Scribe

Scribes are assigned to students who have physical limitations that prevent them from writing in-class assignments or performing in-class hands-on activities. One of the duties of the scribe is to write (by hand or computer) verbatim what the student with the accommodation dictates. Scribes should be familiar with the necessary formats, but they are not responsible for proof-reading papers.

Another duty of the scribe is to manipulate materials for the student. The student with the accommodation will direct the scribe where to place the information, and/or manipulate material (e.g. turn the page, glue the picture onto the bottom left of the page, place worksheet in binder, open the book to page 122, highlight the second line in paragraph three, etc).

Please note: Scribes are not allowed to tutor, prompt, or correct the student in any way. A scribe is different from a note taker because they must be directed by the student throughout the class what they need to notate for them and how to manipulate materials for the class. (Whereas a note taker is never told by the student what they need to notate or provide any individualized classroom assistance). In many cases, students who have scribes may also have a separate classmate take notes for them or have the professor provide them with lecture notes.

Here are just a couple of important tips for having a scribe in the classroom.

  • Please provide a seat for the scribe next to the student

  • Since the student will have to speak to the scribe throughout class activities, they may have to be seated somewhere where they are not distracting other students