do notetakers charge?

This may vary from organisation to organisation. Your college or university should find out how much they will be charged before booking a notetaker.

Can I get help with paying for a notetaker?

If you are deaf or deafblind you usually won’t have to pay for any communication support you need. The following section tells you about the different ways there are to pay for a notetaker.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)

The DDA may require service providers such as hospitals and GP surgeries to provide communication support. If you need a notetaker, let the service provider know in plenty of time. For more information, see our factsheet, The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) – a guide for deaf and hard of hearing customers.

Help for students

All universities are covered under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA), so they are required to provide support for all disabled students. However, the amount of support may vary depending on the university. For more information, see our factsheets:
• Benefits – information for deaf students
• Deaf students in further education – your rights under the Disability Discrimination Act
• Deaf students in higher education – your rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Disability Living Allowance

You may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if you need help to communicate with other people. For more information, see our factsheet, Disability Living Allowance.

Access to Work

The government’s Access to Work scheme may help to pay for communication support you need at work or, if you are unemployed, for interviews. For more information, contact your local Jobcentre Plus.
Go to www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk for details of your nearest office.

Contact the RNID Information Line for more information about help with paying for communication support.

Where can I get further information?

To book RNID communication support services, please contact:

RNID Communication Services

The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9QJ
Telephone: 0845 685 8000
Textphone: 0845 685 8001
Fax: 0845 685 8002
Email: communication.services@rnid.org.uk
You can also book communication support online by visiting www.rnid.org.uk/csbooking (external link)

CACDP

CACDP produces a directory of registered BSL/English interpreters, lipspeakers, deafblind interpreters (manual) and speech-to-text reporters.
A register of notetakers will be available from April 2008. They cannot book communication services for you.
Durham University Science Park, Block 4, Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3UZ
Telephone: 0191 383 1155
Textphone: 0191 383 7915
Fax: 0191 383 7914
Email: durham@cacdp.org.uk 
CACDP website  (external link, opens new browser window)

When visiting the website, click on ‘Interpreters/LSPs’ and then ‘Online Directory’.

Department for Employment and Learning (Northern Ireland) (DELNI)

DELNI can tell you about student support in Northern Ireland and give you the address of your local Education and Library Board.
Department for Employment and Learning, Adelaide House, 39-49 Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8FD
Telephone: 028 9025 7777
Fax: 028 9025 7778
Email: del@nics.gov.uk
DELNI website (external link, opens new browser window)